Assistant Psychologist
Job Description
Job summary
We are looking to recruit a full-time Assistant Psychologist to join the Mental Health Support Team (MHST) in Kent. MHSTs are a new service designed to support children and young people with mild to moderate mental health in education settings.
MHSTs aim to:
support children and YP with mental health problems through evidence-based interventionssupport schools in developing their whole school approach to mental healthprovide timely advice to school staff and to liaise with other services to help children and young people get the right help and stay in education.
We are asking candidates to utilise the person specification to outline: What experience you have working with children in a community setting.
One trust, one mental health service for Kent and Medway - Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
This is an exceptional opportunity within the NHS to gain essential clinical experience and develop specialist skills in CBT, psychoeducation, initial interventions, complex trauma and personality-related needs, working within a structured, relational environment.
The role requires a combination of advanced data management skills for service evaluation and a passion for group process and clinical support. You will receive supervision from a qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist. The AP will fulfil a crucial dual role, supporting both the clinical delivery and the service's robust data, audit, and research agenda.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a committed, capable, resilient, and enthusiastic team player to join us at the Mental Health Support Team (MHST) to work with clients with low to moderate mental health needs.
We are looking for an Assistant Psychologist with a genuine interest and experience in working with people who have complex emotional needs and personality disorders. We are a supportive team with a commitment to reflective practice, formulation and co-production. We offer a group-based programme, so we are looking for someone who can co-facilitate groups, particularly CBT psychoeducation, and take a key role in evaluating the programme.
This is a varied role that also involves clinical work, audit & evaluation, administration, consultation, reflective practice and training other agencies to work with personality disorder. You will be well supported in individual supervision and team reflective practice sessions to take up this role.
About us
We are Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway and are rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Our teams support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs. We also provide specialist services, including all-age eating disorder services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people, such as autism and ADHD.
Because we work across the whole county and across hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the people we serve.
Our vision is simple: we are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. Everything we do is guided by our values: caring, inclusive, curious and confident.
Join us if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's working well together.
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description for the full details on the responsibilities and person specification
The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
Person Specification
Training Qualification
Essential
- Psychology Qualification - An upper second class honours degree or higher
- Entitlement to Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society.
Desirable
- Paid or voluntary work with people with mental health problems or and other difficulties
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis knowledge
Good communication skills
Essential
- High level communication skills demonstrated within personal statement. Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities, demonstrated with additional training or within personal statement
- Personal statement demonstrates an understanding of psychology applied to health care, and an awareness of NHS Plan and clinical governance priorities.
Desirable
- Experience using RIO and a passion for databases or data- analysis, especially Windows, Excel
- Knowledge of the educational system in England
- Additional training relating either to child development or mental health
Experience
Essential
- Working with children and young people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities
- Working within the community setting
Desirable
- A full valid UK driving licence for business purpose
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
Address
Vinters Business Park, Maidstone Studios
Vinters Business Park, Maidstone Studios, New Cut Road,
Maidstone, Kent
ME14 5NZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.kentmedwaymentalhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
