Job overview
The Harrow Psychology team is delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a new Assistant Psychologist to join the adult Community Mental Health Hub (CMHH) at Bentley House.
We provide a holistic range of multi-disciplinary interventions to adults experiencing severe and enduring mental health difficulties and Assistant Psychologists play an integral role in supporting with the delivery of ‘Step 2’ psychological therapies.
Central and North West London (CNWL) Trust is pioneering in its Trauma-Informed Approach (TIA) which focuses on Power Threat Meaning Framework Team Formulation (PTMF), manualised stabilisation interventions and staff training. Over the last year, our CMHH has rolled-out TIA, and the Assistant Psychologists will play an important role in the ongoing development of this work. This project builds on Harrow’s innovative TIA work in its acute services over the last six years and is now also influencing National Policy (see NHSE Guidelines for Acute Inpatient Mental Health Care for Adults and Older Adults, 2023).
If you are passionate about supporting the delivery of innovative psychologically-informed care, come and join our established team of psychologists and assistant psychologists, with a diverse range of expertise. You must have a strong commitment to teamwork, an interest in supporting the ongoing development of the psychology service, and to work sensitively within a culturally diverse environment.
Main duties of the job
The following is a summary of some of the main roles and responsibilities for the Assistant Psychologist position at Harrow CMHH. It is not an exhaustive list, please see the Job Description and Person Specification for further details.
Assistant Psychologists play an integral role in supporting with the delivery of ‘Step 2’ psychological interventions and will join a team committed to trauma-informed psychological care, integrated across this system.
The post holder(s) will support the Clinical/Counselling Psychologist with the Psychology waitlist.
The post holder(s) will support the delivery of both individual and group evidenced based trauma informed psychological interventions.
The post holder(s) will support with the preparation and delivery of trauma-informed training and Team Formulation to multi-disciplinary professionals.
The post holder(s) will work closely with the full range of multi-disciplinary professionals, including psychiatry, and occupational therapy as well as attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings.
The post holder(s) will work under the supervision of a clinical psychologist for all pieces of work they undertake, and will join an expanding therapies team, committed to providing trauma-informed psychological care, integrated across this system.
Working for our organisation
We are delighted that you are interested in working with us here at CNWL. At CNWL, we work in collaboration with our multidisciplinary colleagues and value the lived experiences of both our staff and service users.
CNWL is recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ in line with our values, 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.
With us, you will get:
1. A Trust committed to staff personal development, with a trust wide culture change and leadership programme that has staff wellbeing at its core.
2. Flexible working.
3. Variety of work.
4. Access to a variety of CPD opportunities.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• To assist qualified practitioner psychologists in the delivery of a specialist applied psychology service in the Adult Mental Health Hub (Harrow CMHH) at Bentley House.
• To provide clinical work as required by the service, under the direct guidance, close clinical and professional supervision of a practitioner psychologist. This will may include psychological assessment, formulation and intervention of individual clients as well as working in groups.
• To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.
• To work following clinical guidelines and the policies and procedures of the service, while closely supervised and regularly seeking help from clinical/professional supervisor or manager.
• To provide psychological assessments and formulation for clients in the Adult Community Mental Health Hub (CMHH) at Bentley House in Harrow under the close supervision of a practitioner psychologist.
• To provide protocol based individual psychological interventions for clients experiencing severe and enduring mental health difficulties at ‘Step 2’, including manualised psychological Stabilisation. • To arrange, schedule and provide protocol-based group psychological interventions for clients experiencing severe and enduring mental health difficulties at ‘Step 2’. • To assist the psychologists in the development of individual or group clinical materials or training materials. General • Your base will predominantly be at Bentley House. Some travel may be required occasionally where appropriate to service users’ homes (in Harrow) or Northwick Park Hospital. • To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow trust policies relating to its management • To respond appropriately and professionally to high levels of distress and to support others involved in such situations.
Vaccination
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.
5. Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
6. Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the
7. Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.