Assistant Psychologist United Kingdom
Job description
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people's and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.
At any one time, around 23,000 people in Norfolk and Suffolk are receiving care and attention from the Trust. We believe in whole life care - seeing people in the context of their whole lives, understanding the importance of good physical health, friends, family, spirituality, culture, home, work, education and a sense of purpose and achievement to experience good mental health.
Nearly 3,200 full and part-time practitioners care for our service users in hospitals, in the community and in their own homes, whilst an additional 900+ staff provide non-clinical support, including cleaning, delivering supplies, ward administration, information technology, human resources and financial services.
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to reflect the diversity of our local communities within our teams. We welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience.
We are committed to delivering quality driven mental health services. Every individual makes a valuable contribution. We are proud of our staff who have been commended for the care they provide. Do you value working positively, respectfully and together? If so, we’d love you to join us!
We will consider flexible working arrangements for our roles, please indicate in your application if this is something you require
JOB DESCRIPTION/PERSON SPECIFICATION
Please read the job description/person specification carefully and ensure your application reflects the knowledge, skills and experience needed.
YOUR APPLICATION
It is important that you complete a formal application form as CV’s alone will not be accepted.
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Job overview
An opportunity has arisen for 2 Band 4 full-time (2 x 1 wte) Assistant Psychologists to join the soon to be combined Psychology in Schools Team and the Under 18 Wellbeing Service (one post will be based in East Suffolk and one in West Suffolk). This innovative team will be at the forefront of evoking change in the systems around children and young people, to connect, empower, and encourage individuals and communities to be champions of their own mental health.
Local CYFP services are evolving, utilising the THIRVE model as the essence of a transformation which offers an exciting and original approach to mental health support.
The Psychology in Schools Team and the U18 Wellbeing Service are supporting this transformation using their knowledge of community alignment to promote and provide early intervention and strengthen confidence of systems surrounding young people to respond to their need.
Main duties of the job
Your role with the PST and U18 Wellbeing Service will include supporting with:
- Specialist assessment, formulation and intervention including direct work with young people and their families
- Helping the Service develop it’s digital offer and parent workshop programme
- Delivering training sessions and workshops to staff (education, GP practices), parent and young people on a variety of topics pertinent to CYFP mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Supporting workforce development through consultation and direct work within school settings and GP practices
- Running group intervention programmes for students
- Research and evaluation across the project (including ROMs)
Working for our organisation
The teams hold the ethos of connecting with individuals and support systems by compassionate and, most importantly, human means. Through doing so, we aim to empower professionals and non-professionals alike to provide early intervention using a compassionate approach that we understand as fundamental. By working closely with communities we are able to recognize vulnerabilities in individuals and the wider system, allowing us to be responsive to need and target inequality through a non-judgmental lens that appreciates difficulty, but emphasises strength.
The PST/U18 Wellbeing service is a nurturing environment to work in, although we highly value independent working and autonomy, we also place great emphasis on connection, strong team working and all members of the team having an equally valuable contribution to make. We encourage personal growth and development and although the role allows for flexible working from home, we hope that you would be able to join us on team days so that we can properly get to know you. There is a strong ethos of collaboration and support, which will make this a fulfilling role.
This role also provides the opportunity to work in collaboration with the Mental Health Support Teams; commissioned as a result of the Green Paper: Transforming Children and Young People's Mental Health Provision. As well as other key early intervention and outreach services.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The PST/U18 Wellbeing Service will maintain and further develop relationships with existing mental health services and provide close links with Clinicians working in Suffolk. The role offers a variety of opportunities under the clinical supervision of the PST Clinical Lead and will have a strong ethos of collaboration and support within the early intervention/primary care pathway, which will make this a fulfilling role.
You work will contribute to the wider system thinking about the development of services at the interface of education, health and social care. Making it a unique and exciting opportunity to transform local services for young people and their families.
You will be based in either Bury St Edmunds (West Suffolk) or Ipswich (East Suffolk). The service covers all of Suffolk, so there may be some need to travel (a car is required). These are fixed-term posts for 12 months (with the possibility of extending), ideally starting early September.
Person specification
QUALIFICATIONS / RESEARCH
Essential criteria
- BPS accredited psychology degree (2:1, with evidence of relevant further study)
Desirable criteria
- BPS accredited psychology degree (1:0, relevant masters, doctorate). Further evidence of research experience / NHS research experience beyond undergraduate (e.g. audits/service evaluation/RCTs)
SKILLS
Essential criteria
- Organisational skills/ autonomous working
Desirable criteria
- Delivering Psychological Therapies
KNOWLEDGE
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of mental health/role of an Assistant Psychologist, some knowledge of psychological theory, knowledge of quantitative research, demonstrates an interest in working with children, young people and families
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of psychological theory / therapeutic models underpinning work with young people and children
Experience
Essential criteria
- Working within an educational, social care, VCSE, clinical or research context with children/young people
Desirable criteria
- Clinical experience in mental health related work. Experience of working in education or demonstrates ability to work across health, social care and/or education
Other
Essential criteria
- Care and specificity in application form
Desirable criteria
- Ambition to train as a clinical psychologist and/or membership of appropriate professional organisations
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Apart from its legal duties in relation to equality and diversity, the Trust recognises and actively promotes the benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.
Additionally, people with disabilities that fall under the Two Ticks - Guaranteed Interview Scheme will be offered an interview providing they meet the minimum criteria for the post (outlined in the Person Specification).
DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE CHECK (formerly CRB)
FOR POSTS WITH DIRECT SERVICE USER CONTACT - Please be advised that due to recent changes in the DBS Service, organisations no longer receive copies of DBS Disclosures – these are sent directly to candidates only. Therefore, it will be your responsibility, if successful, to ensure that this is taken to the appointing officer as soon as you receive it.
Alternatively, if you have subscribed to the update service, we will be able to check your status once we have your authority to do so.
The Trust has now introduced a DBS Update Service which is a contractual requirement. You need to subscribe when you have applied for your DBS clearance and there is a time limit to subscribe of 19 days after receipt of your DBS disclosure. Please ensure that this is completed within the set time scale.
This update service is an annual subscription at a cost of £13 to you. This will enable the Trust to have instant online access to your DBS record, with your consent, and so will remove the need for you to have to apply for this repeat check again.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
