Assistant Psychologist

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Milton Keynes

On-site

GBP 24,000 - 32,000

Full time

15 hours ago

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Job summary

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust in Milton Keynes is seeking an Assistant Psychologist to join the Recovery Day Programme, a unique addictions and mental health service.

You will support qualified staff with assessments, group and individual interventions, and contribute to research and service development, under supervision of clinical psychologists.

Qualifications

A 2:1 honours degree or higher in psychology.
Eligibility to Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society.
Previous direct work in a clinical setting with clients experiencing addiction or mental health problems.
Experience of research.
Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately.

Responsibilities

Support qualified clinical staff in completing assessments.
Deliver individual and group therapy under supervision.
Contribute to audit and evaluation activities.
Assist in delivery of CBT-based interventions.
Participate in research activities related to the service.
Oversee referral and assessment processes with administrative staff.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Education

2:1 honours degree in psychology

Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society

Tools

Microsoft Excel

SPSS

Job description

Job summary

We are seeking an Assistant Psychologist to join our dynamic team in the Recovery Day Programme. This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a unique branch of addictions and mental health. The post holder will have the chance to make a significant difference to residents in Milton Keynes challenged with addiction and to be part of the group day programme in playing a key role in their treatment and recovery.

Job Overview

Job summary

The successful candidate will be an energetic and robust individual with sophisticated and sensitive clinical skills, and a proven track record of delivering high quality services in either the NHS, social care or the private sector.

We are based in ARC-MK, within a dedicated and purpose-designed service.

Main duties of the job

As an Assistant Psychologist you will be expected to support qualified clinical staff in completing assessments, delivering individual and group therapy and conducting audit and evaluation. The post-holder will also have the opportunity to contribute to the delivery of the specialist psychological intervention programmes offered in the service, which are primarily motivational interviewing and CBT based. The post will also include exposure to research endeavours being undertaken.

There is a strong organisational support element to the role in the form of overseeing the referral and assessment booking process, using databases and patient management systems, and providing administrative assistance to the team as required. Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently is essential. Supervision will be offered by qualified clinical/counselling psychologists.

The successful applicant will be an enthusiastic and committed team player with a genuine interest in addictions and mental health.

Working for our organisation

About Us

The working environment will be a specialist NHS addictions service and group programme staffed by a multi-disciplinary team working with outpatients. The post-holder will have a working base at ARC-MK.

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 7,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

Job Responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information about the advertised role, please refer to the job description & person specification included in the documents section of this advert.

Clinical and administrative

To plan and undertake assessments of clients. This may include using motivational interviewing techniques, self-report measures, risk assessment, rating scales, direct and indirect observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care. Assessments will involve making judgements involving complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options, as well as requiring prolonged concentration.
To write clinical summaries and care plans based on information gleaned at assessment and present these to the multi-disciplinary team
To provide motivational interventions to clients on the CBT group and individual programme.
To work in a highly emotive atmosphere with clients with addiction problems on a regular basis, and be able to communicate sensitive and complex information, whilst maintaining a high degree of professionalism at all times. May be subject to verbal aggression in individual sessions.
To assist in the co-ordination and running of therapeutic groups, under the supervision of a qualified member of staff.
To liaise with referrers and clients and facilitate the referral process along with administrative staff. To maintain an oversight of client engagement from first contact to discharge
To assist managers and senior staff as required to ensure the safe daily operation of the clinic

Person specification

Knowledge And Skills

Essential criteria

High level communication skills (written and verbal) including the ability to communicate around subjects that may be highly emotive
Highly computer literate and proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel.
Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues
An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context

Desirable criteria

Experience of using databases for data analysis, especially SPSS.
High standard of report writing
Knowledge of patient database

Training & Qualifications

Essential criteria

A 2:1 honours degree or higher in psychology
Eligibility to Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable criteria

Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology including CAMHS, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.

Experience

Essential criteria