Band 4 Assistant Psychologist - Bristol

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Psychologist to join AWP Secure Services on a fixed-term basis to provide maternity leave cover.

The successful candidate will support psychological assessment, intervention, service evaluation and research activities within our secure inpatient services. There will be opportunities to contribute across both men's and women's pathways and to work alongside a range of multidisciplinary teams within low and medium secure care.

The post holder will join a large and supportive Psychological Therapies Service comprising Clinical, Forensic and Counselling Psychologists, Arts Psychotherapists, Assistant Psychologists and Trainee Psychologists. The role offers excellent opportunities to develop skills in working with complex mental health, offending behaviour, trauma, personality difficulties, learning disabilities and neurodevelopmental conditions within a secure setting.

Right to Work in the UK This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application, as the organisation is unable to support sponsorship for this post.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will support qualified psychologists in delivering high-quality psychological care within secure inpatient services.

Key duties will include assisting with psychological assessments, supporting therapeutic interventions, preparing clinical materials, conducting audits and service evaluation projects, and contributing to research activities. The post holder will also assist with the collection and analysis of outcome data and provide administrative support to psychological work where required.

Working under the supervision of a qualified psychologist, the successful candidate will contribute to the delivery of psychologically informed care and support multidisciplinary colleagues in promoting recovery-focused practice across the service.

About us

We are the lead provider of healthcare for people with serious mental illness, learning disabilities and autism across Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES), Swindon and Wiltshire, and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

We aim to provide High Quality, Compassionate Care everywhere, every day. This means our services will be safe, clinically effective and provide a positive all round experience for our patients, families and carers. And we believe passionately in treating everyone with kindness, respect and empathy.

Key to this is providing a supportive and safe environment for our 4,000 staff where we all feel welcome and able to do the best we can for those we support. Our staff and teams work incredibly hard delivering services across more than 90 locations, covering 2,200miles, to more than 1.8million people.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Assistant Psychologist will work under the direct supervision of a qualified Clinical or Forensic Psychologist and will support the delivery of psychological services across AWP Secure Services.

ClinicalTo support the Clinical/Counselling psychologists within the base service.Where required, to prepare and deliver high quality psychological interventions under supervision, either individually or in groups. Where required, to offer high quality psychological assessments following instructions appropriate to the assessment tools/processes.To gather and organise information about clinical notes, relevant psychological interventions and clinical tools for use by other staff.To work alongside other team members and ensure close liaison and communication within teams.To work at level of autonomy appropriate to a Band 4 Assistant Psychologist. Goals to be agreed and reviewed in clinical/management supervision.To maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times when working with distressed people.To maintain clinical records, databases and other professional records as appropriate.

Teaching and trainingTo undertake such training as might be required to maintain an appropriate level of expertise.To assist with the delivery of teaching and training for other members of the multidisciplinary team and staff in other agencies, in collaboration with qualified staff.

Research and auditWhere required, to assist with the audit and evaluation of the service in collaboration with qualified clinical and counselling psychologists and other members of the multidisciplinary team.To compile and return statistics and activity levels as required.Where required, to undertake literature searches and reviews.

ProfessionalTo understand and practice in line with the BPS (2009) Code of Ethics and Conduct and the DCP (2008) Professional Practice Guidelines on the roleTo participate in team business and professional meetings as appropriate.To be aware of and comply with all policies, procedures and directions of the Department, Service and Trust.To seek regular support and clinical supervision from a Practitioner Psychologist.To participate in individual, group and peer supervision.To participate in meetings with members of nursing staff and MDTs as appropriate.To maintain accurate and appropriate records of work.

Clinical governanceTo participate in service governance processes to ensure a safe and effective service. To support and participate in multidisciplinary clinical audit.To liaise with other disciplines and agencies to ensure best practice is shared. To promote the use of effective interventions in the service.

GeneralTo assist in the production of resources and materials used by the serviceTo assist with the general running of the Team/Service e.g. minuting department meetings.

Responsibilities will include:

• Assisting with psychological assessments and formulation-based work.
• Supporting the delivery and evaluation of individual and group interventions.
• Undertaking clinically related administrative tasks.
• Collecting, analysing and presenting service evaluation and outcome data.
• Undertaking literature searches and supporting research activities.
• Assisting in the preparation of reports, presentations and clinical resources.
• Supporting psychologically informed practice within multidisciplinary teams.
• Maintaining accurate and confidential clinical records in accordance with professional and organisational standards.

