Band 4 Assistant Psychologist/Assistant Speech & Language Therapist

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health service provider in Bristol is seeking an Assistant Psychologist to assess and provide interventions for clients within Secure Services. This role involves administering psychometric tests and participating in clinical supervision. The ideal candidate will have an honors degree in Psychology and strong communication skills. Experience in mental health services is preferred. The position offers opportunities for research involvement and professional development.

Qualifications

• Eligibility for graduate membership of the BPS.
• Previous experience of applying statistical software packages to quantitative data.
• Research skills and assessment/interview skills with adults.

Responsibilities

• Assess and provide psychological interventions for users of the Secure Services.
• Administer and score psychometric tests.
• Support the implementation of the Care Programme Approach in Secure Services.

Skills

Effective team player with good communication and liaison skills

Well organised with good administration skills

Familiarity with word processing packages, data entry, and statistical software

Ability to cope with potentially threatening situations and to use breakaway techniques

Emotional resilience in face of distressing situations

Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods

Education

An honors degree in Psychology (2:1 or 1st)

Tools

Statistical software (SPSS)

Job description

Description of the duties

A. Clinical

1. Under supervision, assess and provide psychological interventions and/or co-lead group work for users of the Secure Services and communicate complex and sensitive information to users who may be distressed or angry.

2. To administer and score psychometric tests with users of the Secure Services including making judgements about suitability of assessment at the time and deciding on alternative options as necessary.

3. To support the full implementation of the Care Programme Approach in Secure Services.

4. To participate in regular clinical supervision in accordance with good practice guidelines.

B. Professional

1. To fully observe the BPS (2006) Code of Ethics and Conduct and the DCP (1995) Professional Practice Guidelines.

2. To participate in Secure Service professional and business meetings as appropriate.

3. To be aware of, and to adhere to Trust, Psychology Service and Secure Services policies and procedures.

C. Research and Development

1. To provide support to Secure Services in the completion of research projects.

2. To collect and input research data as supervised by the Research Lead for Secure Services.

3. To learn to apply psychometric questionnaires and cognitive assessment under the supervision of an appropriate member of the Secure Services Clinical Psychology Department.

4. To become familiar with and implement the use of statistical software (SPSS) as appropriate for analysis of research data.

5. To conduct administrative tasks, including use of IT skills and record-keeping, for support of research projects.

6. To contribute to presentation of project data/outcome at research meetings or Clinical Governance meetings if required.

D. Clinical Governance

1. To liaise with other professionals and agencies working with the Secure Services to ensure that best practice is shared.

2. To promote the use of effective interventions and research methodologies in the Secure Services.

3. To participate in Clinical Governance processes in the Secure Services.

E. Teaching and Training

1. To attend Assistant Psychologist local and regional meetings.

2. To participate in appropriate training courses and workshops as directed by supervisor.

3. To contribute towards the research training of other members of the multidisciplinary team in the Secure Services, working in collaboration with the Clinical Psychology Department, as required.

F. Communications and Working Relationships

1. Professional Lead for Psychological Therapies, Secure Services.

2. Clinical/ Forensic/ Counselling Psychologists at Fromeside and Wickham Unit

3. Fromeside Staff

4. Mental Health Professionals in Avon, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Somerset.

Most challenging part of this role: To work with a challenging population of service-users with severe and enduring mental health problems, personality disorder and neuro-developmental disorders. To maintain professional and personal boundaries with this challenging group. To work, under supervision, with information and skills that may be new to the individual and to learn on the job without prior training.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• An honors degree in Psychology (2:1 or 1st)
• Eligibility for graduate membership of the BPS

Specialised Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Previous experience of applying statistical software packages to quantitative data
• Research skills
• Assessment/ interview skills with adults

Experience

Essential criteria

• Paid employment in adult mental health/ forensic services/ learning disability services OR significant voluntary experience or experience in another specialism

Desirable criteria

• Assistant psychologist experience in adult mental health or learning disability
• Experience working in a forensic setting

Skills

Essential criteria

• Effective team player with good communication and liaison skills
• Well organised with good administration skills
• Familiarity with word processing packages, data entry, and statistical software
• Ability to cope with potentially threatening situations and to use breakaway techniques
• Emotional resilience in face of distressing situations
• Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods