Assistant Psychologist | South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust

We are seeking a highly motivated, organised individual who is aiming to pursue a career in applied psychology. Applicants must be psychology graduates who have achieved at least a 2:1 degree in Psychology by an accredited course and are eligible for Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) with the British Psychological Society (BPS). Ideally, you will have some experience of supporting/working with people with learning disabilities and/or with difficulties in communication. You will be expected to work with people who have a learning disability and mental health problems and/or behavioural difficulties. You will be required to work in a variety of community settings, with individuals, groups, families and staff teams. You will have regular supervision with a Clinical Psychologist and will be expected to support the Psychology Service as a whole. Responsibilities To manage a workload of specified individuals with a learning disability, who have difficulties relating to mental health problems and/or behavioural difficulties, under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist. To actively contribute and participate in undertaking comprehensive functional assessments of individuals who have been accepted to the team. This assessment will consist of a range of approaches such as direct observation, baseline data collection, interviews, historical review, staff recorded information, analogue assessment, and assessment of an individual's skills, quality of life and environment. To assess through observation and interaction the progress and wellbeing of the individual and to suggest an appropriate course of action. Where appropriate, to seek advice and draw issues to the attention of the Clinical Psychologist. This may involve being presented with a crisis that will require the post holder to make appropriate judgement on the course of action to follow. To contribute to formal assessments undertaken by the Psychology Service, e.g. Autism assessments, cognitive assessments, by collecting relevant data, background information, conducting observations and assisting with the assessment tools. To assist in the assessment and management of risk, including risks to personal safety. Risks will always be assessed as part of a framework, looking at risks in relation to benefits to the individual. To give practical support and assistance in conjunction with the Clinical Psychologist to implement intervention packages in collaboration with the individual and their carers. To adhere to Trust safeguarding adult and children's protocols. To maintain an awareness that all interventions must have a positive impact on the person's quality of life and presenting challenges. Interventions will be based on non‑aversive methods and draw on the philosophies outlined in the White Paper for Learning Disability Valuing People Now, as well as guidance based on other up‑to‑date documents. To highlight to the Clinical Psychologist any situation that detracts from the above. To actively contribute and participate in evaluating the work of the Psychology Service using specified outcome measures and client and carer satisfaction measures. You will have excellent written and spoken communication skills, an ability to work sensitively and thoughtfully with service users and their carers often around challenging and complex presentations. You should be flexible in your approaches to problem solving, be creative and be ready to embrace challenges and enjoy working as part of a team. We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust. We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill‑health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ – we aspire to be ‘outstanding’. This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027. We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti‑racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co‑produce and involve our local communities in all that we do. We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive. Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey. #J-18808-Ljbffr