Assistant Psychologist

Job description

Job summary

We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic Band 5 (1.0 WTE), working with children and teenagers who have cancer and with their families. This is an exciting opportunity to join an experienced multi-disciplinary medical and nursing oncology unit, where innovation, research, teaching and training are strongly encouraged. This is a very well-established psychology team, with excellent professional and compassionate staff, very well supported by our efficient and caring administration team within a cancer Centre of Excellence.

To ensure a fair application process, the post will remain open for (until 16 September) and will not close before this time.

Please read the instructions below carefully when completing your application form. Applications will only be considered if they meet the criteria outlined below:1. Employment History: For each position, please list only the three most important tasks or responsibilities that you consider relevant to the current post. These should be presented as bullet points and must adhere to a maximum word limit of 100 words per position.2. Supporting Information: Please respond to the following questions, taking the Person Specification into account and adhering to a maximum total word limit of 600 words across both questions:o a. Why are you interested in this post?o b. How is your previous work experience relevant to this post?

Main duties of the job

• To assist the Clinical Psychologists in the department in the development, implementation and evaluation of clinical and research activities.
• To undertake clinically supervised work such as triage, liaison, assessments and interventions with children and young people who have cancer and with their families.
• To assist with research, service evaluations and audits.
• To be responsible for creating and maintaining databases.
• To collaborate on planning and implementing training days, workshops and groups.

About us

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals - one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey - as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.

At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.

At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification:

• To undertake liaison and triage with patients referred to the team.
• To provide psychological support to patients on the waiting list by offering psychoeducation and signposting to alternative services.
• To undertake clinical work with children and their families under the supervision of a clinical psychologist.
• To participate as a reflective team member in the services Family Clinic.
• To co-facilitate therapeutic groups for children on the ward
• To undertake basic risk assessments with patients disclosing suicidal ideation or self- harm, and to take appropriate action, including seeking advice from the clinical supervisor or other senior clinician in the service.
• To communicate information concerning patients and their families in a skilled and sensitive manner, and to maintain accurate and up-to-date client records.

Job description
Job responsibilities

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification:

• To undertake liaison and triage with patients referred to the team.
• To provide psychological support to patients on the waiting list by offering psychoeducation and signposting to alternative services.
• To undertake clinical work with children and their families under the supervision of a clinical psychologist.
• To participate as a reflective team member in the services Family Clinic.
• To co-facilitate therapeutic groups for children on the ward
• To undertake basic risk assessments with patients disclosing suicidal ideation or self- harm, and to take appropriate action, including seeking advice from the clinical supervisor or other senior clinician in the service.
• To communicate information concerning patients and their families in a skilled and sensitive manner, and to maintain accurate and up-to-date client records.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

• An honours degree (2:1 or higher) in Psychology accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) or completion of a conversion course accredited by the BPS leading to eligibility for Graduate Membership of the BPS

Desirable

• Post-graduate training in clinical and/or research areas

Experience

Essential

• Experience (full-time) of working as an Assistant Psychologist (AP) in the NHS (Band 4 or Band 5) or equivalent clinical experience (e.g. working as an AP in social care or private settings, or working as an IAPT Psychological Well-Being Practitioner (PWP)
• Experience of working in a clinical role
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the lifespan and presenting with the full range of clinical severity
• Experience of dealing with patients with suicidal ideation and/or self-harm

Desirable

• Experience of working with children and families
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of neuro-psychology and experience in neuropsychological testing

Skills Abilities/knowledge

Essential

• Ability to work in a setting where the atmosphere may be highly emotive
• High level communication skills (written and verbal) and good report writing
• Experience of using computer packages including Excel, PowerPoint and SPSS
• An ability to initiate and implement audits, service evaluations and research projects
• Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a children's and young people's psychological service

Desirable

• Experience of scoring and interpreting psychological and neuropsychological questionnaires
• Knowledge of the needs and difficulties of people with physical illness and/or neuropsychological deficits

Person Specification
Education/Qualifications

Essential

• An honours degree (2:1 or higher) in Psychology accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) or completion of a conversion course accredited by the BPS leading to eligibility for Graduate Membership of the BPS

Desirable

• Post-graduate training in clinical and/or research areas

Experience

Essential

• Experience (full-time) of working as an Assistant Psychologist (AP) in the NHS (Band 4 or Band 5) or equivalent clinical experience (e.g. working as an AP in social care or private settings, or working as an IAPT Psychological Well-Being Practitioner (PWP)
• Experience of working in a clinical role
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the lifespan and presenting with the full range of clinical severity
• Experience of dealing with patients with suicidal ideation and/or self-harm

Desirable

• Experience of working with children and families
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of neuro-psychology and experience in neuropsychological testing

Skills Abilities/knowledge

Essential

• Ability to work in a setting where the atmosphere may be highly emotive
• High level communication skills (written and verbal) and good report writing
• Experience of using computer packages including Excel, PowerPoint and SPSS
• An ability to initiate and implement audits, service evaluations and research projects
• Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a children's and young people's psychological service

Desirable

• Experience of scoring and interpreting psychological and neuropsychological questionnaires
• Knowledge of the needs and difficulties of people with physical illness and/or neuropsychological deficits

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

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Address

Royal Marsden Hospital Sutton

Sutton

SM2 5PT

United Kingdom

Employer's website