Assistant Psychologist

You will be involved in the day-to-day running and clinical activity of the Mental Health Liaison Team Psychology Lister General Hospital

Inpatient assessment and therapy work; the frequent attenders pathway and Psychology outpatient follow up clinic.

This is an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Psychologist to gain clinical experience and experience of service evaluation and organisation.

You will assist the Consultant Clinical Psychologist by undertaking tasks such as data collection and analysis of referrals and the psychology waiting list.

You will also lead on outcome data. In addition you will contribute to treatment interventions both on an individual and group basis under the direction and supervision of a qualified Psychologist who will retain clinical responsibility for clinical work carried out.

Other tasks will include assisting with audit, service evaluation and/or research and to undertake teaching and project work under the supervision of a qualified member of staff.

You will assist qualified psychological therapy staff by undertaking psychological assessments and interventions, including the scoring of neuropsychological and other psychological measures, preparation of psychoeducational materials, assisting liaison and communication between Psychology and other team members, audit and service development activities.

You will be expected to work independently on a day-to–day basis, to meet goals and tasks set by the supervising psychological therapist.

Work will be undertaken under the management and supervision of qualified psychological therapists in the team, and within professional guidelines and Service policies and procedures.

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

Our family of over 3500 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.

The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Our Trust values are:
Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!

Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?

Then please read on…

You will undertake psychological assessments of clients referred to the Team, and assist in the analysis and interpretation of data from various sources (eg. psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect observation, interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client’s care). You will also be involved in providing interventions which foster Socialisation/ reduce isolation/recovery, and social inclusion

You will assist qualified therapy staff in the delivery of specialist psychological interventions with adults with complex acute or chronic mental health problems, including work with individuals, couples, families and carers and group work, as appropriate on the basis of feedback, monitoring and follow-up. 4

You will contribute to the development of basic psychological intervention packages which can be implemented under supervision or jointly by other members of the team.

You will keep appropriate records, by adding to patient’s clinical notes and electronic patient information system, and to provide written reports of assessment data and clinical intervention as required, in accordance with team, service and professional standards.

You will undertake CPD activities as required to enhance clinical skills necessary for the delivery of high quality psychological therapy services, incorporating new skills in clinical practice.

You will receive regular clinical supervision and appraisal with supervising psychological therapists/line managers in accordance with good practice guidelines.

You will work within the procedures, protocols and guidelines for the service.

You will plan and organise their work schedule, tasks in the community.

You will liaise with other staff of the relevant multidisciplinary teams and with Psychological Therapy /Mental Health Services and other agencies as appropriate under guidance from the supervising psychology

For a more detailed Job Description and Person Specification please read the attached documents before applying