Assistant Psychologist

Keys; Portsmouth; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Keys Group in Portsmouth is seeking an Assistant Psychologist to support the Clinical Team and embed therapeutic practice across our homes in the specified region. You will work under supervision to deliver trauma-informed care and contribute to CPD and research aligned with Keys Connect model.

The role offers home-based working with regional travel, a focus on children and young people in residential services, and opportunities to develop in research and evidence-based practice within our

Qualifications

• Driving licence and access to a vehicle.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience using IT systems and recording information.
• Experience working with care‑experienced children.
• Degree in Psychology or equivalent/related field.

Responsibilities

• To contribute to assessment and therapeutic care of children and young people living in/using Keys Group Services; including supporting consultations with teams within Residential Services.
• To develop knowledge and understanding of the Keys Connect clinical model and to promote and support therapeutic practice in the designated region.
• To undertake psychological interventions with children and young people as appropriate, drawing on a range of psychological methods, models and tools appropriate to the delivery of therapeutically informed care and within the competency of the individual under supervision.
• To support with the collection and interpretation of psychometric assessments where appropriate.

Skills

Driving licence

Multidisciplinary teams

IT systems

Care experienced children

Education

Degree in Psychology

Job description

Assistant Psychologist

Salary – up to £26,300

Work Pattern – Home based with travel required to services within your region.

Location: Portsmouth

Would you like to support therapeutic and trauma-informed practice and services? Do you want to help support care experienced young people and the teams around them to thrive? Do you want to be part of an organisation that lives by, promotes and delivers their EPIC values (Excellence, Passion, Integrity, Caring)?

This is an exciting time of growth and expansion for Keys Group and as such we want more passionate and aspiring Assistant Psychologists to join us! You will support qualified members of the Clinical Team to promote and embed therapeutic practice within the homes in your dedicated region, embodying our Keys Connect model. We have a strong focus on CPD and research at Keys, so will be encouraged to engage in regular CPD and research interests appropriate to the Keys Group. This is a great opportunity to be part of embedding our trauma-informed model of practice and care to enhance the support we provide to our children and teams. Please see the job description for more information.

About you

The post holder will work collaboratively with operations and other colleagues across Keys Group to support the embedding of high-quality therapeutic practices, meeting the needs of children and young people who live within our Children’s Residential Services.

The Assistant Psychologist role within Keys Group aims to provide core opportunities to develop in the following areas (in line with British Psychological Society Standards of Recruitment and Employment of Assistant Psychologists, June 2024):

• Understanding professional practice and ethics
• Understanding and using supervision
• Developing team working skills
• Understanding risk assessment and management
• Developing knowledge of psychological formulation, assessment, intervention and evaluation
• Developing research knowledge and skills
• Understanding key principles of equality, diversity and inclusion on a practice and knowledge level

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical

• To contribute to assessment and therapeutic care of children and young people living in/using Keys Group Services; including supporting consultations with teams within Residential Services.
• To develop knowledge and understanding of the Keys Connect clinical model and to promote and support therapeutic practice in the designated region.
• To undertake psychological interventions with children and young people as appropriate, drawing on a range of psychological methods, models and tools appropriate to the delivery of therapeutically informed care and within the competency of the individual under supervision.
• To support with the collection and interpretation of psychometric assessments where appropriate.

Training/Supervision

• To assist in the development and delivery of training in therapeutic approaches and associated applied psychology subjects and to share skills and learning with internal and
• To engage in regular clinical supervision with a qualified Practitioner Psychologist.

Policy and Service Development

• To contribute as required to service development through supporting with agreed projects and meetings.
• To develop and maintain good communication links with Local Authorities, NHS services and other appropriate agencies.
• To develop resources and materials as required to support the therapeutic services to our children and colleagues.

Evaluation/Research

• To develop understanding of and critically evaluate current research to support evidence-based practice.
• To help administration of agreed outcome measures.
• Following approval from the Governance Committee, initiate and conduct psychologically based research relevant to the care and education of children and young people with complex needs.

Professional/administrative

• To produce written reports and summaries of work as required.
• To work within the Code of Ethics, relevant professional practice guidelines and the professional guidance frameworks of the Health Care Professions Council and other relevant professional bodies (e.g. British Psychological Society).
• To work within the framework of the policies and procedures of the Keys Group.
• Understanding key principles of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) on a practice and knowledge level. To promote and support awareness of EDI. To ensure that bullying, harassment and intimidation are not tolerated.
• To be aware of issues relating to the safeguarding of children and young people and to report any untoward incidents immediately to the appropriate person.
• To complete clinically related administration tasks.
• To be responsible for relevant data collection on work activities, as required, and to maintain a high standard of record keeping.
• To undertake reasonable travelling requirements in order to fulfil the tasks and responsibilities of the role.

Personal and professional development

• Continuously develop psychological knowledge, attending and participating in learning and development meetings, conferences, and events to ensure up to date knowledge relevant to the role.
• Attend and participate in regular team and other meetings, both internal and external.

Confidentiality

• All colleagues are required to respect the confidentiality of all matters they may learn relating to their employment, other colleagues and the general public.
• This job description is intended to be a dynamic document, subject to agreed alteration and development in line with the evolution of the role.
• To assist with any other ad hoc duties commensurate to the job role and pay scale, as directed by management.

What you’ll need

• Driving licence and access to a vehicle
• Experience of working with multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience using IT systems and recording information appropriately.
• Experience of working with care experienced children including working with teams around the child.
• Degree in Psychology or equivalent/related field.

Due to the nature of the role, it is necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken (DBS).

Keys are proud to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant that means we have made a commitment to welcoming service personnel, veterans and military families into the group. We are delighted to have veteran friendly policies, offer a Veterans Peer Support Network within our teams and are able to offer Military Awareness and support to our colleagues.

As part of our commitment, we will offer a guaranteed interview to current and former service personnel providing that they meet the criteria of the role that they are applying for. If you feel that you meet the criteria for this, please ensure that you have your military experience detailed on your CV for one of our resourcing team to get in touch.

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