Clinical Associate in Psychology

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others. There’s a place for you at CNWL. We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.

Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.

Are you a talented psychology graduate who is passionate about using your psychological knowledge to make a real difference to the lives of people in our local communities? Have you completed the Clinical Associate in Psychology master’s programme? Have you got experience working with young people with mental health difficulties? Can you bring knowledge and experience of the local communities the Trust serves to your work?

CNWL is excited to be offering further opportunities in England for talented and passionate psychology graduates to join NHS Mental Health services as Clinical Associates in Psychology (CAPs). The MK Sp CAMHS Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team (MK Sp CAMHS-CRHTT) is a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) of mental health professionals providing a 24-hour, 7 day per week service to young people experiencing an acute psychiatric/psychological crisis. The team provides an alternative to acute hospital admission by delivering intensive community-based interventions or assists in shortening the inpatient stay by facilitating early discharge and support back to the community.

Main duties of the job

The role entails close working with a wide range of agencies and colleagues, including acute hospital staff, education, social care and other teams across Milton Keynes Mental Health Service, to support the psychological care of patients in a mental health emergency. In addition, part of the role involves helping acute hospital staff to understand and meet the psychological needs of their patients. This occurs both through formal training sessions and joint clinical management of patients through ward work and outpatient appointments, staff support, complex case formulation and frequent attender work. All interventions will encourage adherence to a good quality service model that guarantees more people have good mental health, be recovery focused, safeguard a focus on both mental and physical health and assume reduced stigma, discrimination and minimal harm.

You will receive supervision from a qualified clinical psychologist and be delivering interventions in line with your developing skill and competence.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will provide psychological interventions for young people, particularly those with complex mental health problems, focusing on strengths and assets to help people with what matters most to them. These interventions will be delivered in line with service user’s care plans, within the limits of the post holder’s competence and under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist.

In CNWL, psychological professions have a strong sense of leadership and a distinct professional identity. There is an emphasis on Continuing Professional Development and developing your skills in line with your career progression goals. There are a number of wider support systems within the Trust, including staff peer networks.

The post holder would be expected to work closely with experts-by-experience, local communities, Community and Voluntary and Social Enterprises, to co-produce and co-develop services. The post holder will be involved in partnership working, liaising with various stakeholders in the system, e.g. GPs, schools, social care etc, and will play a key role in developing our links with external agencies. The post holder will also be involved in raising the awareness of the complexity of the health and social challenges many people face and the impact this has on mental health & well-being and vice versa. Key aims are to help people build resilience, feel more connected to their community, and to instil a sense of belonging.

Person specification

Qualifications

• An approved qualification in psychology conferring eligibility for graduate basis for registration with the British Psychological Society, (Class 2.2 or higher)
• Completed BPS [British Psychological Society] accredited CAP apprenticeship training programme including EPA to IFA standards
• Holding a CAP apprenticeship certificate
• Understand the range of behavioural change models, including health belief models, and interventions that promote mental health for the populations (e.g. Ecological Model; Community Psychology).

Experience

• Evaluate and audit clinical practice through conducting service evaluations/QI projects to inform change through dissemination of findings ensuring best use of publicly funded resources
• Apply and review risk assessments and formulations when working with complex service users within scope of practice
• Experience of working with children and young people
• Provide consultation/supervision with regards to psychological formulation, assessment, and intervention
• Lived experience of using services, and/or being a carer for someone

Knowledge and Skills

• Maintain and implement knowledge of contemporary evidence-based practice through appropriate continued professional development
• Ability to analyse and appraise the range of psychological assessment methods used within applied clinical practice to underpin assessment
• To be able to assess and formulate someone’s experiences drawing on a range of psychological models and theory
• Able to correctly handle confidential information and knowing how and when to share this information for appropriate professional purposes and only with appropriate individuals, and as necessary with appropriately gained consent
• Ability to maintain accurate clinical records and why all entries in clinical and practice records are dated, timed and signed

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run. Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.

If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.