Higher Assistant Psychologist (Band 5) - SAMS - Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foun[...]

Hello! We are so delighted you are considering coming to work with us at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW). We know the power of looking into an organisation, one you might want to work in, or one where you are going to get help, and being able to say, ‘I’ve seen somewhere I can fit in and be myself.’ We’re on a journey to make the Trust an inclusive employer, representative of the community we serve and we want more of our community to consider applying for jobs with us.

Opportunities for you: Spanning east to west coasts from Northumberland to Cumbria and from the Scottish Borders down to Middlesbrough we’ve got exciting new opportunities available at every level and in every area. We offer flexible working, helping work fit around family and caring responsibilities, or training and development needs and there’s lots on offer in the way of benefits, such as lease cars, childcare schemes, staff discounts, season tickets for travel and a cycle to work scheme. All this in a vibrant workplace supported by the following staff networks:

• Cultural diversity staff network
• Disabled staff network
• LGBT+ staff network

We also have a number of staff support groups which are open to any staff to attend. These include:

• Armed Forces and Veterans Staff Association
• Mind, Health and Wellbeing Community
• Menopause toolkit and cafes and staff carer support group

We offer fantastic personal development opportunities through our Collective Leadership Programme and other Organisational Development initiatives. Whatever you are looking for, you will be joining a supportive, friendly team, offering varied and interesting roles, with opportunities for career progression.

Always improving: CNTW is regulated by the national healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our last two inspections have rated us as an outstanding organisation. We’re always seeking to improve as an organisation. Do you want to be part of that?

Please note that it is a requirement of this Trust that all external applicants pay for their own DBS certification if a DBS check is required for the post. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first monthly pay.

Job overview: The National Specialist Adolescent Mood Disorders Service (NSAMS) are looking to recruit a Higher Assistant Psychologist/Research Assistant at Band 5. The post holder will contribute to a specialist clinical psychology service as part of a multidisciplinary team to young people referred to NSAMS for second opinion mood disorders assessments and advice on management. The clinical academic team also run research on mood disorders in children and young people. The responsibilities in their role as Higher Assistant Psychologist (2.5 days/week) involve providing specialist assessment and therapy to young people with complex mental health difficulties, including young people with mood disorders. In their role as Research Assistant (2.5 days/week) they will support the Northern Hub with recruitment and retention of participants to an exciting NIHR HTA funded study comparing the clinical and cost effectiveness of stimulant ADHD medication vs uanfacine in helping young people who have ADHD and tics.

Main duties of the job: The post holder must have had experience as an assistant psychologist for at least one year and experience of working with children and adolescents in a mental health setting. A further essential criteria is the ability to drive and access to a car. Research experience is desirable. Research and clinical supervision will be provided in keeping with BPS guidelines.

Working for our organisation: We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities: Please find attached job description for full details.

Person specification:

• Education and Qualification: Upper 2nd class honours degree, or higher, in psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of British Psychological Society.
• Knowledge and Experience: Experience as an assistant/research psychologist. Paid or unpaid work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities. Knowledge of evidence based practice. Experience of working with people with psychological distress.
• Skills and Competencies: High level of communication skills (written and oral), including an ability to communicate and work in highly emotive circumstances. Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues. An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and other disabilities. Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health / cognitive impairment / disability context. Computer literate, including use of databases & data analysis, e.g. SPSS for Windows. Experience of delivery of psychological therapies.

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.

Please ensure to check out all of the supporting documents linked to this advert, for useful information about working for us, information from our Chief Executive and much more.

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.