Assistant Psychologist

Assistant Psychologist Farnham Pay: Your salary will be paid at the rate of £25,147 to £27,596 a year permanent, full-time. Company: The Nook Therapy Clinic Location: The Nook Therapy Clinic, Old Chambers, Farnham, Surrey Responsible to: Clinical Psychologist Accountable To: Clinical Psychologist OUR COMPANY The Nook Therapy Clinic is a specialist healthcare company working to support children, younger people and their families affected by mental health, Autism and ADHD conditions to support individuals and families to reach their full potential. Assistant Psychologist - How will we look after you?

• Your annual holiday entitlement is pro-rata to the entitlement for full-time employees of 20 days in the complete holiday year.
• Bespoke ‘The Nook Clinic Training’, including access to CPD on our online system. Also training in administration of the ADI-R and ACE interviews.

Assistant Psychologist - Main purpose of the job The post holder’s main duties are to assist qualified psychologists in the delivery of psychological services in the pathway; providing psychological assessment and specific intervention under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist, working independently within the limits agreed with the psychology supervisor. The post holder will produce assessment and intervention professional reports. The majority of the role will include conducting parent Autism and ADI-R interviews and you will received training about how to do these. The post holder will administer Autism and ADHD screening tools. The post holder will support the service in the delivery of training initiatives. The post holder will utilise research skills for audit, literature reviews, service development and other research initiatives within the pathway or wider service. The post holder will receive direct weekly management and clinical supervision from a Clinical Psychologist. The post holder will show initiative to work independently to an appropriate level. The post holder will provide compassionate care that is based on empathy, kindness, respect and dignity. Assistant Psychologist - Communication and Relationships To work with The Nook Clinic it is important to maintain relationships with a wide range of individuals and disciplines, including direct work with service users and their families. We also work closely with the wider community including schools, social care and charity organisations supporting children with neurodevelopmental services. A high level of verbal and non-verbal communication skills are required for work with clients and carers who may have communication problems due to complex emotional and mental health problems, organic brain pathology or through high levels of stress. Assistant Psychologist - Knowledge, Skills Training & Experience An Honours Degree in Psychology recognised for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society. This should be an upper second-class honours degree or above. Graduate level training includes knowledge and experience of research and research methodology. The ability to understand the role and contribution of colleagues and collaborate effectively with colleagues from all disciplines and across agencies. A high degree of communication skills (see Communications and Relationships). The ability to plan and organise work, independently within the boundaries agreed with the psychology supervisor. The ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to the clinical population served. An understanding of psychology applied in a healthcare context. Good knowledge and skills in use of IT and statistical analysis. The ability to communicate clearly via written reports. Experience during undergraduate degree and/or since with people with mental health problems, disabilities, or special needs. Experience during undergraduate training and/or since in use of a variety of research methods. ANALYTICAL AND JUDGEMENTAL SKILLS To carry out psychological assessment procedures, including psychological and neuropsychological tests, direct and indirect structured observation, and the use of semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and staff to help identify appropriate management of individual clients. PLANNING AND ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS To plan and organise own workload in order to meet agreed objectives and in accordance with job plan, under supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist. To plan and organise agreed project/ audit / research & development work. To plan, organise and deliver clinical work with individuals and groups, under supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist. PHYSICAL SKILL Standard keyboard skills. Carry out tests using specialist materials and equipment RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PATIENT/CLIENT CARE To assist in the implementation of plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s mental health, cognitive impairment or disability problems, under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist. To engage in joint working with other staff to optimise the use of resources. To assist with group work contributing to screening procedures, running groups and evaluating the outcome of sessions. To utilise agreed outcome measures and service user feedback in order to refine and develop clinical practice. To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research, to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other colleagues. To maintain awareness of local resources and self-help materials and the means of their access. Work flexibly to meet the needs of Service Users across pathways. POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT To attend appropriate meetings e.g. project meetings, group supervision, commenting on issues of service and policy development for the Nook Clinic , and developing an awareness of wider operational and strategic issues. FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES To exercise the personal duty of care in the use, maintenance, and storage of The Nook Clinic’s equipment. To exercise the personal duty of care in the use of other resources that belong to The Nook Clinic, avoiding waste wherever possible. HUMAN RESOURCES To assist qualified psychologists in the delivery of staff training and support, facilitating the acquisition of new psychological skills on a multidisciplinary and multiagency basis, to help ensure optimal use of psychological skills and principles. To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a clinical psychologist within the specialty. To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holders’ professional and service manager. INFORMATION RESOURCES To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the BPS as well as The Nook Clinic’s policies and procedures. Responsibility, via paper or electronic systems, for maintaining accurate and contemporaneous records and securely storing and retrieving necessary information/documentation as per the Nook Handbook. To use Digital Recording Equipment as per The Nook Handbook. Responsible for collation and analysis of assessment and evaluation data, may be required to set up new databases to collect and analyse clinical information for audit and/or research purposes. To acquire an awareness of legislation, national and local policies, and issues in relation to both the specific client group, mental health and other aspects relevant to ongoing projects. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT To undertake data collection, analysis, preparation of reports using IT and statistical programmes. To undertake literature searches, summarise papers and create /maintain databases to assist qualified psychologists in the delivery of evidence-based practice and in researching appropriate service developments within psychological services and the wider community services. To contribute to research projects, providing research support to other staff where appropriate. To contribute to project management, including complex audit and service evaluation, under the direction of a qualified psychologist, to help develop service provision. To contribute to the appropriate dissemination of research findings. FREEDOM TO ACT Post-holder works within limits agreed and managed by the clinical supervisor. The use of initiative is required in working independently and in prioritising work within these boundaries. The post holder will receive regular supervision from a qualified clinical psychologist. The post holder will work within service and handbook guidelines, policies and procedures and the professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society. The post holder will engage in all mandatory training and other aspects of training identified through appraisal. PHYSICAL EFFORT Physical strain occurs due to sitting for lengthy periods either in clinical sessions, meetings or at a computer. Physical effort is required in transporting and carrying test materials and equipment between bases for use in clinical sessions. MENTAL EFFORT Substantial mental effort is required in conducting specialised assessments requiring a high level of concentration to ensure that all necessary information is gathered from a range of sources, and assessment procedures are carried out according to established protocols to ensure validity and reliability. Concentrated mental effort is required for report writing in order to summarise cogently key issues. This is also the case in the development of research and training initiatives. EMOTIONAL EFFORT High levels of emotional effort are required in dealing with clients who are upset, overwhelmed by events or symptoms, highly anxious or angry. Similarly addressing issues of challenging behaviours in clients may be emotionally taxing both in relating directly to the client and to staff who may be under a considerable level of strain

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