Assistant psychologist

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust celebrates diversity and promotes equal opportunities; we are committed to challenging and eliminating racism and other forms of discrimination and advancing and promoting equality of opportunity in the provision of services and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

We take positive action to support disadvantaged groups and also particularly encourage applications from ethnic minorities, disabled and LGBTQIA+ people that are under-represented in our workforce. Furthermore we welcome applications from reservists and ex-armed forces personnel as we recognise the benefits of the values, skills, training and experience that they bring to their work with us. We encourage all applicants to share their equality information with us.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-, To support and enhance the professional psychological care of service users within the service, across all relevant sectors; providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with the supervising qualified psychologist and within the overall framework of the team’s policies and procedures.

To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work., The post holder will hold a key position as assistant psychologist at Stafford House, a Psychologically Informed Planned Environment (PIPE). They will have a role in maintaining a psychosocial environment; ensuring that the service adheres to the principles of the PIPE model. The post holder will contribute to staff development by offering consultancy and formulation. They will receive monthly line supervision from the Clinical Lead. They will be connected to a well-developed and supportive network of colleagues, and they will have access to training opportunities and conference events.

This role is based within Stafford House Approved Premises. Stafford house is an accredited Psychologically Informed Planned Environment and Enabling Environment. PIPEs are specifically designed environments supporting people on probation upon their release (3-6 month residential placement). Staff members have additional training to develop an increased psychological understanding of their work. This understanding enables staff to further develop a safe and supportive environment that can retain the benefits gained from treatment and help residents navigate their return to community living including the development of lasting support networks., Under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist:

1.1 To work with potentially distressing material in relation to service users’ personal histories and possible offending behaviour, risks to self and others, and additional security requirements as integral to a low secure environment.

1. 2 To undertake psychological assessments of service users which may include, a range of psychometric tests, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, carers and others involved in the client’s care.

1.3 To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s problems.

1.4 To assist in the coordination and running of psychologically informed groups.

1.5 To work with other disciplines to assess inpatients, outpatients, day patients or residents and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.

1.6 To assist in the development of a psychological framework of understanding and care to all service users.

1.7 To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings as directed by the qualified psychologists.

1.8 To use a degree of initiative and work independently with service users on planned pieces of work and to exercise judgment based on good practice and operating procedures.

1.9 To undertake PIPE specific 1:1 support of residents focusing on the relationship as a mechanism for change.

1.10 To assist in the coordination, running and summary of focus groups.

1. Teaching, Training and Supervision

2.1 To receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines and Directorate Policy.

2.2 To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties

2.3 Where appropriate, and under the supervision of qualified staff, contribute to the training and support of other staff.

1. Management, Recruitment and Service Development

Under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist:

3.1 To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.

3.2 To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed as required.

1. Research and Service Evaluation

Under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist:

4.1 To assist qualified clinical psychologists in the design and implementation of audit, effectiveness and research projects.

4.2 To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of full reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.

4.3 To review evidence based literature and research to assist qualified psychologists and work with other team members in their clinical responsibilities as necessary.

4.4 To assist in the gathering of clinically relevant information to contribute to the Offender Personality Disorder strategy national research programme.

1. General

5.1 To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in appropriate CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the postholder’s professional and team/operational manager(s).

5.2 To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society, the Health Professions Council, Clinical Business Unit and Trust policies and procedures.

5.3 To undertake specific administrative duties as required.

5 4 To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade, which may be required by their Psychological Services Manager.

5.5 Develop a skill base in the administration and analysis of a range of psychometric packages as directed.

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Only those applicants who demonstrate clearly how they meet our person specification will be shortlisted for interview.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we offer a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants who consider themselves to be disabled who meet the minimum (essential) criteria for the role in the person specification. If you would like your application to be considered under the Trust’s guaranteed interview scheme you can indicate this in the personal information section of your online application form.

Should you require a reasonable adjustment to our recruitment process please email [email protected] to ensure that measures can be put in place to support you.

We reserve the right to close any vacancy earlier than advertised in exceptional circumstances once we have received a high volume of applications.

The Trust expects all post holders who require an enhanced DBS for their role subscribe to the DBS Update Service. You will be required to enrol for this service for a fee of £16 per year and maintain registration. Trans applicants who require a DBS check and do not want to reveal details of their previous identity can contact the DBS Sensitive Applications Team (01516761452 or email [email protected]) with their application number once they have completed their DBS application form. The team can prevent any previous identity showing on the DBS Certificate, unless the applicant has a conviction under their previous details in which case this will need to be disclosed.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Please be advised that the use of Artificial Intelligence on applications is monitored and if you choose to use this, you must declare this on your application form.