The role offers valuable experience within a specialist forensic mental health setting, working alongside experienced psychologists and multidisciplinary colleagues across both men's and women's secure care services.

Job description
Job responsibilities

The Assistant Psychologist will work under the direct supervision of a qualified Clinical or Forensic Psychologist and will support the delivery of psychological services across AWP Secure Services.

ClinicalTo support the Clinical/Counselling psychologists within the base service.Where required, to prepare and deliver high quality psychological interventions under supervision, either individually or in groups. Where required, to offer high quality psychological assessments following instructions appropriate to the assessment tools/processes.To gather and organise information about clinical notes, relevant psychological interventions and clinical tools for use by other staff.To work alongside other team members and ensure close liaison and communication within teams.To work at level of autonomy appropriate to a Band 4 Assistant Psychologist. Goals to be agreed and reviewed in clinical/management supervision.To maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times when working with distressed people.To maintain clinical records, databases and other professional records as appropriate.

Teaching and trainingTo undertake such training as might be required to maintain an appropriate level of expertise.To assist with the delivery of teaching and training for other members of the multidisciplinary team and staff in other agencies, in collaboration with qualified staff.

Research and auditWhere required, to assist with the audit and evaluation of the service in collaboration with qualified clinical and counselling psychologists and other members of the multidisciplinary team.To compile and return statistics and activity levels as required.Where required, to undertake literature searches and reviews.

ProfessionalTo understand and practice in line with the BPS (2009) Code of Ethics and Conduct and the DCP (2008) Professional Practice Guidelines on the roleTo participate in team business and professional meetings as appropriate.To be aware of and comply with all policies, procedures and directions of the Department, Service and Trust.To seek regular support and clinical supervision from a Practitioner Psychologist.To participate in individual, group and peer supervision.To participate in meetings with members of nursing staff and MDTs as appropriate.To maintain accurate and appropriate records of work.

Clinical governanceTo participate in service governance processes to ensure a safe and effective service. To support and participate in multidisciplinary clinical audit.To liaise with other disciplines and agencies to ensure best practice is shared. To promote the use of effective interventions in the service.

GeneralTo assist in the production of resources and materials used by the serviceTo assist with the general running of the Team/Service e.g. minuting department meetings.

Responsibilities will include:

• Assisting with psychological assessments and formulation-based work.
• Supporting the delivery and evaluation of individual and group interventions.
• Undertaking clinically related administrative tasks.
• Collecting, analysing and presenting service evaluation and outcome data.
• Undertaking literature searches and supporting research activities.
• Assisting in the preparation of reports, presentations and clinical resources.
• Supporting psychologically informed practice within multidisciplinary teams.
• Maintaining accurate and confidential clinical records in accordance with professional and organisational standards.

The role offers valuable experience within a specialist forensic mental health setting, working alongside experienced psychologists and multidisciplinary colleagues across both men's and women's secure care services.

Person Specification

Essential Qualfications and Experience

Essential

• Honours Degree in Psychology (2:1 or above). Eligible for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable

• Introductory training in a psychological therapy

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Experience of person-facing work, either paid or voluntary.
• Understanding of common mental health problems
• Knowledge of safeguarding

Desirable

• Experience of working in a health or care role.
• Experience of working with a range of client groups.
• Experience of using statistical packages.
• Audit or research experience.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Good written and verbal presentation skills
• Self-awareness and emotional resilience
• Ability to plan and prioritise own workload
• Word processing and other IT skills
• Ability to use supervision well

Desirable

• Group work skills

Person Specification
Essential Qualfications and Experience

Essential

• Honours Degree in Psychology (2:1 or above). Eligible for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable

• Introductory training in a psychological therapy

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Experience of person-facing work, either paid or voluntary.
• Understanding of common mental health problems
• Knowledge of safeguarding

Desirable

• Experience of working in a health or care role.
• Experience of working with a range of client groups.
• Experience of using statistical packages.
• Audit or research experience.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Good written and verbal presentation skills
• Self-awareness and emotional resilience
• Ability to plan and prioritise own workload
• Word processing and other IT skills
• Ability to use supervision well

Desirable

• Group work skills

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

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Address

Blackberry Hill Hospital

Bristol

BS16 1EG

United Kingdom

Employer's website