Trainee Health Psychologist

Integrated Care System; Rochdale; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Part time

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen within the Psychological Therapies Department for a candidate to pursue a Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology. The role involves providing psychological therapy assessments and collaborating with a supportive team while pursuing further training. Candidates will build essential experience while undertaking a 3-year fixed-term role, combining practical work and academic growth.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Flexible working opportunities

Access to Continued Professional Development

Health and Wellbeing activities

Qualifications

• BPS accredited MSc Health Psychology required.
• Demonstrable experience in mental health services needed.
• Psychological therapy training essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychological therapy assessment for patients.
• Develop and deliver training for colleagues.
• Plan and conduct an empirical research study.

Skills

Communication

Therapeutic relationship building

Risk assessment

Education

BPS accredited Stage 1 health psychology qualification (MSc Health Psychology)

Good Honours Degree in Psychology at 2:1 level or above

Tools

IT literacy

Job description

Working in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, this post is offered to candidates wishing to complete the stage 2 (professional doctorate) training in Health Psychology. The post is offered 3 years fixed term whilst the candidate receives formal training through the university. There will be a writing up period after this 3-year period, which the candidate will be required to complete outside of the working role after the three year post comes to an end.

Candidates will work 4 days per week with the trust in a paid role working in a Psychological Therapies in Physical Health team. Outside of this paid role they will work on their Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology (including attending training sessions at Liverpool John Moores University) one day per week. They will be expected to evidence the necessary learning requirements of the doctorate programme as part of their working role.

Please note, the doctorate is self funded.

The admissions criteria for Liverpool John Moores University also requests that the applicants have ideally completed a BPS accredited Health Psychology Masters (stage 1) within the past 5 years. If the MSc was completed more than 5 years ago, the university would require evidence of how health psychology has been used in practice since. This can be demonstrated at interview.

The closing date for this post may be brought forward if there is a high number of applications.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work within a small team offering psychological therapy assessment to patients with physical health conditions.

During this time, the post holder will carry a clinical caseload, offering assessment and formulation of patients needs, and offering evidence based psychological therapies including CBT.

The post holder will develop and deliver training to colleagues within partner agencies and will provide consultation to another team or service.

The post holder will design, deliver and evaluate a non face to face intervention with patients.

The post holder will develop skills in offering consultation and will provide consultation to an external team or service.

As part of their studies, the post holder will plan, conduct, analyse and write up an empirical research study as well as conducting a systematic review.

The post holder will develop their knowledge around the complexities of mental health and physical health comorbidities as well as an awareness of mild to moderate and severe and complex mental health difficulties, in order to apply this learning to each element of service delivery, consultation, training and clinical work.

About us

We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.

Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We're really proud of our#PennineCarePeopleand do everything we can to make sure we're a great place to work.

All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.

If you come and work for us we will offer a range of benefits and opportunities, including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement for Agenda for Change and Medical and Dental staff.
• Flexible working opportunities to support your work/life balance
• Access to Continued Professional Development
• Involvement in improvement and research activities
• Health and Wellbeing activities and access to an excellent staff wellbeing service
• Access to staff discounts across retail, leisure and travel

Job responsibilities

The post holder will work within a small team offering psychological therapy assessment to patients with physical health conditions.

During this time, the post holder will carry a clinical caseload, offering assessment and formulation of patients needs, and offering evidence based psychological therapies including CBT.

The post holder will develop and deliver training to colleagues within partner agencies and will provide consultation to another team or service.

The post holder will design, deliver and evaluate a non face to face intervention with patients.

The post holder will develop skills in offering consultation and will provide consultation to an external team or service.

As part of their studies, the post holder will plan, conduct, analyse and write up an empirical research study as well as conducting a systematic review.

The post holder will develop their knowledge around the complexities of mental health and physical health comorbidities as well as an awareness of mild to moderate and severe and complex mental health difficulties, in order to apply this learning to each element of service delivery, consultation, training and clinical work.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

• BPS accredited Stage 1 health psychology qualification (MSc Health Psychology) at Merit level or above.
• Good Honours Degree in Psychology at 2:1 level or above (or the successful completion of a BPS accredited MSc Psychology conversion programme)
• BPS Graduate Basis for Chartership
• Psychological therapy training.

Experience

• Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services.
• Relevant research experience including quantitative statistical methods as undergraduate or postgraduate.
• Relevant paid or voluntary work in area of health/health care context.
• Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets.
• Ability to manage own caseload and time.
• Demonstrates high standards in written communication.
• Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers.
• Experience with routine outcome monitoring.
• Demonstrates an understanding of psychosis and complex mental health difficulties.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health / benefits & employment systems.
• Knowledge of medication used in anxiety and depression and other mental health problems
• Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies and how it relates to this post.
• Knowledge of child protection issues and other relevant legislation.
• Experience of working with clients in physical health / pain management settings.
• Worked in a service where agreed targets in place demonstrating clinical effectiveness

Knowledge

• Good level of knowledge of Health Psychology theory and theoretical approaches.
• Understanding of the application of theory/theoretical practice to Health Psychology.
• Skills in delivering healthcare interventions.
• Managing and planning demands of autonomous workload and Stage 2 training.
• IT literacy and keyboard skills (eg web search and office packages).
• Awareness of professional and ethical issues. Good communication and interpersonal skills; ability to form a rapport in all means of communication.
• Awareness of need for professionalism at all times, in behaviour, maintaining confidentiality, appropriate dress, punctuality and reliability.
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of people being sensitive and responsive to varying contexts.
• Awareness of need to recognise own competency limitations and of the need to seek advice at an early stage, in relation to both workplace and Stage 2 supervision.
• An in-depth knowledge of the cognitive and behavioural model of psychopathology
• Knowledge of cognitive & behavioural treatments for anxiety and depression.
• Has an awareness of the cycle of change model and motivation for therapy.
• Has knowledge of psychosocial issues that can impact on the application of treatments.
• Awareness of medication used in the treatment of anxiety and depression disorders.
• Has a good knowledge of the evidence base and the relationship to applied treatments
• Knowledge of adult and child safeguarding, along with knowledge of relevant mental health legislation
• Knowledge and awareness of health care in the UK NHS context.
• Ability to systematically review and synthesise large amounts of information.
• Knowledge of evidence-based managing physical health.
• A sophisticated understanding of research, research ethics and clinical audit.
• Publication contribution to research literature

Skills & Abilities

• Able to attend the academic course as per university expectations.
• Able to demonstrate ability to complete academic components of the course.
• Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
• Has received training (either formal or through experience) and carried out risk assessments within scope of practice.
• Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients.
• High level of enthusiasm and motivation.
• Advanced communication skills.
• Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships.
• Ability to use clinical supervision and personal development positively and effectively.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
• Ability to be self reflective, whilst working with service users, & in own personal and professional development and in supervision.
• The ability and skills to act as an advocate for a new service, to engage and foster good professional relationships with all health professionals in promoting the good integration of this service with the wider health care system
• Accredited with a professional psychological therapy organisation.
• Completed clinical audits within a service.

Work Related Circumstances

• Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs.
• Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies.
• Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.
• Understanding of requirements for Stage 2 Health Psychology competences.

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.

Psychological Therapies Department, Birch Hill Hospital

£38,682 to £46,580 a yearper annum, pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

3 years

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

311-R371-25

Job locations

Psychological Therapies Department, Birch Hill Hospital