Clinical Associate Psychologist (CAP)

NHS; St. Austell; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CPD time

Career development fund

Supervision & mentoring

Induction programme

Job summary

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a qualified Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP) to join the Restormel CMHT. The post requires a MSC in Clinical Associate Psychology, CAP registration with the BPS Wider Psychological Workforce Register, and eligibility for registration with the BPS.

The role involves working as a semi-autonomous practitioner within a psychology team, traveling to various locations across Cornwall to provide evidence-based psychological care, supervision,

Qualifications

• Degree in Psychology.
• MSC in Clinical Associate Psychology and adult mental health.
• Registration as CAP with the BPS Wider Psychological Workforce Register.
• Knowledge of BPS Code of Conduct and related policies.
• Experience in an acute adult mental health setting.

Responsibilities

• Cap works as a semi-autonomous practitioner within an identified clinical team under supervision.
• Provide specialist mental health services and collaborate across service boundaries.
• Contribute to research, service evaluation, and dissemination of outcomes.

Skills

Clinical assessment

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in Psychology

MSC in Clinical Associate Psychology

BPS CAP registration (Wider Workforce)

BA/BS in psychology related field

Experience in acute adult mental health

Job description

Thank you for your interest in joining us at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

We pride ourselves in striving to be an employer of choice.

Strategic Themes

Great Care

• Care based on what matters to people.
• Care provided at home or close to home.
• Improvement through learning, research and innovation.
• Prevention and alternatives to hospital.

Great Organisation

• Buildings that support health and wellbeing.
• Technology enabled care.
• Care teams are supported by responsive corporate services.
• Safe, efficient, effective and productive.

Great People

• A place people love to work and feel valued.
• Living our values with staff (all voices count).
• Attract, grow and develop talent.
• Leaders with compassion, who continuously learn and listen.

Great Partner

• Encourage and enable effective partnerships.
• Joined‑up community services.
• Work with others to maximise workforce opportunities.
• Reduce our impact on the environment.

At the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s job share, part time or another flexible pattern. In addition, although the role advertised may have a ‘home’ office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Job overview

This is a community-based role that requires frequent travel to various locations throughout the county including areas that may not be accessible by public transportation. Successful candidates will need to demonstrate how they will manage these travel requirements.

We are looking for a qualified Clinical Associate Psychologist's to join Restormel CMHT.

Applicants will need to be self‑motivated, ideally have prior experience of working in an acute mental health services and have completed the MSc course in Clinical Associate Psychology to be considered for this post.

Successful applicants must be eligible for registration with the British Psychological Society and will be required to work towards registration with the BPS Wider Psychological Workforce Register once in post.

Main duties of the job

A Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP) is a member of the Psychology Department who works as an semi‑autonomous practitioner within an agreed scope of practice in an identified clinical team, under the direct supervision of an HCPC registered, qualified Practitioner Psychologist.

CAPs work as scientist practitioners and use psychological knowledge, research and theory to reduce psychological distress and to enhance psychological wellbeing. Their interventions are informed, but not wholly determined, by problem‑specific treatment protocols, adapted using the developing evidence base, applied service research and evaluation to formulate interventions, in conjunction with their clinical supervisor.

CAPs provide a specialist mental health service for patients / service users of the identified team in which they are based. They also work together across service boundaries to provide consultation, supervision, training and service development to the wider Trust. They provide psychological expertise and support to the teams through research to Master’s level, service evaluation and the dissemination of outcome measures.

Working for our organisation

We’re an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital‑based care to improve people’s physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.

We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you’ll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.

Over 4,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.

We work in people's homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 13 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.

Approximately 568,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increases the numbers of people who use our services.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see ‘supporting documents’.

Person specification

Education / Qualifications and Relevant Experience

• Degree in Psychology
• Successfully completed an accredited MSC degree apprenticeship in Clinical Associate of Psychology in mental health in adults
• Has registration as a CAP with the BPS on their Wider Psychological Workforce Register
• Understand British Psychological Society (BPS) Professional Code of Conduct, local and national policies and procedures that define scope of practice
• Understand the range of behavioural change models including health belief models to synthesise best practice in the absence of a strong evidence base, or existence of clinical practice guidelines
• Experience of working within an acute adult mental health setting

Skills and Aptitude

• Understand how to analyse and appraise key theoretical concepts of psychological models of treatment both at individual and group level recognised in evidence‑based national guidelines
• Able to assess limits of professional boundaries and capacity and understand when to seek appropriate supervision/advice on practice and whom to refer to so as to ensure best care
• Knowledge and implementation of local, regional and national policy

At Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust we are proud to prioritise the development of our people. To support this, the following opportunities are available:

• Career conversations and individual development plans for succession planning and talent management
• Protected CPD time for registered staff
• Access to a dedicated central development fund supporting CPD for all staff
• Leadership and Management development programmes
• Coaching and mentoring opportunities
• A full clinical induction programme for operational skills
• Access to a care certificate programme for our band 1-4 clinical staff
• A bespoke and robust preceptorship programme to support newly qualified staff

Being part of a successful NHS Foundation Trust brings a portfolio of rewards and benefits for our staff. These include:

• Suite of health and wellbeing initiatives to support our colleagues physical and mental health
• Free access to individual HARP portfolios to support revalidation for nursing staff
• Free DBS checks where required
• Discounts available from retailers, UK hotels and main attractions
• Salary sacrifice car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• The Trust reimburses all application costs for staff eligible to apply for EU settlement status.

The Trust reserves the right to close this advert once a sufficient number of applications have been submitted. It is encouraged that you complete the application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process you will be contacted via TRAC.jobs email regarding interview details.

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust welcomes and values individuals with lived experience of mental or physical ill health joining our workforce. We aspire to have a culture that develops, promotes and supports lived experience roles - throughout the organisation.

If you are successful, you agree to Occupational Health accessing your health records from your current or previous employer to check the status of your inoculations and screening tests. Appointments are subject to full three year satisfactory references therefore please ensure you include correct contact details for your nominated referees including email addresses.

Any general recruitment queries, please contact our recruitment team on 01208 834644

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

The Health Jobs UK website has jobs from numerous employers, within health and care across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute medical, surgical and specialist services to a population of around 500,000 which can increase significantly during the busy holiday periods.