Assistant Psychologist
Job Description
Job summary
Assistant Psychologist Devon Memory Service 1.0 WTE
Base - Exeter (with an expectation of covering other bases in Torbay and North Devon as needed)
- Are you looking for a career in one of the UKs most respected mental health and learning disability trust?
- Would you like to be part of a dedicated team committed to helping those with mental health & learning disability problems enjoy a better future?
- Would you like to do a job that makes a difference every day
- We are looking to recruit Assistant Psychologists to join the Devon Memory Service to assist Senior Clinicians, providing psychological assessment and specific interventions under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist, working independently within the limits agreed with the supervisor.
Main duties of the job
Assistant Psychologists are critical to supporting our vision of delivering psychological/ trauma informed environments for older adults. The role is dynamic and challenging and requires a flexible, can-do attitude. The post holder will administer and score neuropsychological assessments as part of the dementia assessment pathway. The post holder may be required to deliver group and individualised psychological interventions to service users and carers accessing Devon Memory Service and the Older Adult Mental Health Services.
The post holder will support the service in the delivery of training initiatives, utilising research skills for audit, literature reviews and service development. The work will be supported through weekly clinical supervision from a qualified psychological professional.
We will support you to learn the skills you need to thrive in the role. We will offer you the training and development support you need to begin a fulfilling career. In return, you will need to be motivated, flexible and eager to learn.
The Older Adult Mental Health service is home to qualified, non-qualified psychologists and psychological therapists from a range of theoretical backgrounds/interests as well as other MDT professionals and support workers. We have a number of forums for connecting and gaining CPD. We have links with universities for clinical psychology trainees.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
- The principal purpose of the role is to improve the psychological health & wellbeing of people in receipt of services by Devon Partnership Trust Memory Service and Older Adult Mental Health Services. This will be achieved in this post by:
- Providing a Psychology and Psychological Therapies service to the Devon Memory Service as a key component of integrated mental health and wellbeing services in Devon Partnership Trust.
- Implement specific assessment and psychological interventions and provide advice and consultancy to patients, family members, carers and professionals under the supervision and management of the Clinical Psychologist.
- The post holder will be line managed by the Devon Memory Service Professional Lead and supported by senior colleagues within the local Older Adults Psychology and Community team. The post holder will be expected to make good use of the expertise of others within the service to further develop their knowledge and clinical skills with this client group
- To work independently within a defined managed and occupational context. To work within professional guidelines and Devon Partnership Trust procedures and protocols.
- The post holder will receive regular professional and clinical supervision in accordance with Trust policy and to Professional Practice Guidelines set out by the British Psychological Society.
Communication and Working Relationship Skills
- To communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner with clients who may have specific difficulties in understanding and/or communicating and who may be hostile, antagonistic or highly emotionally disturbed.
- To work closely with colleagues in the multi-professional integrated mental health and wellbeing service on a day to day basis.
- To communicate with a wide range of health & social care staff in hospital and in community settings in a skilled and sensitive manner, complex and sensitive information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under the services care. To provide support & guidance in the application of psychological principles and techniques and to foster reflective practice.
- To maintain and build good working relationships with senior professional staff and managers in Devon Partnership Trust. To foster a positive approach to the integrated mental health and wellbeing service and to enable effective negotiation.
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
- The post-holder will recognise own clinical competencies, knowledge base and experience, and practice within this, acting as a positive role model, and seek support as required.
- To make informed and well-reasoned decisions, recognising when to seek further advice from a registered practitioner.
- To take part and be aware of Health and Safety matters as appropriate.
- The post holder will present punctually for duty in a professional manner, correctly dressed according to Trust Policy.
Planning and Organisational Skills
- To plan and prioritise own workload, balancing the demands of patient care, support and guidance of carers and professionals, service research and development activities.
- To provide psychology knowledge to the multi-professional planning, development and marketing of mental health and wellbeing services.
Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy
- To undertake assessments, and deliver treatment plans within a supervised context for individuals, carers, families and groups. To demonstrate awareness of diversity issues.
- To provide advice, guidance and consultation on psychological aspects of patient care to colleagues, other service providers, patients, supporters and families.
Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation
- The post holder is responsible for their own professional actions, acting within Trust policies and procedures and Professional Practice Guidelines, working within clearly defined occupational procedures.
- To follow policy guidance in own role and to comment on proposed policy changes and service developments.
- To undertake service-relevant research and development activity agreed within the psychology service. To organise personal or service led research and development activities, as required.
Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources
- Careful use of equipment.
Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management
- To assist the work of less experienced assistants and/or trainees as required.
- To provide supervision to health and social care colleagues relevant to their role under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.
Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties
- To maintain accurate records in accordance with professional and local guidelines and policies.
- To be responsible for using an email account to generate, ...
