Assistant Psychologist

Islet Systems; Torquay; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job description

Job Purpose: To improve the psychological wellbeing of people who are using our inpatient services. To support the qualified psychological practitioners in these services to achieve the above aim. This will be achieved in this post by:

1. Contributing to the creation of a psychological informed environment on an acute inpatient ward.

Responsibilities:

• Implements specific assessments, clinical care, psychological interventions, and providing advice and consultancy to clients, family members, carers and professionals under the supervision and management of clinical supervisor and Professional Lead. The post holder will be supported by senior colleagues within Urgent and Inpatient Services.
• The post holder will be expected to make good use of the expertise of others within the service to further develop their clinical skills with this client group.
• To work independently within a defined managed and occupational context, within professional guidelines and DPT procedures and protocols.
• The post holder will receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance to Trust policy and to Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the British Psychological Society or appropriate designated Professional Body.

Communication and Working Relationship Skills:

• Clients, family and carers: To communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner with clients who may have specific difficulties in understanding and/or communicating and who may be hostile, antagonistic or highly emotionally disturbed.
• Multidisciplinary team colleagues: To work closely with colleagues in the multi-professional integrated mental health and wellbeing service on a day-to-day basis.
• Health & social care staff: To communicate with a wide range of health & social care staff in hospital and in community settings in a skilled and sensitive manner, complex and sensitive information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under the services care.
• To provide support & guidance in the application of psychological principles and techniques, and to foster reflective practice.
• Senior managers & professional staff: To maintain and build good working relationships with senior professional staff and managers in Urgent and Inpatient Care and in DPT, to foster a positive approach to the integrated mental health and wellbeing service and to enable effective negotiation.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills: To be able to integrate complex data and make evaluation and formulation decisions.

Planning and Organisational Skills: To plan and prioritise own workload, balancing the demands of patient care, support and guidance of carers and professionals, and service research and development activities.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy:

• Assessment & intervention: To make assessments, and deliver treatment plans within a supervised context for individuals, carers, families and groups, and to demonstrate awareness of diversity issues.
• Consultation & guidance: To provide advice, guidance and consultation on psychological aspects of patient care to colleagues, other service providers, patients, supporters and families.

Other Responsibilities:

• To follow policy guidance in own role and to comment on proposed policy changes and service developments.
• To ensure all clinical care and treatment provided by psychologists is carried out under appropriate supervision and leadership.

This job description is intended as an outline indicator of general areas of activity and will be amended in the light of changing service needs. This job description is to be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder on an annual basis.

Equality & Diversity: Devon Partnership Trust is an inclusive employer and is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse workforce, reflecting the population we serve and the communities we work within. Applications are encouraged and welcomed from all people, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010.

Recovery: It is a requirement of all employees to have an understanding of the broad principles of the Recovery Approach and to incorporate them into every aspect of their work in support of the Trusts aim to provide services that support peoples recovery through being holistic and promoting social inclusion, self-management, personal autonomy and independence.

Risk Management / Health and Safety: Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, ensure that agreed safety procedures are carried out and maintain a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors.

Records Management: The post holder has responsibility for the timely and accurate creation, maintenance and storage of records in accordance with Trust policy, including email documents and with regard to the Data Protection Act, The Freedom of Information Act and any other relevant statutory requirements.

Clinical Governance, Compliance and Performance: The post holder will be responsible for proving that the Care Quality Commission outcome areas have been met in all registered/related activities for which the post holder is responsible. Where outcomes are not met the post holder is expected to put in place/recommend action to improve.

Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infection: The post holder is expected to comply with Trust Infection Prevention and Control Policies and conduct themselves at all times in such a manner as to minimise the risk of healthcare associated infection.

Smoking: The Trust operates a non-smoking policy. Employees are not permitted to smoke anywhere within the premises of the Trust or when outside on official business.

Policies & Procedures: Trust employees are expected to follow Trust policies, procedures and guidance as well as professional standards and guidelines.

Safeguarding: Safeguarding is part of everyday practice and all Trust employees are required to work in accordance with policies, procedures and professional codes to safeguard people who use our service, their children, families and carers from abuse.