Nhsct Associate Psychologist Band 5 - Community Mental Health Team in Larne

Advertised role location: Larne/Carrickfergus/Newtownabbey/Antrim

Associate Psychologist in the Community Mental Health Team Band 5

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) is responsible for the delivery of safe and effective health and social care (HSC) services to the population of the Northern Trust area in Northern Ireland. We provide compassionate care with our community in our community. In order to do this we require the commitment of a highly skilled and professional workforce that meets the need of the service.

HSC Value

What does this mean?

What does this look like in practice? - Behaviours

Working Together

We work together for the best outcome for people we care for and support. We work across Health and Social Care and with other external organisations and agencies, recognising that leadership is the responsibility of all.

• I work with others and value everyone’s contribution
• I treat people with respect and dignity
• I work as part of a team looking for opportunities to support and help people in both my own and other teams
• I actively engage people on issues that affect them
• I look for feedback and examples of good practice, aiming to improve where possible

Compassion

We are sensitive, caring, respectful and understanding towards those we care for and support and our colleagues. We listen carefully to others to better understand and take action to help them and ourselves.

• I am sensitive to the different needs and feelings of others and treat people with kindness
• I learn from others by listening carefully to them
• I look after my own health and well-being so that I can care for and support others

Excellence

We commit to being the best we can be in our work, aiming to improve and develop services to achieve positive changes. We deliver safe, high-quality, compassionate care and support.

• I put the people I care for and support at the centre of all I do to make a difference
• I take responsibility for my decisions and actions
• I commit to best practice and sharing learning, while continually learning and developing
• I try to improve by asking ‘could we do this better?’

Openness & Honesty

We are open and honest with each other and act with integrity and candour.

• I am open and honest in order to develop trusting relationships
• I ask someone for help when needed
• I speak up if I have concerns
• I challenge inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour and practice

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Temporary Associate Psychologist in the Community Mental Health Team

BAND: 5

LOCATION: Larne, Carrickfergus, Newtownabbey and Antrim

DIRECTORATE/DIVISION: Mental Health, Learning Disability & Psychological Services Division

REPORTS TO: Community Mental Health Team Leader / PTS Clinical/Counselling Psychologist.

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Director of Mental Health, Learning Disability & Psychological Services Division

FLEXIBLE WORKING

PROVISIONS AVAILABLE: Full-time working, Part-time working, Compressed/elongated hours.

JOB SUMMARY

The post-holder will provide brief psychological interventions within a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) commensurate with accreditation standards and good practice. To contribute to the implementation of a Brief Intervention Therapy Strategy across CMHTs in a designated area of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. To support the development of service interface and communication between the PTS and CMHTs both operationally and clinically. All duties will be undertaken under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist.

KEY RESULT AREAS / MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical

• To undertake protocol-based psychological assessments of clients referred to the service, applying psychological, tests, self-report measures, and rating scales with clients and others involved in the client’s care.
• To formulate and implement delivery of Step 2 brief intervention care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the client’s problems, and employing methods of proven efficacy, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist.
• To be responsible for providing brief psychological intervention for individuals and groups, within the multidisciplinary CMHT, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist.
• To assist in the development, co-ordination and facilitation of Step 2 brief intervention therapeutic groups, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist.
• To work closely with other staff within the multidisciplinary team to assess clients’ needs and review their care plan.
• To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care within the multidisciplinary team to the benefit of all clients of the service.
• To attend multidisciplinary meetings in the CMHT and represent a psychological perspective as appropriate under the guidance of a qualified professional psychologist.
• To contribute to a wider strategy of Brief Intervention Therapy implementation across CMHTs and mental health service that may involve other teams and innovative practises (e.g., workshop intervention migration) to increase intervention effectiveness and capacity-building.

Management

• To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service, as required.
• To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.

Administration

• To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping, including electronic data entry, and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.
• To work with local managers and professional colleagues to maximise efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery.
• To comply with Board, Trust and Directorate policies and procedures.
• To undertake specific administrative duties as required.
• To utilise information technology for the purpose of compiling reports, storing information and enabling effective communication within and without the Trust IT network.
• To monitor, manage and use effectively Trust computer and data systems (e.g., PARIS) to a good standard.

Teaching/Supervision

• To receive regular clinical professional supervision from a senior clinical psychologist and, where appropriate, other senior professional colleagues.
• To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties working alongside multidisciplinary staff of various professional backgrounds.
• To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.
• To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programs, in consultation with the post-holder’s professional and service manager(s).

