Assistant Psychologist

Job Overview

Job summary

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust working in partnership with Inclusion (Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust) to provide The East of England Gambling Service.

We are seeking 1 Assistant Psychologist to join our dynamic team. This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a unique branch of mental health at a time of unprecedented expansion and growth. The post holder will have the chance to make a significant difference to residents in the East of England and to be part of the development of the first NHS gambling service in this region.

The successful candidate will be an energetic and robust individual with sophisticated and sensitive clinical skills, and a proven track record of delivering high quality services in either the NHS, social care or the private sector.

Various working locations and remote working across the East of England alongside some evening work.

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

As an Assistant Psychologist you will be expected to support qualified clinical staff in completing assessments, delivering individual and group therapy and conducting audit and evaluation. The post-holder will also have the opportunity to contribute to the delivery of the specialist psychological intervention programmes offered in the service, which are primarily motivational interviewing and CBT based. The post will also include exposure to research endeavours being undertaken.

There is a strong organisational support element to the role in the form of overseeing the referral and assessment booking process, using databases and IAPTUS, and providing administrative assistance to the team as required. Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently is essential. Supervision will be offered by qualified clinical/counselling psychologists.

The successful applicant will be an enthusiastic and committed team player with a genuine interest in mental health.

Working for our organisation

About Us

The working environment will be a specialist NHS gambling service staffed by a multi-disciplinary team working with outpatients. The post-holder will have a working base at Milton Keynes but the role is likely to be largely remote working. There will be an expectation of delivering services in other locations across the region to be agreed once demand is clear.

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 7,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

Job Responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information about the advertised role, please refer to the job description & person specification included in the documents section of this advert.

Clinical and administrative

• To plan and undertake assessments of clients. This may include using motivational interviewing techniques, self-report measures, risk assessment, rating scales, direct and indirect observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care. Assessments will involve making judgements involving complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options, as well as requiring prolonged concentration.
• To write clinical summaries and care plans based on information gleaned at assessment and present these to the multi-disciplinary team
• To provide motivational interventions to clients waiting to commence CBT
• To work in a highly emotive atmosphere with clients with gambling problems on a regular basis, and be able to communicate sensitive and complex information, whilst maintaining a high degree of professionalism at all times. May be subject to verbal aggression in individual sessions.
• To assist in the co-ordination and running of therapeutic groups, under the supervision of a qualified member of staff.
• To liaise with referrers and clients and facilitate the referral process along with administrative staff. To maintain an oversight of client engagement from first contact to discharge
• To assist managers and senior staff as required to ensure the safe daily operation of the clinic
  
  

Person specification

Knowledge And Skills

Essential criteria

• High level communication skills (written and verbal) including the ability to communicate around subjects that may be highly emotive
• Highly computer literate and proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Experience of using databases for data analysis, especially SPSS.
• High standard of report writing
• Knowledge of IAPTUS
  
  

Training & Qualifications

Essential criteria

• A 2:1 honours degree or higher in psychology
• Eligibility to Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology including CAMHS, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
  
  

Experience

Essential criteria

• Previous direct work in a clinical setting with clients experiencing addiction or mental health problems
• Experience of research
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Experience of paid work in direct care provision.
  
  

Other

Essential criteria

• Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
  
  

Desirable criteria

• A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology