Assistant Psychologist Canterbury, England
Job description
This is an exciting opportunity to deliver the Clinical Care Pathways in KMPT. Intent on bringing innovative ideas into practice, the clinical care pathways are evidence based clinical interventions delivered across Secondary Care Mental Health Services in Kent. With a focus on psychologically informed interventions, these roles will play a significant role in delivering brief manualised clinical interventions as well as co-facilitating therapy groups, under the supervision of qualified psychological practitioners.
We are committed to providing support and excellent supervision and to developing their staff. The Services have good links with the Christchurch Canterbury University Doctoral Training Course in Clinical Psychology based at David Salomon’s House to which they regularly provide clinical placements to clinical psychologists in training.
The successful candidate will hold a good honours degree in Psychology and be interested in pursuing a career in a related area.
Participate in the provision of direct clinical work through delivery of manualised psychologically informed structured interventions as part of Psychological Services to adults with mental health difficulties within the community & recovery service line.
Deliver ‘initial interventions’ to people accessing adult mental health services as part of the Clinical Care Pathways in the CMHT. Specific and targeted training will be provided by experienced Psychological Practitioners and all interventions supported by weekly clinical supervision from Psychological Practitioners.
Undertake other structured therapeutic psychological interventions in an identified service or services using own independent initiative within guidelines provided by a qualified psychologist.
Undertake clinically and service performance related administration, audit and research projects, teaching and service improvement project work under the professional guidance of a qualified psychologist.
Come and work with us in the Garden of England where we combine exceptional professional development opportunities with a tremendous quality of life.
We are Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT), providing mental health, learning disability and specialist services, serving 1.8 million people across the county.
The Trust (rated Good overall by the CQC and Outstanding for care) has 3,283 staff working in 66 buildings across 33 locations, covering an area of 1,450 square miles.
You will be joining friendly, passionate colleagues, rich in their diversity, who are committed to providing excellent care to our service users and their loved ones.
The nature of our work attracts kindness and compassion as standard and everyone from our cleaners and porters to the chief executive and chairman are recognised as playing a vital role in providing an exemplary service.
To undertake training in the delivery of the CBT informed intervention known as ‘Initial Interventions’ delivered by a group of specialist psychological practitioners.
To deliver CBT the informed interventions to a range of adults accessing Secondary Care Mental Health Services under the direct responsibility and clinical supervision of experienced Psychological Practitioners.
To undertake a range of other skills-based or protocol-driven psychological therapeutic interventions, in addition to Initial Interventions, depending upon the needs of the service.
To receive and participate in weekly clinical supervision around all clinical work.
To provide psychological guidance and support to carers and families of service users under clinical supervision of a qualified psychologist.
To use initiative and act independently within guidelines, knowing when to refer to a qualified psychologist for clinical decisions and guidance.
To contribute to teaching psychology to other professions and trainees of other professions in collaboration with qualified psychologists.
To teach, advise and consult with carers and community groups on psychological elements of mental health problems and their care under the guidance of a qualified psychologist.
To participate in multi-disciplinary meetings concerned with the delivery and development of clinical services and contributes a psychological perspective as appropriate.
To contribute as required to the planning and development of the operational policies and service delivery in locality services through undertaking agreed project work under the guidance of a qualified psychologist.
To develop and maintain good communication links with the NHS, Social Services and other agencies working in the area of Adult Mental Health.
To contribute to project management of complex audit, assisting colleagues to develop service provision under the guidance of a qualified psychologist.
To contribute to the evaluation of Initial Interventions by participating in service-related research, performance reporting and evaluation projects, as agreed with the Locality Lead for Psychological Practice.
To contribute to and conduct psychologically based research relevant to the care of adults with acute mental health difficulties, as agreed with the Clinical Psychologist.
To undertake the preparation of test materials, data collection, data analysis and the production and presentation of reports on service audit, performance and research projects.
To undertake literature searches and reviews of current research to support the evidence based practice of psychology within the multi-disciplinary team.
To participate in regular clinical supervision receiving close professional support appropriate to the assistant grade and to receive on-the-job training in psychological skills required for the post.
To work within the Code of Ethics and the relevant professional practice guidelines of the British Psychological Society and the professional guidance framework of the Trust.
To work within the framework of the policies and procedures of the Trust.
To be responsible for relevant data collection on work activities and service
performance reports, as required, and to maintain a high standard of clinical and audit record keeping.
To participate fully in supporting the activities of psychological professions within the Trust, including attending relevant meetings.
To familiarise self with developments in the field of Adult Mental Health.
To carry out such other duties as the Locality lead and professional supervisor may reasonable request.
Please see job description for full details.