Audit/Research

• To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.
• To undertake data collection, analysis, and the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programs.
• To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research, to assist qualified professional psychologists and professional colleagues in evidence-based practice, in individual work and work with other members of the multidisciplinary service.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Employees of the Trust will be required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible and:
• At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner
• At all times demonstrate practice the HSC values of Working Together, Excellence, Openness & Honesty and Compassion
• Carry out their duties and responsibilities in a manner which assures patient and client safety
• Comply with all instructions in regard to Infection Prevention and Control
• Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them
• Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy
• Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with health and safety policy and statutory regulations
• Adhere to equal opportunities policy throughout the course of their employment
• Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in service provision
• Adhere to the Code of Conduct for HSC Employees which aims to guide staff, managers and employers in the work that they do and the decisions and choices they have to make. Professional staff are expected to follow the code of conduct for their own professions as well as this code.
• The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the NHSCT Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

RECORDS MANAGEMENT

All employees of the Northern Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including (for example) the ICT Security Policy, Data Quality and Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

SALARY

£31,049- £37,796 per annum (pro‑rata for part‑time)

RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK

Please note this role may not meet the requirements for a Skilled Worker visa (including a Heath and Care Worker visa) and the Trust therefore would be unable to employ anyone that requires Sponsorship. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration).

HOURS

Normal full‑time hours of duty are 37½ hours per week, exclusive of meal times

MEDICAL

Appointment will be subject to a successful pre‑employment health assessment.

HOLIDAYS

27 days each year; 29 days after 5 years’ service; 33 days after 10 years’ service and 10 statutory and public holidays.

PENSION

The post-holder can participate in the Health Social Care Pension Scheme.

NORTHERN TRUST BENEFITS

• Explore the benefits on offer to you in the Northern Trust by clicking here

PROBATIONARY PERIOD

You will serve a probationary period of normally six months.

PAY PROTECTION

Legacy Trust Staff who apply for a promotion after 1 April 2011 should be aware that they will lose their legacy protection arrangements and will be entitled to pay protection in accordance with circular HSS (JNF) (1) 2011. This circular will also apply to legacy staff who are currently in receipt of protection and who move post on promotion.

THE NHSCT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants: may be required to attend for a Health Assessment; can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post. If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.

Have the right to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full‑time working, Fixed working patterns, Part‑time working, Flexi‑time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term‑time working, Job‑share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance.

WARRANTY

October 2026

Official document: Preference Proforma Asst Psych B5 CMHT (docx)

Preference Pro-forma

Vacancy Title: Temporary Associate Psychologist in the Community Mental Health Team

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Title of Post: Associate Psychologist in the Community Mental Health Team

Band of Post: 5

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

• Qualifications/ Registration: An Honours Degree in Psychology which confers eligibility for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society. In their primary degree applicants must have attained a minimum of second-class upper division with an average degree score of 60% or higher.
  Post-graduate training at certificate, diploma, or masters level, in an applied model of psychological therapy (e.g., CBT) and 12 months’ post graduate experience in a clinical or social care setting, under the supervision of a qualified Clinical or Counselling Psychologist.
  OR
  18 months’ post graduate experience delivering psychological interventions in a clinical or social care setting, under the supervision of a qualified Clinical or Counselling Psychologist.
• Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criterion will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage:

• High level communication skills (written and verbal), including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
• Ability to work collaboratively and interact effectively with others.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues.
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems.
• Ability to interact appropriately and meaningfully with clients.
• Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently, with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
• Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
• The ability to apply knowledge and skills to work psychotherapeutically with a range of clients with varying mild to moderate mental health problems.
• An ability to work with other professionals from non-psychology backgrounds in a multidisciplinary team context.
• The ability to design, implement, analyse and present basic qualitative and quantitative information to therapeutic outcomes.

VALUE BASED RECRUITMENT

Value Based Recruitment is a process adopted by the Northern Trust to attract and select employees on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with those of the Trust. It focuses on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ people do what they do.

Candidates who are short‑listed for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required knowledge, skills, competencies and values to be effective in this new role. In answering the value based questions you have the opportunity to share examples of when you have demonstrated values relevant to the Northern Trust.

CRIMINAL OFFENCES, INVESTIGATIONS AND CHARGES

Having a criminal record will not necessarily debar you from working with the Trust. This will depend on the nature of the position, together with the circumstances and background of your offences or other information contained on a disclosure certificate. Where it is necessary to obtain an Access NI disclosure the Trust operates in line with the Access NI Code of Practice.

If you require further information or a copy of the policy on the recruitment of ex‑offenders or the policy on the Secure Handling, Use, Storage and Retention of Disclosure Information, please contact the Trust Human Resources Department.

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

RIGHTS & E‑EEO

Adhere to equal opportunities policy throughout the course of their employment. The NHSCT is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

CONTACT

All applicants must return completed application forms to the BSO Recruitment and Selection Shared Services Centre, on or before the closing date as stated in the advertisement. Canvassing, either directly or indirectly, will be an absolute disqualification.

We will review this Job Description and it may include any other duties and responsibilities we determine in consultation with the jobholder. We do not intend it to be rigid and inflexible but rather to provide guidelines within which the jobholder works.

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