Job Overview Job summary CNWL NHS Foundation Trust delivers the community drug and alcohol service for people over the age of 18 in Milton Keynes. We are seeking an Assistant Psychologist to join our dynamic, multi-disciplinary team. This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a unique mental health branch during unprecedented expansion and growth. The post holder will have the chance to make a significant difference to people. The successful candidate will be an organised, energetic and robust individual with sophisticated and sensitive clinical skills. Various working locations across Milton Keynes. We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high volume of applications. Please apply as soon as possible. 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 SystmOne, and providing administrative assistance to the team as required. Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently is essential. Supervision will be offered by the Consultant Clinical Psychologist. The successful applicant will be an enthusiastic and committed team player with a genuine interest in mental health. The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings. Working for our organisation About Us The working environment will be a specialist NHS drug and alcohol service service staffed by a multi-disciplinary team working with people in the community. The post holder will have a working base at Netherfield. There will be an expectation of delivering services in other locations across Milton Keynes. 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. 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. To provide psychological assessments for clients at ARC-MK under the close supervision of a practitioner psychologist including to apply psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client’s care. To provide protocol based individual psychological interventions for clients attending ARC-MK, including cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and third-wave CBT interventions. To arrange, schedule and provide protocol-based group psychological interventions for clients referred to the Recovery Day Programme. To assist the psychologists in the development of individual or group clinical materials or training materials. To encourage clients at ARC-MK to receive appropriate follow up treatment and support for their needs (i.e. health education, blood borne virus testing and harm minimisation approaches) KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning To contribute to the effective working of the Recovery Day Programme (RDP) within ARC-MK by e.g., screening and registering new referrals; creating databases to track processes or progress through pathways and keeping them up-to-date; contributing to the training and support of other staff in developing and providing psychological care of clients. To act in a manner that supports a psychologically informed framework for the service. To participate in the team or service’s delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities. Person specification Knowledge And Skills Essential criteria Graduate level knowledge of psychological research methodology and statistical analysis Good theoretical knowledge of the problems experienced by and needs of adults of working age and older adults who experience problems associated with alcohol and substance use and of methods of assessment and treatment. Awareness of racial and diversity issues through attendance of relevant training. Skills in relevant psychological assessment and interventions that enable working as a pre-qualified practitioner with close clinical supervision. Well-developed verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex, information to clients, families and colleagues. Skills in providing supporting teaching and training provided by psychologists or others to other professional groups. Skills in providing supporting teaching and training provided by psychologists or others to other professional groups. Training & Qualifications Essential criteria A First-class or Upper-second-class Bachelor’s degree with Honours in Psychology that is accredited by the British Psychological Society and confers the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society. Experience Essential criteria Sufficient post-graduate experience of psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs relating to adult mental health to be able to work clinically with close direct supervision. Post-graduate experience of conducting research projects or audits Experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. This may have been gained through work, research, volunteering and / or lived experience. Desirable criteria The Trust encourages and welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental health challenges. We see this as valuable and recognise the positive impact this experience can have on the work we do. Experience of working within an addictions service. Abilities Essential criteria Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team, participating in effective team functioning and holding team roles Ability to identify and follow relevant clinical governance procedures. Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions. Ability to manage occasional emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour. Ability to communicate complex, sensitive or contentious information to people who may have impediments to understanding Ability to manage verbal abuse and hostility directed at self. Ability to manage physical aggression directed at self, including use of physical interventions as prescribed by Trust policies