Assistant Psychologist

West London NHS Trust; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider is seeking an enthusiastic Assistant Psychologist to join the Mental Health Autism Team. This role involves supporting autistic service users within inpatient and crisis settings across multiple boroughs. The successful candidate will engage in assessments, service development, and outreach activities to enhance care pathways. Experience with autistic individuals and collaborative skills are essential for this position.

Qualifications

• Knowledge and application of a strengths-based approach when working with autistic people.
• Experience or exposure to service development, clinical audits, and evaluating care pathways.
• Willingness to travel across Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow for outreach.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessment, planning, and delivery of individually-tailored interventions for autistic adults.
• Support transitions and discharge planning to promote safe and sustainable care.
• Engage in outreach to support autistic service users at risk of readmission.

Skills

Knowledge of strengths-based approaches

Strong collaborative skills

Ability to support individuals in identifying unmet needs

Job description

Overview

An exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and ambitious Assistant Psychologist within the Mental Health Autism Team. The service has recently expanded to cover a defined cohort of autistic service users within community mental health services, who are at increased risk of readmissions to inpatient mental health services or frequently utilise unplanned care. The post spans acute and community mental health services across Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow. The post will be based across both Hammersmith and Fulham and Lakeside Mental Health Units, but will involve outreach provision and therefore travel across all three boroughs. This role is intended to support autistic service users accessing inpatient or crisis mental health services. The service also supports people at increased risk of readmission, with the overall aim of improving the care and experience of admissions and supporting earlier, sustainable and safe discharges, and reducing the risk of readmissions. You will be an integral part of the Mental Health Autism Team in promoting safe, effective and therapeutic care for autistic adults in acute and community mental health services. This role gives the opportunity to develop service evaluation and audit skills, in addition to delivering individually-tailored interventions, including planning for and facilitating transitions. This post offers an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and enthusiastic Assistant Psychologist, looking to gain experience in both mental health and autism. The successful candidate will offer a thorough, compassionate and evidence-based service to adults with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of autism within inpatient and crisis mental health services. The post will also involve an outreach component, offering community-based input to autistic adults at risk of readmission or who frequently utilise unplanned care.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessment, planning and delivery of individually-tailored interventions for autistic adults in inpatient, crisis and community settings.
• Support transitions and discharge planning to promote safe, sustainable and timely care.
• Engage in outreach activity across acute, community, and three boroughs to support autistic service users at risk of readmission.
• Contribute to service development, audits and evaluation to improve care pathways and outcomes.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to promote integrated care and strengthen stakeholder relationships.

Requirements / Qualifications

• Knowledge and application of a strengths-based approach when working with autistic people.
• Ability to support individuals and teams in identifying unmet needs and delivering appropriate interventions.
• Experience or exposure to service development, clinical audits and evaluating care pathways.
• Strong collaborative skills for multidisciplinary joint working and stakeholder engagement.
• Willingness to travel across Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow for outreach and service delivery.

About the Organisation