Assistant Psychologist

Job description

Job summary

We are looking for an Assistant Psychologist to join our highly valued ForensicPersonality Disorder Service (FPDS). The team is based at Easby House atLangdon Hospital in Dawlish and offers high quality, psychologically informedservice for individuals with a diagnosis of personality disorder and a forensicbackground.

FPDSaims to reduce length of stay for patients with a primary diagnosis of personalitydisorder and to reduce the use of out of area or specialist personalitydisorder placements, to support/facilitate the use of in region beds. FPDS work closely with inpatient andcommunity teams to support patient care pathways. This may include reflective practice, trainingand consultation, as well as more direct work with patients.

Therole is dynamic and challenging. You will work alongside the multidisciplinaryteam to support individuals journeys through secure care and their transitionback to the community.

Injoining the FPDS you will be part of a wider group of psychologicalprofessionals working across community secure transition services, prisonmental health in-reach and the Offender Personality Disorder pathway.

This Advert may be closed prior to the closing date due to volume ofapplications so please do not delay in submitting your application as no further applications will be accepted once the vacancy is closed.

Main duties of the job

Thisrole will include supporting the team with formulations, risk assessment,training, consultation, audits and psychological interventions under thesupervision of a senior psychologist.

Tobe successful in this role, you will need to be enthusiastic, forward thinkingand emotionally resilient with a passion and commitment to supporting peoplewith a diagnosis of personality disorder and complex mental healthdifficulties.

Youwill have some knowledge and experience of group work and individualtherapeutic contact and be able to demonstrate your capacity to applypsychological knowledge in a mental health and forensic context.

Flexibilityin approach is important as is the ability to work as part of a team, workingto ensure that every patient receives high quality care. The role involves communication, so we expectthat you have excellent verbal and written skills.

Thepost holder will work closely with colleagues in the wider Community ForensicService and will be embedded within Devons Secure Services Directorate. Therewill be opportunities to receive training with the wider assistant and traineepsychologist group.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The principalpurpose of the job is to improve the psychological health & wellbeing ofpeople with mental health difficulties within the Forensic Personality DisorderService (FPDS).

This will beachieved in this post by:

1. Providing aPsychology and Psychological Therapies service to the Forensic PersonalityDisorder Service, and the wider Community Forensic Services, as a key componentof integrated mental health and wellbeing services to Devon Partnership Trust.

2. Implementingspecific assessment and clinical care packages and providing advice andconsultancy to patients, family members, carers and professionals withinstandard operating procedures under the supervision and management of theProfessional Lead.

3. The post holderwill be supported by the Professional Lead and also by FPDS and seniorcolleagues within the psychology department. The post holder will be expectedto make good use of the expertise of others within the service to furtherdevelop their clinical knowledge and skills relevant to a clinical and staffpopulation in a forensic mental health service.

4. To work withinprofessional guidelines and Devon Partnership Trust procedures and protocols.

5. The post holderwill receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance withTrust policy and to Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the BritishPsychological Society or appropriate designated Professional Body

Job description
Job responsibilities

The principalpurpose of the job is to improve the psychological health & wellbeing ofpeople with mental health difficulties within the Forensic Personality DisorderService (FPDS).

This will beachieved in this post by:

1. Providing aPsychology and Psychological Therapies service to the Forensic PersonalityDisorder Service, and the wider Community Forensic Services, as a key componentof integrated mental health and wellbeing services to Devon Partnership Trust.

2. Implementingspecific assessment and clinical care packages and providing advice andconsultancy to patients, family members, carers and professionals withinstandard operating procedures under the supervision and management of theProfessional Lead.

3. The post holderwill be supported by the Professional Lead and also by FPDS and seniorcolleagues within the psychology department. The post holder will be expectedto make good use of the expertise of others within the service to furtherdevelop their clinical knowledge and skills relevant to a clinical and staffpopulation in a forensic mental health service.

4. To work withinprofessional guidelines and Devon Partnership Trust procedures and protocols.

5. The post holderwill receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance withTrust policy and to Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the BritishPsychological Society or appropriate designated Professional Body

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Honours degree at 2:1 or above in psychology or a BA or BSc (Hons) in modular studies incl. psychology & related fields. The degree qualification must render the applicant eligible for graduate membership of the BPS.

Desirable

• Further post graduate training in relevant area of professional psychology, health and social care practice, and / or research design and analysis

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 12 months Assistant Psychologist experience in a related setting
• Experience of working as part of a team
• Experience of providing psychological intervention (individual or group work)Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a health, mental health and offence context
• Relevant clinical and research skills. Basic knowledge of databases, research skills and methodology
• Relevant clinical and research skills
• Basic knowledge of databases, research skills and methodology
• Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a health, mental health and offence context
• Excellent communication skills (see person spec for further details)
• Analytical and judgement skills (see person spec for further details)
• Planning and organising skills (see person spec for further details)
• IT skills (see person spec for further details)

Desirable

• Experience of working with people with a diagnosis of personality disorder and complex mental health needs
• Experience of working within a mental health or forensic setting
• Experience of psychological assessment including the use of psychometric tests
• Experience of providing teaching, training and/or supervision

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Ability to work independently within defined occupational procedures and use initiative.
• Ability to work as a member of a clinical team and to work collaboratively, flexibly and supportively.
• Ability to tolerate ambiguity, and maintain own morale and motivation in challenging service delivery contexts.
• Ability to be mobile across geographical areas.

Person Specification
Qualifications

Essential

• Honours degree at 2:1 or above in psychology or a BA or BSc (Hons) in modular studies incl. psychology & related fields. The degree qualification must render the applicant eligible for graduate membership of the BPS.

Desirable

• Further post graduate training in relevant area of professional psychology, health and social care practice, and / or research design and analysis

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 12 months Assistant Psychologist experience in a related setting
• Experience of working as part of a team
• Experience of providing psychological intervention (individual or group work)Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a health, mental health and offence context
• Relevant clinical and research skills. Basic knowledge of databases, research skills and methodology
• Relevant clinical and research skills
• Basic knowledge of databases, research skills and methodology
• Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a health, mental health and offence context
• Excellent communication skills (see person spec for further details)
• Analytical and judgement skills (see person spec for further details)
• Planning and organising skills (see person spec for further details)
• IT skills (see person spec for further details)

Desirable

• Experience of working with people with a diagnosis of personality disorder and complex mental health needs
• Experience of working within a mental health or forensic setting
• Experience of psychological assessment including the use of psychometric tests
• Experience of providing teaching, training and/or supervision

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Ability to work independently within defined occupational procedures and use initiative.
• Ability to work as a member of a clinical team and to work collaboratively, flexibly and supportively.
• Ability to tolerate ambiguity, and maintain own morale and motivation in challenging service delivery contexts.
• Ability to be mobile across geographical areas.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Address

Easby House

Langdon Hospital

Exeter Road

Dawlish

Devon

EX7 0NR

United Kingdom

Employer's website