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Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Step Forward Sefton & Kirkby psychology service to recruit an Assistant Psychologist for a 6 month fixed term post (likely to be extended beyond 6 months). Our service comprises Clinical Psychologists, Psychological Practitioners and Assistant Psychologists who support adults with moderate to complex mental health difficulties (whose needs fall between primary and secondary care). The successful applicant will help deliver a range of semi-structured Psychological groups and low level 1:1 psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified Psychologist. In addition, successful applicants will be involved in the evaluation of the Psychological groups and
research into the impact of the new Step Forward service provision.
It would be expected that the applicant would have a good Psychology degree and experience of working as a Support Worker or Assistant
Psychologist in a healthcare setting. Please demonstrate experience of delivering 1:1 and group interventions in your application.

Principal Responsibilities:

• To undertake psychological assessments of service users under the supervision of a qualified psychologist which may include, as appropriate, a range of psychometric tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, carers and others involved in the client’s care.
• To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, in both community, day care and in-patient/residential settings as appropriate.
• To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups and 1:1 interventions (such as Safety Planning).
• To assist in the development of a psychological framework of understanding and care to all service users of the service, across all care settings.
• To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings as directed by the qualified psychologists.

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 11 million
people.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning
disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We
support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services
together. We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services
we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Principal Responsibilities:

• To undertake psychological assessments of service users under the supervision of a qualified psychologist which may include, as appropriate, a range of psychometric tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, carers and others involved in the client’s care.
• To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, in both community, day care and in-patient/residential settings as appropriate.
• To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups.
• To work with other disciplines to assess inpatients, outpatients, day patients or residents and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.
• To assist in the development of a psychological framework of understanding and care to all service users of the service, across all care settings.
• To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings as directed by the qualified psychologists.

Teaching, training and supervision

• In common with all clinical psychologists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines and trust policy.
• To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties
• Where appropriate, and under the supervision of qualified staff, contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care

Management, recruitment and service development

• To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
• To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed as required.

IT responsibilities (other than those used for research)

• To be competent in the use of basic IT packages, such as Microsoft word.
• Develop a skill base in the administration and analysis of a range of psychometric packages as directed.

Research and service evaluation

• To assist in the design and implementation of audit, effectiveness and research projects.
• To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of full reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
• To review evidence based literature and research to assist qualified psychologists and work with other team members in their clinical responsibilities as necessary.

General

• To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in appropriate CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the postholder’s professional and team/operational manager(s). Version 01/02/2017
• To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society, Directorate and Trust policies and procedures.
• To prepare test materials and visual aids as required and to maintain stock of same where necessary.
• To undertake specific administrative duties as required.
• To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade, which may be required by their Psychological Services Manager.

To be noted:

• This job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the post holder.
• The post holder is expected to comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information.

Generic Responsibilities for all staff:
All post holders will agree to:

• Commit to the vision of supporting Mersey Care in becoming a leading organisation in the provision of community services, mental health care, addiction services and learning disability care, and in doing so fully utilise their skills and experience to support the objectives of the Trust.
• Role model the values of the Trust – Continuous Improvement, Accountability, Respectfulness, Enthusiasm and Support– in all activities and interactions with employees, service users and other stakeholders
• Challenge the stigma associated with mental health and learning difficulties.
• Comply with the Duty of Candour, defined by Francis as: 'The volunteering of all relevant information to persons who have or may have been harmed by the provision of services, whether or not the information has been requested and whether or not a complaint or a report about that provision has been made.’
• Work across professional and organisational boundaries to improve services for all.
• Maintain their specific knowledge base and develop new skills.
• Value the contribution of the patient / service user voice.
• Operate within any organisational codes of practice or those from a relevant professional body.
• Respect equality and diversity across all areas of working practice and communications with staff, service users and other stakeholders.
• Take responsibility for the accurate and timely collection and recording of data and ensuring all personally identifiable information is protected and used only for the purposes for which it was intended.
• Comply with all health and safety legislation and local policies and procedures.
• Adhere to all organisational policies.
• Have knowledge and understanding of technology in the workplace which is sufficient to maintain their efficiency and also how technology can empower service users in a digital environment
• Comply with the NHS Constitution in relation to the staff responsibilities that it sets out for NHS employees.
• Attend a one day Just and Learning & Civility and Respect training work shop
• Be an ambassador for Just & Learning and Civility & Respect following the training
• Positively advocate the just and learning culture within your team
• Be a confident supporter and implementer of the Trust CARES Values including Civility & Respect within your team.
• Support their team/services to create a positive environment for Just and Learning Culture
• Participate in Just and Learning Culture events.
• Bring Just and Learning Culture updates/information to the attention of team members and other MCT colleagues they work with.
• Support and encourage the sharing of concerns about the safety and quality of care with senior leaders with the aim of improving safety and quality.
• Actively participate in creating an open culture within your team so that concerns and difficulties can be discussed safely and respectfully.
• Speaking up in the event that they are exposed to incivility between colleagues in the workplace #iwillspeakup.
• Listening and understanding others who have concerns and taking a collaborative approach to work towards a solution to improve civility and respect.

This job description is intended as an outline indicator of general areas of activity and will be reviewed in light of the changing needs of the Trust in consultation with the postholder.