Assistant Psychologist

An exciting opportunity has arisen foranAssistant Psychologist to join the Mental Health Network, Pennine Locality inpatient psychology team. The post will be based at the Pendleview Unit, Royal Blackburn Hospital, although there may be requirement to cover at the Whalley In Patient site when it opens in early 2023. Within the current Inpatient Unit there are assessment and treatment wards (one male, one female), as well as a male Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

The role of the post holder will be to contribute to the psychological care of service users on the inpatient wards. Tasks will include assisting with psychological assessment and intervention under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist, assisting in clinically related administration, conducting audits and collection of statistics related to departmental research projects, teaching and project work. The post will require liaison and joint working with multidisciplinary colleagues and agencies, and the ability to communicate complex and highly sensitive information, using well developed interpersonal and team working skills.

The post holder will be provided with professional support and weekly supervision from senior clinical psychology colleagues, and there are opportunities to develop special interests through continuing professional development.

Interested applicants must be dedicated to working within this environment and have a special interest and/or experience of working within acute mental health care and treatment settings.

To assist in the development, design and implementation of programme and project work. To assist in the administration and interpretation of outcome related measures, collation and recording of statistics and production of relevant reports.

Under supervision from a qualified psychologist to assist in the professional and psychological care of clients within the service across all sectors of care by providing basic aspects of psychological assessment and psychological interventions.

All clinical work and actions to take place under the management and supervision of qualified psychology staff according to an agreed plan and associated goals within parameters set out by the Division of Clinical Psychology and Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust departmental policies and procedures in connection with Assistant Psychologists.

Formal supervision with a named member of qualified psychology staff to take place on a weekly basis to facilitate work with additional frequent opportunities for informal contact with qualified psychology staff for guidance and advice.

Clinical activity involves sitting, often in a constrained position for long periods of time. Related activities will require the use of a computer screen for approximately 50% of working hours.

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT

Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.