Assistant Psychologist

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHSFT; Urmston; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health trust in the United Kingdom is seeking two Assistant Psychologists to work closely with clinical psychologists in acute care settings. Successful candidates will facilitate recovery groups and provide psychological input in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team. The ideal applicants will have a psychology degree and relevant experience. Opportunities for clinical supervision and professional development are provided.

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients and carers.
• Understanding of needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems.
• Experience of working with service users with complex presentations.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate running of psychologically informed groups on the wards.
• Use structured CBT material to work with service users.
• Document clinical records following Trust policy.

Skills

High level of communication skills

Knowledge of psychology applied to mental health care

Experience using SPSS

Education

Upper second class honours degree in psychology

Post graduate training in areas of psychology

Tools

SPSS

Job description

We are recruiting two FTE Assistant Psychologists; one based in Trafford, one based in South Manchester. These posts provide great opportunities to gain experience of working as an assistant psychologist in acute care services (acute inpatient wards and PICU) for adults of working age (AoWA). You will be working closely with a qualified Clinical Psychologist to provide psychological input to the Trust's adult inpatient units. You will be working with an enthusiastic team of medical staff, nurses, occupational therapists and recovery workers. The multi‑disciplinary teams on each ward specialise in caring for adults of working age, and offer assessment and treatment for a wide range of mental health needs. There is a strong emphasis on holistic, individualised care, planned and delivered in collaboration with each service user. There are close working relationships with urgent care and the community teams to support service users' experiences of admission and discharge, and to enable each person's recovery.

The advert will be closed after we received sufficient applications.

Informal enquiries or visits are welcomed and should be directed to Dr Elizabeth Rawlinson (Principal Clinical Psychologist for Adults of Working Age Inpatient services, Trafford) at [e-mail] or to Dr Jennifer Adams (Principal Clinical Psychologist for Adults of Working Age Inpatient services, South Manchester) at [e-mail].

Main duties of the job

You will be an active member of the acute care workforce. The successful post holders will be working under the supervision of the Clinical Psychologist and with the operational support of acute care management to facilitate the running of recovery and psychoeducation groups for service users on the acute wards and PICU. Contingent on capacity, other tasks may include individual psychological intervention using structured CBT material, supporting the Clinical Psychologist with team formulation sessions, supporting the development of new groups and initiatives on the ward to improve the existing psychology offer, contributing to making ward environments more psychologically informed, and attending individual and peer supervision sessions.

Commitment to working as part of a multi‑disciplinary team with a compassionate and recovery‑based approach is essential.

The post holder will receive regular clinical supervision from the Principal Clinical Psychologist, Acute Care services and will receive appropriate CPD opportunities.

About us

Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7,000 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 122 locations.

We provide inpatient and community‑based mental health care for people living in Bolton, the city of Manchester, Salford, Trafford and the borough of Wigan, and a wide range of specialist mental health and substance misuse services across Greater Manchester, the north west of England and beyond.

Greater Manchester is one of the world's most innovative, original and exciting places to live and work. From the beauty of the surrounding countryside to the heart of the vibrant inner city with great shopping, entertainment and dining options.

Wherever you go you will experience a great northern welcome with people famed for their warmth, humour and generosity.

Our people enjoy their work, have opportunities to learn and develop their skills and are encouraged to generate new ideas that improve care for our service users.

Job responsibilities

Main Duties of the Post

Clinical

To facilitate the running of psychologically informed groups on the wards. As agreed with service managers this may include some evening working.

To use structured / manualised CBT material to work with service users.

To ensure psychologically relevant resource material is available to the wards.

When required, to assist with assessments / reviews / consultations by administering self‑report measures, rating scales, neuropsychological tests, and semi‑structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in clients care, all under supervision.

To document clinical records in accordance with Trust policy and to contribute towards report writing.

To contribute to appropriate multidisciplinary meetings, ward meetings and to liaise with family / carers, other staff and agencies.

Teaching, Training & Supervision

In common with all assistant clinical psychologists, receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.

To gain a wider understanding of professional psychology within the NHS and of Acute Care services.

To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.

To receive regular supervision from a qualified clinical psychologist.

I.T. Responsibilities

To enter, integrate and extract data using a computer system and to present information in a variety of formats for dissemination when required.

To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries using I.T. and statistical programmes.

To analyse data and produce summaries when required.

To assist in the identification of any omissions or inconsistencies concerning clinical activity data and to liaise directly with clinical staff to correct this.

To utilise basic word processing skills in order to produce reports and other communications.

Research & Service Evaluation

To utilise theory, evidence based literature and research to support evidence based practice in work with clients carried out under the supervision from a suitably trained senior practitioner and a qualified clinical psychologist.

To assist in relevant psychology audit/research projects related to Acute Care.

To develop knowledge of complex mental health and risk presentations, through regular literature searches, reading and personal study.

To undertake searches of evidence based literature and research to assist with research projects and also with the development of evidence based clinical practice.

Professional/General

To contribute to the maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training in consultation with the supervisor.

To ensure the highest standards of clinical and other record keeping, including electronic data entry and recording.

To ensure confidentiality of all clinical records and confidential data in line with relevant professional codes of practice and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust policy procedures and guidelines.

To undertake specific administrative duties as required.

To attend meetings relevant to the efficient execution of the duties of the post.

To follow all appropriate policies and procedures of the Trust.

To undertake any other such duties as may be required under the general direction of the clinical psychologist within the grade range of the post.

Person Specification

Training and Qualifications

• An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology. Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.

Experience

• Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or other relevant health disabilities. Experience of working independently and liaising with other healthcare workers
• Experience of working with service users with complex, risky presentations and/or within a Psychological Service setting. Experience of using assessment skills

Knowledge and Skills

• High level of communication skills both written and verbal in including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive. Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in an appropriate way. Ability to produce reports under supervision to a high standard. An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities. An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to the service context. An understanding of psychology applied to mental health care. Knowledge of engagement approaches and clinical assessment skills required for presentations typical of Acute Care settings.
• Experience using microcomputers for databases or data-analysis, especially SPSS for Windows.

Personal

• An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines. An ability to interact with and interest in people with mental health problems or disabilities. Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals. An aspiration to a career in professional psychology

Other

• Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively. Flexible and adaptable approach to work. Ability to demonstrate the Trust values within all aspects of clinical and other work.

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.

Moorside Unit, Trafford General Hospital