Assistant Psychologist

Job summary To assist the Practitioner Psychologist(s) in the professional psychological care of children and families within Paediatrics, providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified practitionerpsychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with a qualified psychologist and within the overall framework of the Paediatric Psychology policies and procedures.
To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, and development of audit and/or research projects, teachingand project work.
Main duties of the job To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of children and families under the supervision of a qualified practitioner psychologist, applying psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in theclient's care.
This may require assessing children and their families in a number of settings including clinic, home and school/childcare setting.
About us Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties.
Our 12,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services to almost 400,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales.
We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through: Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest.
Five community hospitals: Amman Valley Hospital and Llandovery Hospital in Carmarthenshire, Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire.
Two integrated care centres (Aberaeron and Cardigan, Ceredigion).
Community facilities, including: 48 General Practices (GP surgeries), 49 Dental Practices, 98 Community Pharmacies (chemists), 44 General Ophthalmic Practices (including eye health and low vision services), 38 sites providing mental health and learning disability services, care within your own homes.
Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.
Job description Job responsibilities To help formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients needs, (mental health, learning disabilities and developmental needs), based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings, under the supervision of the qualified practitioner psychologist.
To undertake risk assessments as required under the supervision of the qualified practitioner psychologist and to develop risk management plans.
To assist in the evaluation and decision making about treatment options, taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models, and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual family or group.
To work with other staff to assess clients in community and hospital settings, and to review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.
The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences.
In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post.
If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 23/01/2025 Person Specification Qualifications & Knowledge Essential Degree in Psychology Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychology Society (Graduation Basis for Chartered Status) Desirable Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis Experience Essential Experience of having worked as an assistant psychologist, or very similar work may be considered.
Desirable Experience of working with children, young people and their families.
Experience of conducting psychometric assessments Experience of having worked within the NHS.
Language Skills Desirable Welsh Speaker ( level 1 ) Aptitude 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.
Counselling skills Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological High standard of report writing.
A desire to explore a career in professional psychology.
Application form and Interview 8 resistance.
An understanding of the needs and difficulties of children and families where there are mental health problems or developmental difficulties.
An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a child and family context.
An understanding of psychology applied to health care Basic IT skills ( word processing, spreadsheets, graphing data) An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines An ability to interact with people with mental health problems.
Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
Ability to accept and use clinical supervision appropriately and effectively Desirable High standard of report writing.
A desire to explore a career in professional psychology.
Other Essential An ability to travel around the footprint of the Health Board in a timely manner.