Job Overview
In our quest to deliver patient‑focused quality care we are looking to recruit a highly motivated, innovative and enthusiastic Assistant Psychologist to join our forward‑thinking, friendly and expanding Health and Justice Services team at HMP Downview. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate an Honours degree at 2:1 or above in Psychology, or equivalent. By joining our Surrey Prisons Health Care Team you will look after the healthcare needs of prisoners and have the opportunity to impact health and well‑being. Working in partnership with the criminal justice system and other agencies, we provide responsive, dependable and high‑quality primary care and mental health services to existing offenders (and those at risk of offending) in the communities we serve, to improve their health status and encourage social inclusion.
Main duties of the job
Supporting and enhancing professional psychological practice within the service. Providing support, co‑ordination and administration to clinical, training and research functions within the scope appropriate to level of training and competence, and undertaking related tasks to enhance assessment, intervention and evaluation within the team or care group. To work independently according to a plan agreed and reviewed through regular supervision by a qualified applied HPC registered Psychologist.
Career progression
- Monthly supervision
- Annual personal development plans/appraisals
- Access to exciting internal and external training opportunities
Professional pathways
- Preceptorship Programme
- Support and guidance with revalidation
- Hidden Gem and annual award ceremonies
Staff benefits
- Health and wellbeing services
- Season ticket loans
- Cycle to work scheme
Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities
Clinical
- To undertake assessments and interventions (for example neuro‑psychological tests, self‑report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect observations and semi‑structured interviews of clients, family members and others involved in the client’s care), as appropriate to level of training, competence and under live or regular supervision from a qualified practitioner Psychologist.
- To assist in the development of psychologically based frameworks of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service.
- To formulate and deliver care, training or research plans within settings where there may be a hostile atmosphere, challenging behaviour or high levels of expressed emotion.
- To conduct literature searches, collate audit and outcome evidence, analyse relevant data and produce reports to inform and enhance care delivered by the service.
- To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups, training or research projects.
- If required, to compile risk histories to inform care plans, risk and crisis plans.
- To work with other team members to improve care, training and research practices and the quality of life of clients.
- To attend and contribute to multi‑disciplinary meetings.
- To support the delivery of evidence‑based psychological interventions for clients.
- To carry out other clinical and administrative tasks as appropriate to the post holder’s grade.
- To be up to date with both de‑escalation, physical breakaway and PMVA techniques appropriate to the service environment.
Person specification
Qualifications
- Honours degree at 2:1 or above in Psychology, or equivalent. Eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartership with the BPS.
Experience
- Relevant clinical and research skills
- Experience of working as part of a team
- Basic knowledge of databases, research skills and methodology
- Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a health context
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care
Skills
- To be able to communicate effectively under pressure and maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times.
- To be able to provide and receive complex sensitive or contentious information in a potentially highly emotive atmosphere; to work with resistance to ideas.
- High standard of report writing.
- To assimilate complex information and use reflective/analytic thinking, to apply psychological perspectives in a healthcare setting.
- Ability to work independently and know when to ask for and use supervision, identifying when there is a need for advice and using supervision at agreed intervals.
- Capable of using initiative and organise work to agreed goals.
- Ability to be flexible and cope with multiple demands.
- Information technology skills.
- Highly developed IT skills and good working knowledge of statistical packages.
- Requires manual dexterity and good eye‑hand coordination to administer neuro‑psychological tests and use computer keyboards.
- Able to carry out PMVA interventions.
Abilities
- Need to maintain frequent high levels of concentration for long periods in managing agreed projects alone or with team members.
- Ability to tolerate and remain calm in the face of high levels of emotional distress and emotional demands.
- Ability to tolerate occasional exposure to verbal abuse and hostility.
- Ability to use a PC.
- To sit for extended periods of time in constrained positions to complete PC‑based projects and other tasks.
