Assistant Psychologist/Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner in Liverpool

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Mersey Care to work as an Assistant Psychologist for the Mental Health Treatment Requirement across Merseyside. This service provides assessments and psychological interventions with people who have been given Mental Health Treatment Requirements. There are currently 2 vacancies - one vacancy to work at Wirral Magistrates Court / Probation Office and one vacancy to work at Warrington Magistrates Court / Probation Office. The service covers Merseyside and Cheshire, working across the courts and probation services in these regions.

The successful applicants will spend their mornings at court assessing individuals for their suitability for an MHTR. They will also work across their local National Probation services, where they will provide short-term psychological intervention. As such, travel is part of this role. They will be part of a wider team with regular supervision, joint working, CPD, and reflective practice.

The role will be to provide short-term psychological interventions for a range of psychological difficulties and experiences, including low mood and anxiety, anger, loss, trauma, interpersonal problems and learning difficulties. There will also be the opportunity to utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the area served by the team/service.

• To undertake psychological assessments of clients applying psychological tests, including self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, and others involved in the client’s care, under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.
• 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.
• To collate and report audit data in order to meet the audit requirements of the service.
• 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 receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
• To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS over and above that provided within the principal service area where the post holder is employed.
• 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 provide training as required to managers and other staff as appropriate.

• To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
• To assist with the analysis, development, evaluation and monitoring of the team’s operational policies and services, through service evaluation and audit.
• To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.

• To assist in the design of computerised databases and to be responsible for their continual updating and on-going statistical analysis.
• To be aware of, and comply with, National Regulations and local Trust Policies concerned with Data Protection and Information Governance.

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

• 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 programmes, in consultation with the post-holder’s professional and team/operational manager(s).
• 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 and HCPC 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, this may be required from time to time by their Manager.

• Provide & receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with good practice guidelines and Trust policy.
• To train and develop staff and to carry out at least annually an appraisal, objective setting and personal development planning meeting.

• To participate in the Trust’s annual Appraisal process.
• To attend all relevant mandatory training as and when required to do so.

• To promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
• Implementation of NICE guidance and other statutory / best practice guidelines (if appropriate).
• To be responsible for the prevention and control of infection.
• To report any incidents of harm or near miss in line with the Trust’s incident reporting policy ensuring appropriate actions are taken to reduce the risk of reoccurrence.
• To contribute to the identification, management and reduction of risk in the area of responsibility.
• To ensure day-to-day practice reflects the highest standards of governance, clinical effectiveness, safety and patient experience.
• To ensure monitoring of quality and compliance with standards is demonstrable within the service on an ongoing basis.
• To be aware of the responsibility of all employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients/clients, visitors and staff.

• The post holder will be expected to work in a range of settings. They will be primarily based within Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Team in South Sefton Magistrates Court. Some sessions may involve working in other geographical areas both within and external to the Trust.
• The post holder will also be expected to provide domiciliary visits where required.
• Post holders must have a capacity to provide services in constrained or adverse conditions and may be required to sit in constrained positions for clinical sessions.
• Travel is an integral part of the post.

To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health. To comply with the Professional Codes of Conduct and to be aware of changes in these. To maintain an up to date knowledge of all relevant legislation and local policies and procedures implementing this. To ensure that all duties are carried out to the highest standard, and in accordance with currently quality initiatives within the work area. To comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information and to be aware of any changes in these. To comply at all times with the Trust’s Information Governance related policies. All Staff are required to respect the confidentiality of information about staff, patients and Trust business and in particular the confidentiality and security of personal identifiable information in line with the Data Protection Act. All staff are responsible for ensuring that any data created by them is timely, comprehensive, accurate, and fit for the purposes for which it is intended.

All staff are required to respect the confidentiality of all Trust business and the business of the Trust’s staff, residents, patients and general public which they may learn in the execution of their duties.

All staff are expected to adhere to the regulations regarding the Data Protection Act 1984 as laid down by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Data quality of information within service user records remains the responsibility of each NHFT employee. Refer to the Data Quality Policy IGP014. The prevention and control of healthcare associated infections in service users, staff and visitors is taken seriously by the Trust. All staff employed by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust are required to adhere to the Trust infection control policies and procedures.