Senior Assistant Psychologist

The Methodist Church in Britain; Swindon; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension scheme

Flexible working

Career development and progression

Health and wellbeing support

Paid travel time between patients

Job summary

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's Mental Health Treatment Requirement team is seeking a Senior Assistant Psychologist to support service users in a criminal justice context. You will undertake protocol-based assessments, formulate care plans, and deliver psychological interventions under supervision.

The role includes mentoring band 4 assistant psychologists, contributing to training and liaising with partner agencies, with opportunities for professional development and NHS pension

Qualifications

• At least a 2:1 (Hons) degree in Psychology.
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
• Significant face-to-face work with people with mental health problems or offending behaviour.
• Experience of psychological assessments, formulations and care planning.
• Previous Assistant Psychologist experience in a healthcare setting.

Responsibilities

• Work under the supervision of a HCPC registered practitioner psychologist.
• Undertake protocol-based psychological assessments of service users.
• Formulate and deliver care plans collaboratively with service users.
• Deliver psychological interventions to service users.
• Support clinical leads in triaging referral screenings and assessments.
• Prepare assessment reports, psychometric results and case notes.
• Provide advice and support on psychological needs to service users.
• Prepare training packages and support staff training and induction.
• Deliver briefings on service provision to partner agencies.
• Contribute to organising training seminars and conferences.
• Mentor band 4 assistant psychologists and provide induction support.

Skills

2:1 psychology degree

Graduate membership of BPS

Personality disorder and mental health

Communicating sensitive information

Education

2:1 (Hons) Psychology

BPS graduate membership eligibility

Job description

This Senior Assistant Psychologist post sits in the Mental Health Treatment Requirement team within the Health and Justice Service at Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The team assesses people with mental health difficulties who have come into contact with the criminal justice system and provides psychological interventions to reduce custodial sentences and reoffending. The post is distinct for its criminal justice focus and for mentoring band 4 assistant psychologists. Applicants need at least a 2:1 in psychology and entitlement to BPS graduate membership.

What the job involves

• Work under the supervision of an HCPC registered practitioner psychologist
• Undertake protocol-based psychological assessments of service users
• Formulate and deliver care plans collaboratively with service users
• Deliver psychological interventions to service users
• Support clinical leads in triaging referral screenings and assessments
• Prepare assessment reports, letters, psychometric results, case note reviews and research or audit projects
• Provide advice, guidance and support to service users on their psychological needs
• Prepare training packages agreed with the Clinical Lead and contribute to training and support of other staff
• Deliver briefings on service provision to partner agencies
• Contribute to organising training seminars and conferences
• Mentor band 4 assistant psychologists and provide their induction support

What’s required

Qualifications

• At least a 2:1 (Hons) degree in Psychology
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Experience

• Significant face-to-face work with people with mental health problems, neurodiversity issues, learning disabilities and/or offending behaviour
• Experience of psychological assessments, formulations, risk assessments and care planning
• Previous experience as an Assistant Psychologist in a healthcare setting

Skills & knowledge

• Understanding of the needs of people with personality disorder, mental illness and/or learning disabilities
• Communicating sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance

Nice to have

• Further postgraduate training in relevant areas of psychology, mental health and/or research design and analysis
• Experience of working with offenders
• Experience of administering, scoring and interpreting psychometric tests
• Experience of providing psychological interventions, group programmes and/or individual

What’s offered

• NHS Pension scheme
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Up to 27 days annual leave, rising to 33 days with service
• Options for flexible working
• Support for career development and progression
• Extensive health and wellbeing support and resources
• Paid travel time between patients for community team staff
• Lease or salary sacrifice car schemes and salary sacrifice bikes up to £2k