Assistant Psychologist

Following the current post-holder moving to a new position, we have an opportunity for a skilled, organised, motivated, and team focused graduate psychologist to join our team of Psychologists in West Essex (Loughton). This post will be based with the Adult Community Mental Health Service at Rectory Lane in Loughton, Essex (IG10 3RU). West Essex covers a broad geographical area and the post holder may be required to travel also to Stansted, Saffron Walden and Harlow as a part of the role. This is an interesting and diverse role which will provide the successful applicant with a broad experience and good learning opportunities.

We are particularly keen to hear from applicants with a Psychology degree who have a commitment to working in the local region, from those with diverse backgrounds and from people who bring lived experience relevant to mental health work.

The role of the Assistant Psychologist is to assist in providing high quality Psychology service. The post holder would assist in providing individual and group assessments and treatment, helping with formulation of clients and input into patients' care plans, as well as administrative and organisational tasks, and involvement with audit and service evaluation.

Team Psychologists work within a non-waiting list model employing a trauma-informed consultation approach to support MDT colleagues to actively engage clients in safety and stabilisation work.

The successful applicant will join our professional and friendly team of psychologists and psychological therapists working in Adult Community Mental Health Services in the North-West Essex area of Essex Partnership University Trust. The services cover a broad geographical area with bases in: Loughton, Harlow and Uttlesford. Within the service, psychologists have specialist skills and training in variety of areas and approaches, including Autism Spectrum Conditions, CAT, CBT, CBTp, DBT, EMDR, Schema Therapy and Trauma -Informed approaches. Specialist external supervision is provided in several of these approaches, and CPD is both strongly supported and actively encouraged.

**Core Clinical duties**:

- Attend MDT meetings to provide input, learn about patients, agree care plans
- Support clinical assessments and therapy interventions under close supervision
- Deliver group sessions e.g. stress management, implementation of therapy or other aspects of care, under clinical supervision
- Enable service user families and carers to address issues which affect their health and social wellbeing
- Provide psycho-social intervention, education and support to develop service users’ understanding of mental health problems, with the aim of promoting recovery and positive coping strategies, and preventing relapse and/or admission
- Liaise with staff in a variety of settings, ensuring that teams are able to respond effectively and efficiently to the needs of people with mental health problems in their care
- Ensure the maintenance of accurate and timely documentation / records on all service users in line with professional code and Trust policy

**Core Non-Clinical responsibilities**:

- Assist in the continuing development of a high quality service (through for example data collection and analysis, the use and analysis of patient reported outcome measures or other service user feedback, health and safety audit, team risk assessment etc.) that is underpinned by evidence based practice, care pathways / packages and NICE and DH Guidance
- Jointly and individually ensure the service meets the agreed performance / contractual targets and adheres to local and government initiatives
- Contribute to maintaining databases (e.g. patient database, research record etc.) and writing reports
- Support the delivery of training where appropriate for other professionals
- Assist in service development reviews
- Assist in audits

Please refer to the documents attached in this advertisement for the details of job description and person specification.