Assistant Psychologist Birkenhead, England
Job description
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Fixed term: 12 months
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Vacancy ref added)
Job ref
373-SMH1507
Town
Birkenhead
Salary
£23,949 - £26,282 per annum (pro rata)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
14/03/2023 23:59
We provide physical, mental health and learning disability services to a total population of around one million people.
Situated near two thriving cities in Liverpool and Manchester, CWP operates from 66 sites across Cheshire and Merseyside, including Wirral, Chester, Winsford, Crewe, Macclesfield, Sefton and Trafford.
We have been recognised by the Health Service Journal as one of the top places to work in the health service for the last two years running and committed to delivering person centred care.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated CWP as ‘Good’ overall, ‘better’ for treatments and ‘Outstanding’ for care.
We offer a variety of roles at all levels, so whether you are just starting out in your career or you are looking to use your skills and experience in a new role, CWP is the right employer for you.
At the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s job share, part time or another flexible pattern.
Apply now to join our skilled and friendly teams and help us to deliver our vision to improve health and wellbeing by providing high quality care.
Visit our ‘Working for us’ pages at www.cwp.nhs.uk to find out more about why you should choose CWP.
Job overview
We’re looking for an Assistant Psychologist to join our Wirral CMHTs at an exciting time of change as the team participates in the national Community Mental Health Transformation programme. There are two CMHTs covering the Wirral and supporting people with mental health difficulties from the age of 18 years old, including older people.
The successful applicant will be joining a friendly, supportive, and forward-thinking CMHT, and will be well supported by our Clinical Psychologists, including the provision of regular Clinical Supervision. There will be lots of opportunities for development of clinical skills through direct and indirect work with service users, and training opportunities. They will take responsibility for carrying out psychological screening assessments and brief interventions, including group interventions. There will also be opportunity to complete audit and small-scale research projects, and to contribute to, and deliver training to colleagues. There will also be opportunities to contribute to service development projects, including in relation to the Transformation programme. There may also be opportunities to work with our Single Point of Access service in supporting assessments and formulations for people newly referred to our services.
They will receive regular supervision from a Clinical Psychologist and join a team that has a good track record in supporting people with applications to the Clinical Psychology training courses
Main duties of the job
- Completion of Psychological Screening Assessments with service users on the therapy waiting lists, including completion of initial formulations
- Provision of low-level and brief psychological interventions
- Completion of audits and small scale service-related research
- Designing and co-facilitating psychological group interventions, including the potential for developing group interventions in the community
- Attendance at relevant meetings – including weekly Team Meetings
- Providing support to the psychology team, and the wider CMHT
- Support for ongoing service development projects, including projects relating to the psychology team and to the Community Mental Health Transformation Programme
- Supervision to be provided by a qualified Clinical Psychologist
Working for our organisation
CWP provides health and care services for local people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care – including the provision of three GP surgeries.
Our aim is to help people to be the best they can be, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We were recently rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission with a Good rating overall.
We have been recognised by the Health Service Journal as one of the top places to work in the health service for the last two years running. CWP also scored the highest in the north west (among mental health, learning disability and community Trusts) for staff “recommending CWP as a place to work” in the NHS Staff Survey 2020.
We have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton and Liverpool – and provide specialist services for the North West as a whole.
Apply now to join our skilled and friendly teams and help us to deliver our vision to improve health and wellbeing by providing high quality care. We offer a variety of roles at all levels.
CWP are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.
We welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description for full details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values and Behaviours in their everyday life. Therefore, if you are invited to interview, you will be undertaking a Values Based Interview/Assessment, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and Behaviours which are ‘the 6 Cs’ Communication, Competence, Courage, Care, Compassion and Commitment. A ‘Guide to completing your application form’ can be accessed on the right side of this page under the job description.
The Supporting Information Section in your application should therefore reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated Behaviours. You will be expected to provide us with examples from work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviour.
If your disability meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’ Please also inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for our Armed Forces community. Please answer YES’ to the question in the application form.
All new clinical support staff will be required to have completed or working towards the Care Certificate (CWP In-house 2 day training to be completed within 6 months of start date).
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £13 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
CWP encourages and supports all staff to become vaccinated against COVID-19.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
If you experience any technical difficulties or need help when making an application please contact our Recruitment Team on 01244 393100.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Good honours degree in Psychology (2.i or above). Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS
- To undertake breakaway training or equivalent following appointment
Desirable criteria
- Advanced keyboard skills
- Other related academic qualifications to Masters or Doctorate level
Knowledge & Expertise
Essential criteria
- The ability to communicate complex/ sensitive information where barriers to understanding exist. For example, instances requiring empathy and reassurance
- The ability to make judgements involving a range of facts or situations requiring analysis or comparison of a range of options. Also skills for assessing clients in one-to-one sessions, group dynamics or who are participating in research
- The ability to organise straightforward tasks, activities or programmes, some of which may be ongoing. Also, the ability to plan and prioritises own workload, research programme activities; group sessions, etc
- Working to Professional Guidelines
- Must be capable of working within guidelines; receives regular supervision / direction
Desirable criteria
- Ability to use routinely available spreadsheet/databas e software (Excel, Access, etc.)
- Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books
Experience
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable relevant work experience with people who have complex mental health problems/ learning disabilities risk patterns and challenging behaviour
Desirable criteria
- Relevant work experience of people with learning disabilities / mental health problems
- Desire to progress to Clinical Training (DClinPsy)
We support anyone with a disability thinking about applying for a job at CWP. If you need help at any stage, please contact our Recruitment Team on 01244 393100. Please also inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
If your disability meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please note, external applicants will be required to pay for their Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS). Enhanced Disclosure costs £40. Standard Disclosure is £23. Administration fee is £3.50. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. Please note that DBS costs will be waived for applicants who are being recruited for COVID-19 reasons.
If the role you are successful for requires a DBS check, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £13 per year applies. Please see attached “Update Service Applicant Guide” document for further information.
We welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
We offer Voluntary Living Wage.
All new clinical support staff will be required to have completed or working towards the Care Certificate (CWP In-house 2 day training to be completed within 6 months of start date).
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
If you experience any technical difficulties applying for this post please contact our Recruitment Team on 01244 393100 and quote the vacancy reference number.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon.
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Further details / informal visits contact
Job title
Clinical Psychologist
Email address
Telephone number
0300 303 3157
Additional information
