Assistant Psychologist

Job summary An exciting opportunity has arisen for anAssistant Psychologist to join the MY Psychological Services Department hostedby The Mid Yorkshire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust.
You will join a psychologicalprofessions team comprising Practitioner Psychologists, Counsellors andPsychological Therapists.
The post will sit within an innovative and growingClinical Health Psychology Department within a large acute hospital trust,which comprises a strong team of Psychological professions working into a rangeof specialities.We actively encourage andsupport supervision, CPD and service-related research.
As a department we taketrainees from several local training courses in Clinical Psychology and havegood academic links to the local training courses.
Clinical supervision andsupport will be provided by a Clinical Psychologist within the MY PsychologicalServices Department.
To ensure our team isrepresentative of those we support, we particularly welcome applications fromDisabled, BAME and LGBT+ Communities.
Main duties of the job The post holder will provideinput to two specialties with the department:- The Long-Term Physical HealthConditions Pathway in collaboration with local NHS Talking Therapies services.The post holder will provide support to the Team, predominantly through undertakingcomprehensive psychological assessment with patients referred into the service.The post-holder will also be involved in the evaluation of this novel pathway, throughdata collection, data analysis, write-up, and dissemination (locally andnational publications).
- The Paediatric PsychologySpecialty your work would be assistingClinical Psychologists in the delivery of psychological services within thePaediatric Psychology Specialty.
This would include resource development,undertaking audit / service evaluation / research, and undertaking pieces ofclinical work under the supervision of a qualified clinician.
The successful candidate willhave an honours degree in Psychology (at 2:1 or higher) and have clinicalexperience in support roles, as well as an enthusiasm for working with peoplewith physical and mental health difficulties.
About us We are an acute trust caring for over half a million people in Wakefield and Kirklees.
Our 10,000 staff work in patients homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield).
We prioritise our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients.
Our team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work.We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs.
Our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion.
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust.If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.Application guidance: We understand that more applicants are using AI technology to help with their applications.
While these tools can be useful, they cannot fully capture your skills, knowledge, and experience.
Its important that you personalise your application.
Relying solely on AI is not recommended, as it may reduce your chances of success.
Our screening process is thorough, so if you have used AI, please make sure to disclose this on your application form.
Job description Job responsibilities To support andenhance the professional psychological care of patients within agreed serviceareas.To becompassionate in meeting the needs of clients, their carers and families.To support theteam in the collection and collation of key routine clinical information,conducting periodic audits of data, and to disseminate results.To support the teamwith service-based research projects and service evaluation projectsTo providepsychological assessment / triage, screening and treatment under thesupervision of qualified clinical psychologists.To assist in coordination and running of therapeutic groups.To assist in delivery of teaching and training of other professionals.To plan and organise therapeutic activities for individual clients or groups in accordance with care needs.To workindependently according to a plan agreed with qualified clinical psychologistsand within the overall framework of the Trust and team policies and procedures.
To undertakesearches of evidence-based literature and research to assist qualified clinicalpsychologists in evidence based practice and individual work and work withother team members.
Thepost holder will provide and receive complex and sensitive information tostaff, patients, carers and families whilst being mindful that there may bebarriers to understanding if English is not the first language.
Thepost holder will assist in the development of a psychological based frameworkof understanding and care to the benefit of all users of the service, acrossall settings where care takes place.
Person Specification Skills and Abilities Essential High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
Identifies the range of people likely to be involved in the communication, any potential communication differences and relevant contextual factors.
Communicates with people in a form and manner that is consistent with their level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communicating.
Recognises and reflects on barriers to effective communication and modifies communication in response.
Provides feedback to other workers on their communication at appropriate times.
High level of report writing.
Ability to show initiative when required and a willingness to share ideas with others.
Use psychometric measures/ standardised assessments competently.
Plans and organises therapeutic activities for individual clients or groups in accordance with care needs.
Plan and organise effectively to meet required timescales.
Contribute to developing, testing and reviewing new concepts, models, methods, practices, products and equipment.
Experience Essential Paid or voluntary experience of working as an Assistant Psychologist or alongside a Clinical Psychologist.
Experience of conducting literature searches and reviews.
Previous experience of involvement in clinical research, audit, or service evaluation.
Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities in a healthcare setting.
Experience of working with multi-disciplinary team and ability to work flexibly and cooperatively as part of a team.
Evidence of continued professional development.
Desirable Experience of working with patient groups with physical health problems.
Experience working with children and young people, and their carers.
Qualifications Essential Obtained an honours degree in Psychology, or above.
Desirable Further post graduate training or experience in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Personal Attributes Essential Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively, including the ability to work independently, recognise own limits and to seek advice/support when necessary Ability to cope with and maintain professionalism in highly emotive or potentially upsetting circumstances around serious illness, impending death of a patient or bereavement issues.
Self-aware and committed to continual personal development.
Able to accept and respond positively to feedback from clinical supervision.
Compassionate in meeting needs of vulnerable people and their families and carers.
Committed to continual quality and service improvement.
Ability to meet the travel requirements of the post.
Desirable A desire to explore a career in professional psychology.
Knowledge Essential An understanding of the needs of patients and families with physical health problems and/or other disabilities.
Demonstrates understanding of issues relating to confidentiality and adheres to Trust policy.
An understanding of and ability to apply psychological theory to a physical and mental health context.
Knowledge and awareness of own limitations.
An aptitude for developing creative and adaptive ways of engaging service users.
Supports learning of others.
Reflects on and evaluates the effectiveness of learning and development using feedback from learners.