Assistant Psychologist in Exeter

Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time

Salary: £27,485

The Role:

To support and enhance the professional psychological care of children, young people and young adults within the service, across all sectors of care; providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed within a Multidisciplinary team and within the overall framework of the Company’s policies and procedures. To assist in clinically related administration, development and conduct of audits and/or research projects, teaching and project work.

Key Relationships:

• Internal: Clients, families and carers; Multidisciplinary Team including Psychiatrists, Paediatricians, Psychologists, Nurses, Cognitive Behaviour Therapists, Family Therapists, Advanced Mental Health Practitioners, Allied Health Professionals (physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist), Practice Manager, Administration and Reception Staff.
• External: Education, Children’s Social Care, Voluntary and private sector care organisations providing services for children and young people, NHS Providers.

Key Responsibilities:

• To undertake psychological assessments including neuropsychological tests; self-report measures; rating scales; direct and indirect structured observations; and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client’s care.
• To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist in community settings.
• To assist in the development, coordination and running of therapeutic groups.
• To work with other staff to assess children, young people and young adults, and contribute towards multi-disciplinary understandings and reviews.
• To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place.
• To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.
• To communicate professionally and effectively and to use interpersonal skills effectively with clients.
• To provide and receive complex and sensitive information with children, young people, young adults and their parents/carers and adjust communication style to meet the needs of others.
• To consider safeguarding, child and adult protection issues, following relevant policies and procedures and seeking safeguarding supervision as required.
• To consider risk and managing this risk, identifying own limits and seeking supervision around this.
• To produce reports in a timely manner, that share the key findings of assessment and if appropriate the formulation and intervention outcomes in a way that is understandable to all.

Teaching, Training and Supervision:

• To receive regular weekly clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
• To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the 3rd sector.
• To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.
• To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.
• To engage in Continuing Professional Development (CPD), including annual appraisals.
• Responsibility for research and development.
• To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work.
• To support project work, including specific areas of audit, research or service evaluation.

Information Technology and Administrative Duties:

• To be responsible for using an email account to generate, monitor, and respond to the email traffic by which the Company conducts much of its internal communication.
• To maintain accurate records, compliant with Company Practice Standards on the relevant clinical systems.
• To have sound knowledge of IT and the ability to use a clinical records system.
• To ensure that all policies, procedures and guidelines are followed.
• To identify and manage risks through incident reporting when appropriate.
• To take part in and develop activities designed to improve service delivery or quality of care such as staff surveys, participation and service development.
• To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.
• To prepare test materials and visual aids as required.
• To undertake specific administrative duties as required.
• To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade, which may be required from time to time by their supervisor/other team members.

Freedom to Act:

The post holder is accountable for their own professional actions, acting in accordance with Company policies and procedures and Professional Practice Guidelines. To work autonomously within clinical professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the governance of psychological practice within the locality/speciality. Interpretation of professional and Company guidelines, and implementing policies in conjunction with peers, Consultants and Directors. Any other specific tasks required. Ability to travel across Devon and the surrounding counties if required.