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Job summary

Main area
Health And Justice
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 4
Contract
12 months (fixed term)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
301-LBG-24-6486633
Employer
Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Trust HQ
Town
Stafford
Salary
£25,147 - £27,596 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
05/08/2024 23:59

Employer heading

Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Assistant Psychologist

NHS AfC: Band 4

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and compassionate Assistant Psychologist to work within our MHTR Team on a 12 month fixed term contract.

If you are seeking a new challenge, and have a keen interest in the criminal justice services, we encourage you to apply and join our supportive and welcoming team!

The Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) Team are part of MPFT’s Health and Justice Service. The MHTR team provide psychological assessments and interventions to people with mental health difficulties who have come into contact with criminal justice services and whose offences may attract a community or suspended sentence order.

The team aims to prevent short term custodial sentences and reduce reoffending by improving access to psychological interventions and addressing underlying mental health problems, thereby improving health and social outcomes for the individual and their family.

MPFT deliver services across England. We are experienced in working across a wide geographical area and there is no necessity to travel to headquarters, training and IT support is virtual.

What do previous Assistant Psychologists say about working in the MHTR Team?

‘The MHTR team is a friendly and supportive team. This job role has given me the opportunity to work with diverse populations, gain experience working with different presentations and develop my skills in a variety of therapeutic approaches.'

Main duties of the job

This post is based in Staffordshire working with a hybrid approach so travel may be required at times across your allocated area.

You will:

• Be responsible for supporting a Practitioner Psychologist in the development and evaluation of new service delivery models for people with severe and enduring mental health difficulties.

• Undertake protocol based psychological assessments of service users including self-report measures, rating scales and semi structured interviews.

• Assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment of a service user’s problems, including simple procedures and techniques related to psychological therapies.

• Communicate and liaise with other disciplines involved in the service user’s care.

• Assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all service users.

• Attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.

• Provide advice, guidance and support to service users to enhance awareness of their psychological needs.

• Prepare assessment/service evaluation reports.

• Undertake literature reviews and audits

Working for our organisation

By joining Team MPFT, you will be helping  your communities and in return for this, we will support you by; 

  • Supporting your career development and progression
  • Excellent NHS Pension scheme
  • Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave
  • Options for flexible working
  • Up to 27 days annual leave (increasing with service up to 33 days) and the opportunity to purchase additional leave
  • Extensive Health and Wellbeing support and resources
  • If you work in our community teams, we pay for your time travelling between patients
  • Lease car if you complete more than 500 business miles per annum, fully insured and maintained (including tyres), mileage paid at lease car rate
  • Salary sacrifice car - fully insured and maintained (including tyres), your gross pay is reduced by the cost of the vehicle before tax, NI and pension deductions are calculated, mileage paid at business rates
  • Salary sacrifice bikes up to £2k
  • Free car parking at all trust sites
  • Free flu vaccinations every year
  • Citizens Advice support linked with a Hardship Fund for one off additional support up to £250 (if the criteria is met)

And more. We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation and there is a choice of staff networks that help you meet like-minded people. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information on the Job Description, main responsibilities and Person Specification to ensure you have the relevant skills for the post, please see the attached documents.

As a member of the team you will be responsible for undertaking assessments, formulating service users’ needs and delivering psychological interventions, under the supervision of a qualified Practitioner Psychologist.

An understanding of the needs of people with a diagnosis of personality disorder, mental illness, and/or learning disabilities is needed in this role, with the ability to communicate sensitive information to the patient, carer and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.

We look forward to receiving your application. If you have any questions regarding the role, do not hesitate to contact us in advance of submitting your application.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in Psychology OR a Lower Second Class Degree with a post-graduate qualification e.g. Master’s Degree

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Has significant experience of face to face work with people with mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or offending behaviour
  • Experience of using Psychological assessments, formulations, risk assessments and care planning
  • Experience of working with people who have potential to become aggressive and be able to respond appropriately
  • Experience of MDT working

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES

Essential criteria
  • High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
  • An understanding of the needs of people with a diagnosis of Personality Disorder/mental illness/learning disability
Desirable criteria
  • An understanding of the Criminal Justice System

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveCare quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStep into healthArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Heidi Wheawall
Job title
MHTR Operational Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
03007907000
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