Assistant Psychologist

An exciting opportunity has come up for a part time (22.5 hours) Assistant Psychologist to work on an Older People Inpatient ward in a permanent role. The work will be across our Functional and Organic wards. Rowan Ward is a 20 bedded male functional inpatient ward and Cedars is a ten bedded male organic ward. You will work closely with, and under the clinical supervision of the Older People's Psychology Service Clinical Psychologist and MDT at a time of innovation and change. We envisage there will be lots of opportunities to help with service development and evaluation.

The Older Peoples Inpatient wards at Parklands House, based on the site of the Royal Oldham Hospital are a busy, compassionate and knowledgeable multi-disciplinary team consisting of Ward Mangers, Nurses, Nursing Assistants, Consultant Psychiatrists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Therapy Assistants, and a Clinical Psychologist. The team are passionate about working holistically to meet the complex needs of older people in secondary care mental health services. The inpatient wards are based in the Older People’s Mental Health Services which enables opportunity to work with the Older People’s Community teams (Older Peoples Community Mental Health Team, Liaison, Home Treatment Teams) to promote recovery and safe, person-centered discharge and prevent further admission.

The post will be based at Parklands House primarily working across Cedars and Rowan Ward to support the work of the multidisciplinary teams on both wards. This will include offering assessment and therapeutic interventions with older people experiencing functional or organic mental health needs.

This role involves indirect and direct clinical work. This will include the planning, delivery and evaluation of therapeutic groups contributing to psychological thinking in the MDT, as well as direct clinical work designated by your clinical supervisor i.e. psychological and neuropsychological assessment and 1:1 brief therapeutic work with clients on the ward.

An important aspect of the role is to help develop and share psychological thinking, skills and knowledge with ward staff and wider MDT. For example, attending and providing feedback in ward rounds when required.

We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.

Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.

Job Summary
- To assist in the delivery of psychologically minded work in the Older Peoples Inpatient Service. The post holder will work under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist and will be based with the team working independently under their direction.
- The post holder will be expected to concentrate for long periods of time in the performance of assessments as well as writing up the results.
- The post will involve the delivery of psychotherapeutic groups, supporting the recommendations identified within clinical formulations drawn up for inpatients, and the sharing of psychological thinking, skills and knowledge with the wider MDT.
- The post holder may be required to work with clients who are highly distressed or anxious and will experience sensitive situations on a weekly basis. To support and enhance the professional psychological care of older adults within the Psychology service.
- Providing psychological assessment including completing a range of psychological measures.
- Working independently to a plan agreed with a qualified Clinical Psychologist, from inpatient and community care pathways.
- To work independently to the agreed operational objectives that are set and remotely assessed at agreed intervals by the Clinical Supervisor and Line Manager.
- To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits and projects, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.

Main Duties and ResponsibilitiesClinical
- To assist in the formulation and delivery of therapeutic interventions involving the treatment or management of a clients’ problems under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist as outlined in client’s care plan.
- To assist in the co-ordination and running of therapeutic and wellbeing groups.
- To work with a range of multi-disciplinary staff from the Community and Inpatient Teams; under clinical supervision, assess needs and formulate action plans.
- To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service across all settings in which care takes place.
- To assist in the development of service deliv