Higher Assistant Psychologist Middlesbrough

Job summary

This post offers exciting opportunities within the Tees Adult Learning Disability Service. We are seeking to appoint a psychology graduate with previous experience as an assistant psychologist to work into our inpatient unit at Bankfields Court.

Bankfields Court is an inpatient facility which provides an assessment and treatment service for adults with learning disabilities, who also have associated mental health problems, behaviour that challenges or severe epilepsy.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will promote the recovery and wellbeing of our service users within a trauma informed framework, during their journey towards discharge. Their core role will involve contributing to psychological assessment and formulation, supporting the team in using psychological and behavioural interventions (e.g. PBS), providing low intensity interventions, promoting staff-wellbeing, and carrying out clinical evaluation and audit.

The successful applicant will have experience of working with people with mental health difficulties and, ideally, also with people with learning disabilities. In addition, they will be enthusiastic, motivated, and passionate about improving the emotional wellbeing and quality of life of people with a learning disability. They will be working as part of a friendly and dynamic multi-disciplinary team under direct supervision from a Clinical Psychologist.

About us

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won't rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Job responsibilities

Please see the job description and person specification which outlines the main duties and responsibilities of the role.

Psychologists & Psychological Therapists provide key leadership roles within the Trust. To support this, we have developed leadership profiles for each psychology band and the profile card associated with this post is attached on NHS Jobs. You can find more information about the NHS Leadership Academys Healthcare Leadership Model and the profiles at their website. We encourage you to look at these resources as they will play a part in the interview process.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in psychology
• Eligible for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable

• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, youth work, work with offenders and/or research design and analysis

Experience

Essential

• Experience working as an Assistant Psychologist or equivalent.
• Previous involvement in clinical audit, research or service evaluation.
• Experience using statistical software packages e.g. SPSS
• Experience of using psychometric assessments.
• Experience working with people using services in psychological, mental health and/or social care settings. This may include, for example, personal experience or supporting a family member to access services.
• Experience of communicating sensitive information
• Experience of work interacting with the public
• Experience in discussing and responding to issues related to cultural diversity, intersectionality and inclusivity, including working with vulnerable groups (e.g. those for whom English is not their first language).

Desirable

• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of working with individuals with learning disability and autism

Knowledge

Essential

• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental ill health or learning disabilities
• An understanding of the application of psychology to health care.
• Understanding of confidentiality.
• Knowledge of the British Psychological Society Code of Conduct.
• An ability to apply psychological knowledge to the population described in the job advert
• Knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures
• Awareness of systemic barriers to accessing psychological services/healthcare for minoritized communities.

Skills

Essential

• Ability to relate therapeutically to the needs of clients and in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
• Ability to work collaboratively with members of the MDT to provide an effective service.
• Utilise psychometric tests competently
• Statistical analysis
• Record keeping.
• Plan and organise effectively to meet required timescales.
• Use approved breakaway techniques
• Has a full UK driving license

Desirable

• Ability to provide group interventions.

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).