Assistant Psychologist Devon Memory Service 0.6 WTE (22.5 hours per week)
The Devon Memory Service runs clinics across Devon and the post holderwill be required to provide cover to those clinics, as the need arises (Bases: Barnstaple, Exeter and Torquay).
* 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.
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 wider Older Persons Community Mental Health Team.
Main duties of the job
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 Psychology & Psychological Therapy (PPT) service is home to qualified, non-qualified psychologists and psychological therapists from a range of theoretical backgrounds/interests. We have a number of forums for connecting and gaining CPD. We have links with universities for clinical psychology trainees.
You will have completed your degree in psychology andwill haveexperience of working in a team. The role involves communication, so we expectthat you have excellent verbal and written skills.
You will often work under pressure and without direct supervision, so weare looking for someone confident and capable. You will be flexible andtolerant of change. You will prioritise tasks, and manage your own workload,providing support for your colleagues where required.
About us
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 thepsychological health & wellbeing of people in receipt of services by DevonPartnership Trust Memory Service. This will be achieved in this post by:
Providing a Psychology and Psychological Therapies serviceto the Devon Memory Service as a key component of integrated mental health andwellbeing services in Devon Partnership Trust.
Implement specific assessment and psychologicalinterventions and provide advice and consultancy to patients, family members,carers and professionals under the supervision and management of the ClinicalPsychologist.
The post holder will be line managed by the Psychology andPsychological Therapies Professional Lead and supported by senior colleagueswithin the local Older Adults Community Mental Health Team. The post holder will beexpected:
* to make good use of the expertise of otherswithin the service to further develop their knowledge and clinical skills withthis client group
* to work independently within a defined managedand occupational context.
* to work within professional guidelines and DevonPartnership Trust procedures and protocols.
The post holder will receive regular professional andclinical supervision in accordance with Trust policy and to ProfessionalPractice Guidelines set out by the British Psychological Society.
Duties andResponsibilities
Communication and Working Relationship Skills
Clients, family andcarers
* To communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner withclients who may have specific difficulties in understanding and/orcommunicating and who may be hostile, antagonistic or highly emotionallydisturbed.
Multidisciplinary teamcolleagues
* To work closely with colleagues in the multi-professionalintegrated mental health and wellbeing service on a day to day basis.
* To communicate with a wide range of health & social carestaff in hospital and in community settings in a skilled and sensitive manner,complex and sensitive information concerning the assessment, formulation andtreatment plans of clients under the services care. To provide support &guidance in the application of psychological principles and techniques and tofoster reflective practice.
Senior managers &professional staff
* To maintain and build good working relationships with seniorprofessional staff and managers in Devon Partnership Trust. To foster apositive approach to the integrated mental health and wellbeing service and toenable effective negotiation.
Analytical andJudgemental Skills
* The post-holder will recognise own clinical competencies,knowledge base and experience, and practice within this, acting as a positiverole model, and seek support as required.
* To make informed and well-reasoned decisions, recognisingwhen to seek further advice from a registered practitioner.
* To take part and be aware of Health and Safety matters asappropriate.
* The post holder will present punctually for duty in aprofessional manner, correctly dressed according to Trust Policy.
Planning andOrganisational Skills
* To plan and prioritise own workload, balancing the demandsof patient care, support and guidance of carers and professionals, serviceresearch and development activities.
The multidisciplinaryservice
* To provide psychological knowledge to the multi-professionalplanning, development and marketing of mental health and wellbeing services.
Responsibility forPatient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy
Assessment &intervention
* To undertake assessments, and deliver treatment plans withina supervised context for individuals, carers, families and groups. Todemonstrate awareness of diversity issues.
Consultation &guidance
* To provide advice, guidance and consultation onpsychological aspects of patient care to colleagues, other service providers,patients, supporters and families.
Responsibility forPolicy and Service Development Implementation
* The post holder is responsible for their own professionalactions, acting within Trust policies and procedures and Professional PracticeGuidelines, working within clearly defined occupational procedures.
Policy & service
* To follow policy guidance in own role and to comment onproposed policy changes and service developments.
Research andDevelopment
* To undertake service-relevant research and developmentactivity agreed within the psychology service. To organise personal or serviceled research and development activities, as required.
Responsibility forFinance, Equipment and Other Resources
* Careful use of equipment.
Responsibility forHuman Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice andManagement
Leadership &supervision
* To assist the work of less experienced assistants and/ortrainees as required.
* To provide supervision to health and social care colleaguesrelevant to their role under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.
Responsibility forInformation Resources and Administrative Duties
* To maintain accurate records in accordance with professionaland local guidelines and policies.
* To be responsible for using an email account to generate,monitor, and respond to the e-mail traffic by which the Trust conducts much ofits internal communication.
* Develop and maintain information systems as requiredincluding relevant and accurate notes on electronic care records.
* Ensure information resources including the Intranet areconsulted regularly to maintain a current knowledge of Trust, Directorate andTeam priorities and safety initiatives.
* Ensure information is shared with key stakeholders and otheragencies in a secure manner.
Responsibility forResearch and Development
* To take part in research projects and audit when required todo so.
Freedom to Act
* To work within the Trust operational policies and servicespecifications of the teams.
* To organise and take responsibility for own work andcaseload under the guidance of a Clinical Psychologist and within standardprotocols.
Any Other SpecificTasks Required
* To ensure all clinical care and treatment provided bypsychologists is carried out under appropriate supervision and leadership.
* To ensure that all psychologists continuously update theskills and techniques relevant to their clinical work.
Review of this JobDescription
This job description is intended as an outline indicator ofgeneral areas of activity and will be amended in the light of changing serviceneeds. This job description is to be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder on an annual basis.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* BA or BSc in Psychology (recognised by the British Psychological Society)
* Eligible for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
* Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
* IT Skills
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
* Personal: An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines and with people with mental health problems.
* Excellent verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills.
* Ability to integrate complex data; make evaluations formulations and decisions.
* Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
* Organisation and time management skills.
* Ability to work independently within defined occupational procedures and use initiative within the service setting.
* Ability to work as a member of a clinical team.
* Ability to tolerate ambiguity, and maintain own morale and motivation in challenging service delivery contexts.
* Able to travel to meet the requirements of the role.
* Clinical placement and/or supervised practise in mental health services or working with older people, people with dementia, or people with complex mental health needs.
* Further training in an Older Adults clinical setting.
* Basic knowledge of Dementia.
* Basic knowledge/experience of neuropsychological assessments.
* Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues.
* Small -scale project management.
* Able to remain in, concentrate on and carry out cognitive assessments over prolonged periods of time.
Experience
* Experience, and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality
* Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across a wide range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings.
* Experience gained during supervised training of working In Older Peoples Mental Health Services.
* Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
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.
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