Assistant Psychologist

Job summary

The post holder will work with Essex Community Offending Behaviour Service (ECOS), under the supervision of a Clinical and/or Forensic Psychologist. This service has been commissioned to meet the needs of adults in North and South Essex and Thurrock:

With a learning disability and/or autism Who display behaviours that can be described as challenging, for example, presenting an active and high risk to others or themselves Where this behaviour has led to contact with the criminal justice system, or where is a risk of this, ie behaviours which could be construed as an offence or are viewed as pre-cursors to more serious offending behaviours.

The scope of Essex Community Offending-Behaviour Service (ECOS) includes both service users currently detained in secure inpatient services and who require specialist support through their transition and discharge, as well as service users living in the community.

All staff should comply with the Trust's Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and diversity.

Main duties of the job

To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of service users applying psychological measures, including psychometric assessments, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, family member and others involved in the service user's care. To assist in the formulation and delivery of intervention plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a service user's problems, under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist. To assist in the co-ordination and running of intervention groups, activities, social skills groups, and to be an integrated member of the multi-disciplinary team. To work with other staff to assess service users in preparation for multidisciplinary reviews. To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all service users of the service, across all settings where care takes place. To attend and contribute to appropriate team and multiple discipline meetings. To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and HPFT policies and procedures. To maintain contemporaneous HPFT psychological records using the Trust electronic database (Paris)

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an exceptional organisation with big ambitions, our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country. With a workforce of around 3,500 people and an annual income of some £330million this year, the Trust provides integrated health and social care services through a network of community and inpatient settings, serving diverse communities across Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Norfolk. As a university NHS foundation trust, HPFT continues to develop strong links with the University of Hertfordshire, providing excellent learning and development opportunities, as well as strengthening our clinical research capability. Whilst it is a challenging period for the NHS, there has never been a more exciting time to join HPFT following our CQC rating of Outstanding awarded to us in April 2019. Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Duties

To undertake appropriate psychological work under the supervision of a Chartered Clinical and/or Forensic Psychologist which may, from time to time, include any of the following:

To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of service users applying psychological measures, including psychometric assessments, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, family member and others involved in the service users care. To assist in the formulation and delivery of intervention plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a service users problems, under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist. To assist in the co-ordination and running of intervention groups, activities, social skills groups, and to be an integrated member of the multi-disciplinary team. To work with other staff to assess service users in preparation for multidisciplinary reviews. To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all service users of the service, across all settings where care takes place. To attend and contribute to appropriate team and multiple discipline meetings. To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and HPFT policies and procedures. To maintain contemporaneous HPFT psychological records using the Trust electronic database (Paris). To prepare test materials and visual aids, as required. To perform other duties, appropriate to their grade, that may be required from time to time by the supervising Clinical Psychologist. To work flexibly but responsive to service user needs as agreed with the supervising Clinical Psychologist and in discussion with the relevant manager Person Specification

KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE

Essential

An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology. Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society. Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals

Desirable

Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis. An interest in working with people with learning disability, mental health problems or other disabilities

AREAS OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE:

Essential

Experience of work with people with learning disability or mental health and/or other disabilities An understanding of psychology applied to a learning disability context A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology

Desirable

Experience of paid work in direct care provision. Experience and competence in using cognitive-behavioural therapeutic techniques or other relevant approaches. Experience in structured clinical judgement risk assessment such as the HCR20.

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