Assistant Psychologist - ASPIRE / Widening Access | East London NHS Foundation Trust

EAST LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; Greater London; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in England is looking for an Assistant Psychologist to provide structured assessments and treatments in mental health services. You will work under supervision, contributing to psychological therapies, and assist trainee psychologists. This role requires a degree in psychology and is ideal for candidates without prior experience in similar positions. The position is on-site in Greater London and aims to promote diversity in the workforce.

Qualifications

• Must have a psychology undergraduate degree or completed a Masters conversion course.
• No prior experience as Assistant Psychologist, PWP, or similar.
• Evidence of lived experience related to social, economic inequalities.

Responsibilities

• Establish rapport with clients for engagement in group activities.
• Carry out specified assessments and psychological interventions.
• Maintain clear records of all client work.

Skills

Standardised psychometric tests

Rapport-building with clients

Data collection and analysis

Education

Psychology undergraduate degree (2:2 or above)

Masters conversion course

Job description

Overview

We have an exciting paid opportunity within secondary care community mental health services in City & Hackney in ELFT for those aspiring to become a Psychological Professional. The Aspire Programme funded by NHS England (NHSE), aims to support and development a more inclusive and diverse workforce, 'wideningaccess' to those who may have previously experienced barriers. This initiative is part of a larger plan to improve diversity within Psychological Professions and for our workforce in ELFT to more accurately reflect the people we serve in our communities. You are welcome and encouraged to apply if you meet the following criteria, Assistant Psychologists provide structured assessments and manualised treatments (individual and group) under the supervision of a qualified Psychologist. The successful candidate will also support the work of psychological therapies in services by involvement in file/case review, audit, and service evaluation and/or research for the improvement of services. The post holder will support trainee clinical psychologists in their placement work, both directly through assisting in clinical areas, and indirectly through collection of placement data with oversight and direction from the Psychology Workforce Development Lead. The post holder would be expected to work closely from a co-production and collaborative stance with experts-by-experience and local communities. Further specific duties will be determined on the basis of skills and experience and operational service requirements, and may vary according to service needs/priorities change.

Responsibilities

Clinical

• To establish and maintain rapport with clients to enable the arrangement of meetings and engagement in the group activities of the service.
• To carry out or assist in carrying out specified assessments, including standardised psychometric tests and the scoring, analysis and initial preparation of formal reports.
• To deliver standardised individual and group psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified member of staff.
• To be responsible for providing verbal and written feedback regarding assessments and psychological interventions to clients, multidisciplinary team members, families and carers of patients, some of which may be sensitive in nature.
• To undertake file/case reviews to support clinical decision making of the psychology and multidisciplinary staff.
• To attend relevant clinical meetings about clients to share and obtain information, disseminate report findings and convey opinion and analyses.
• To contribute to risk assessment and management of service users, and to immediately report any instances of harm or suspected harm/risk to a service user or others to qualified members of the team in line with safeguarding and risk management policies and protocols.

Administrative

• To maintain clear records of all client work carried out in Trust client case notes.
• To maintain high standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording and report writing and responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of conduct and practice of the BPS/HPC and Trust policies and procedures.
• To maintain a high level of written and verbal communication with multidisciplinary colleagues, GPs, service users, carers.

Human Resources, Management and Development

• To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with post-holder's professional and team/operational manager(s).
• To develop knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to adult and older adult mental health.
• To undergo regular performance appraisal and review.
• To receive regular clinical professional supervision from a Psychologist in accordance with good practice guidance from the BPS. To participate in CPD/Reflection Group with other assistant psychologists within East London ELFT.
• To keep abreast of developments in psychological assessment and treatment of people with mental health difficulties through self-directed reading, attendance at CPD events, and through own supervision.
• To contribute to the development of colleagues' understanding of psychological aspects of care through informal and formal discussion/presentation.
• To undertake mandatory training in line with Trust requirements.

Performance & Quality

• To contribute to departmental/team audits carried out as part of routine service review and evaluation, and specific audits as required, under supervision.
• To participate in carrying out service oriented and clinically relevant research (as agreed by the Trust, Locality Director and Professional Psychology Lead).
• To utilize theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
• To design databases, undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes as required.
• To contribute to Quality Improvement projects as required.

Financial and Physical Resources

• Contribute to the responsible management of equipment and resources required for the ongoing provision of a high standard of psychological service to the directorate.

Qualifications

• Have a psychology undergraduate degree (2:2 or above) OR have completed a Masters conversion course.
• Have NOT completed a Masters degree or post‑graduate diploma after your undergraduate degree.
• Have NOT had prior experience as an Assistant Psychologist, PWP, High Intensity Therapist or similar.
• Have NOT previously been employed under this or a similar scheme.
• Evidence of lived experience associated with health, social, class, race, ethnicity, disability or economic inequalities, such as coming from a low socioeconomic background, receipt of benefits, low achieving school, free school meals, living in a deprived area.