Current jobs related to Assistant Psychologist - March - Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

Fixed Term Contract - 12 months

We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, motivated, and compassionate Assistant Psychologists to support adults with learning (intellectual) disabilities in the Cambridgeshire Learning Disability Partnership (LDP).

This post is for a fixed-term one year post, hours a week, working mainly from an office base in our Fenland team based in March, but also with some work in our East team based in Ely.

The LDP is well-established but always seeking to develop its services. It comprises five locality-based integrated community specialist health and care management Teams (social workers, care co-ordinators, psychiatrists and occupational, arts, and speech & language therapists) and day & accommodation services organised by the Local Authority for adults with a learning disability.

Healthcare practitioners are employed by the local mental health Trust (Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust) but work within the LDP. The psychology service comprises an 8d Consultant Lead Psychologist and 4 x 8b/8a psychologists), all employed by CPFT. We have close links with colleagues working with people with learning disabilities elsewhere in CPFT and with clinicians and/or researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge. The service regularly provides placements in learning disabilities for trainee clinical psychologists from UEA.

Main duties of the job

To undertake protocol-based psychological assessments of service users with psychological measures, neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the service user's care and support.

To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans to service users involving risk management and/or psychological treatment, support and/or management of difficulties, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, in a variety of settings.

To recognise the skills and expertise of other Team members and work with them on assess and treat service users.

To work with other team members to assess service users and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.

To assist in the development of a psychologically-based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all service users, regardless of where care takes place.

To attend and contribute to appropriate Team meetings and other multi-disciplinary meetings.

To work in service users' homes and other community settings where conditions may pose a risk, including lone working.

To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups.

About us

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health & social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health & wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting & empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.

Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services not only via inpatient and primary care setting but also with the community. These services include Children, Adult & Older Peoples mental & physical health, Forensic & Specialist mental health, Learning Disabilities, Primary Care & Liaison psychiatry, Substance misuse, Social care, Research & Development.

To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high calibre candidates who share our vision & values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people & members of our ethnic minorities & LGBTQ+ communities.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities

To recognise and take into account the impact of service users histories and backgrounds and the possible impact of ethnic, sexual orientation, gender, faith, communication needs and other characteristics and conditions on their psychological functioning and support needs.

Communicate and liaise with other professionals within the team and to work in partnership with parents/carers and other agencies in order to develop good health care for service.

To liaise and communicate effectively and sensitively with professionals in other Teams, in CPFT (mental health services, older peoples teams, childrens services), other NHS services (acute hospitals, maternity services), and other organisations (such as substance misuse, palliative care), providing specialist LD advice as necessary.

To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental

To comply with relevant professional Codes of Conduct and to be aware of any changes. To maintain up to date knowledge of all relevant legislation and local policies and procedures.

To ensure that all duties are carried out to the highest standard and in accordance with currently quality initiatives within the work

To comply with all relevant Trust/LDP policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information and to be aware of any changes.

To comply at all times with the Trusts Information Governance related Staff are required to respect the confidentiality of information about staff, service users and Trust business and in particular the confidentiality and security of personal identifiable in information in line with the Data Protection Act. All staff are responsible for ensuring that any data created by them is timely, comprehensive, accurate, and fit for the purposes for which it is intended.

To ensure that clinical practice is evidence based and consistent with relevant NICE guidelines and LDP/Trust policies and procedures.

To comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information, and to be aware of any changes.

To have an understanding of legislation and policy relating to health and social care that is relevant to the service users and professional practice.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualifications

Essential

2(i) Hons. degree in Psychology or a closely related subject. The degree must entitle the holder to apply for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society.

Desirable

Further postgraduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research.

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with adults (aged 18 years or more) with learning disabilities.

Desirable

Experience of paid work in direct care provision. Work with children or adults with other disabilities and/or with mental ill-health. Experience of working with paid and/or family carers.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

High level oral and written communication skills including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotionally charged. Ability to communicate sensitive information to service users, paid and family carers, and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance. Ability to contribute to Team objectives and to work constructively with other members of a multi-disciplinary and inter-agency Team. Skills using microcomputers for databases or data-analysis, including SPSS for Windows and Excel. Willingness to learn MOSAIC to a high standard.

Desirable

Experience using software systems for databases or data-analysis. Able to write letters and reports to a high standard.

Knowledge/ Understanding

Essential

An understanding of the impact of service users' histories and backgrounds and the possible impact of ethnic, sexual orientation, gender, faith, communication needs and other characteristics and conditions on their psychological functioning and support needs. An understanding of the support needs of people with learning disabilities who engage in behaviours that place them at risk of exclusion from their communities. An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to the mental health needs of people with learning disabilities and their paid and family carers. An understanding of psychology applied to mental and/or physical health care.

Other Requirements

Essential

Skills in being approachable and flexible, while maintaining strong boundaries. Ability to work independently, reliably, and consistently to complete agreed work. Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively. Able and willing to travel independently across the LDP. Ability to interact with people with learning disabilities who may be in distress.

Desirable

An interest in working with people with learning disabilities. A desire to pursue a career in professional Psychology.

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