Assistant Psychologist Milton Keynes, England
Job description
We are seeking an Assistant Psychologists to join our dynamic new Recovery Day Programme team. This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a unique branch of mental health at a time of unprecedented expansion and growth. The post holder will have the chance to make a significant difference to local residents.
The Recovery Day Programme is a 12-week, evidence based, rolling group programme to assist clients in the end stage of their recovery from addiction. It includes group therapy and other psychosocial interventions, fellowship groups, experiential and peer-led groups and interventions, and guided self-help. It is a co-production combining evidence-based psychosocial and peer support/experts by experience interventions.
The successful candidate will be an energetic and robust individual with sophisticated and sensitive clinical skills, and a proven track record of delivering high quality services in either the NHS, social care or the private sector.
As an Assistant Psychologist you will be expected to support qualified clinical staff in completing assessments, delivering individual and group therapy and conducting audit and evaluation. Post-holders will also have the opportunity to contribute to the delivery of the specialist psychological intervention programmes offered in the service, which are primarily motivational interviewing and CBT based. The post will also include exposure to research endeavours being undertaken.
There is a strong organisational support element to the role in the form of overseeing the referral and assessment booking process, using databases and SystmOne, and providing administrative assistance to the team as required. Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently is essential. Supervision will be offered by qualified clinical/counselling psychologists.
The successful applicant will be an enthusiastic and committed team player with a genuine interest in mental health.
CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 7,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.
Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference.
We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.
Clinical and administrative
1. To plan and undertake assessments of clients. This may include using motivational interviewing techniques, self-report measures, risk assessment, rating scales, direct and indirect observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client’s care. Assessments will involve making judgements involving complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options, as well as requiring prolonged concentration.
2. To write clinical summaries and care plans based on information gleaned at assessment and present these to the multi-disciplinary team
3. To provide motivational interventions to clients waiting to commence CBT
4. To work in a highly emotive atmosphere with clients with gambling and/or gaming problems on a regular basis, and be able to communicate sensitive and complex information, whilst maintaining a high degree of professionalism at all times. May be subject to verbal aggression in individual sessions.
5. To assist in the co-ordination and running of therapeutic groups, under the supervision of a qualified member of staff.
6. To liaise with referrers and clients and facilitate the referral process along with administrative staff. To maintain an oversight of client engagement from first contact to discharge
7. To assist managers and senior staff as required to ensure the safe daily operation of the clinic
Research and Clinical Governance
1. To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work.
2. To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects on a regular basis in order to help develop and improve service provision. This may include complex audits / service evaluation using qualitative or quantitative methods.
3. To undertake production of questionnaires, data collection, setting up of databases and spreadsheets, data analysis, and the production of reports and presentation of summaries to colleagues using IT and statistical programmes, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and SPSS.
4. To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research using the internet and online databases e.g. Psychinfo, to assist qualified clinical psychologists in evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other multi-disciplinary team members.
5. To carry-out practice-based research using validated questionnaires, reflective scientist-practitioner skills, etc, as routine.
Teaching, training and supervision
1. In common with all psychologists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
2. To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS as agreed with the psychologist to whom they are accountable.
3. To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties
4. To provide training and support around gambling treatment to a range of other professionals
Management, recruitment and service development
1. To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
2. To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.
3. The post holder will be required to attend and contribute, where appropriate, to the regular professional meetings of the Addictions Directorate and other Departmental meetings.
IT responsibilities
1. The post holder will input and maintain appropriate clinical records and statistical data using designated clinical systems
2. The postholder will engage in relevant computer and IT training as required.
3. To assist in the development, design and implementation of relevant IT projects.
4. To utilise computer software to develop or create documents, statistics and graphs for the purpose of presentations.
Research and service evaluation
1. To initiate and assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.
2. To initiate and undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
3. To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist qualified psychologists in evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
4. To familiarise themselves with, and to comply with, the Trust’s requirements on research governance.
General
1. To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the postholder’s professional and team/operational manager(s).
2. 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 Trust policies and procedures.
3. To prepare test materials and visual aids as required.
4. To undertake specific administrative duties as required.
5. To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade, which may be required from time to time by their Psychology Manager.
