Assistant PsychologistinHemel HempsteadinHemel HempsteadPUBLISHED TUE 29 OCT 2024

Candidates are advised to submit applications early to avoid disappointment as this vacancy will close early due to high application numbers.

We are currently seeking a full-time Assistant Psychologist on a 12 month fixed term contract to join our Primary Care Mental Health Service based in Hemel Hempstead and covering Hemel and St Alban's.

The Primary Care Mental Health Services provide interventions to those not meeting the criteria for secondary mental health services but may need more than is offered by Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Services. We are a MDT consisting of psychologists, CBT therapists, MHWP, Occupational Therapy, Primary Care workers, Recovery worker, Peer support workers and pharmacy with weekly support from psychiatry.

Previous applicants who have already applied to the SW vacancy need not apply.

You will support and enhance the psychological care of clients and carers in EPMHS by offering guided self help and formulation driven interventions, supporting groups and assisting with psychological assessments under the supervision of a qualified psychologist. You will assist in clinical related administration, collection of statistics and the development of research projects and other project work. You will participate in offering first appointments to clients for an assessment of their current needs.

All staff should comply with the Trust's Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity.

About us

Job Summary:

Please refer to the JD for full duties.

To support and enhance the psychological care of clients and carers in EPMHS by offering guided self help and formulation driven interventions, supporting groups and assisting with psychological assessments under the supervision of a qualified psychologist. To assist in clinical related administration, collection of statistics and the development of research projects and other project work. To participate in offering first appointments to clients for an assessment of their current needs.

Job Responsibilities:

Clinical

To work within EPMHS and to contribute to multi-disciplinary team working.

Under the supervision of a qualified therapist to assist with specialised psychological assessments, formulations, treatments and other types of clinical assessment and intervention with individual service users, carers, families, groups of service users

To provide guided self help and formulation driven interventions for service users and assist with the delivery of groups

To monitor progress and adjust psychological treatments accordingly during the course of treatment and with help from the qualified therapist.

To work independently on a day-to-day basis. This work will be supervised and reviewed at regular intervals, in accordance with British Psychological Society guidelines; supervision will be offered by a qualified psychologist (although other qualified healthcare professionals may also contribute).

To lead on collection of clinical outcome measures within the service and to produce reports based on the data at both an individual client and team level. To support the service to improve data collection rates.

To assist in monitoring the services key performance indicators and clinical targets.

To have good working relationships with multi-disciplinary colleagues in EPMHS

To promote and maintain good working relationships with colleagues in Primary Care, Secondary Care (e.g ACMHS) and in Tertiary Care (e.g. MDTs in inpatient units and medical wards).

To promote and maintain good working relationships with clients, their families, carers and other external agencies.

To have good working relationships with the Leadership and Management Team within EPMHS

To have good communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere might be highly emotive whilst maintaining a high degree of professionalism at all times

To communicate and share information relating to psychological assessments and treatments with the supervisor, team members, clients and families in a sensitive and empathic manner.

To recognise and reflect on barriers to effective communication and to modify communication in response

To communicate with a range of people on a range of matters that is appropriate to them and the situation

To agree arrangements for communication with the client/family/carer, including face to face, written, telephone and email communication, and to document these in accordance with Trust policy and the Data Protection Act

To undertake work with carers, family members, health staff and other professionals as guided by supervisor

To manage a caseload within the requirements of and to the standards defined by Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

To undertake risk assessment and risk management for clients under the supervision of psychologists/psychotherapists involved in the clients care.

To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and guidance in relation to both the specific client group, mental health and social care.

Attendance at meetings and case reviews of clients and to assist in the writing and preparation of clinical reports and letters when required.

To contribute to groups for service users and/or carers in the community as required by the service.

To undertake joint working and clinical discussions with other members of the multi-disciplinary team, with appropriate supervision.

In line with professional standards, to receive regular clinical and professional supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines from a psychologist and, where appropriate, other senior professional colleagues.

To attend regular peer/team supervision.

To contribute to the training and support of other staff, as appropriate.

To offer information to other professionals as appropriate when it will help their development or help in service delivery.

To monitor individuals during assessments and treatments alerting the relevant person when there are unexpected changes in individuals health and wellbeing or risks.

To manage a case load exercising appropriate clinical and organisational judgement under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.

To plan, organise, time manage and prioritise own workload and personal administration within an agreed job plan.

To liaise and consult with other professionals in the NHS and other agencies and organisations.

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 qualified psychologist and team manager.

Policy and Service Development

To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed and to contribute where relevant to the post.

To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.

To advise as appropriate both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where psychological and/or organisational matters need addressing.

To work within HPFT policies, procedures and guidelines.

To attend regular meetings of EPMHS, for support, and to contribute to the development and implementation of professional policy, standards and guidelines, as appropriate.

To alert the team leader/team when direction, policies and strategies are adversely affecting users of services or the public

Financial and Physical Resources

To ensure, as appropriate, that resources are appropriately and efficiently utilised within the service.

To check equipment and report equipment failures to line management as appropriate.

To work within HPFT financial policies, procedures, and budgets, as appropriate.

Research and Development

To support research and audit, with the possibility of contributing to any publications arising from such projects.

To undertake appropriate research and to analyse and interpret data for the purposes of Research and Audit.

Information Technology and Resources

To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording primarily within the Trusts Electronic Patient Record System and in line with Trust policies and procedures.

To make entries on electronic diaries.

To record and monitor statistical data relevant to service provision and development as required. This is carried out in order to provide statistical data for research and audit.

To provide relevant data on treatment provision required by HPFT, EPMHS, whilst complying with the Data Protection Act 1984.

To ensure client confidentiality.

Physical Working Conditions and Environment

The post holder will be based at the EPMHS team base but may be required to offer services across Hertfordshire.

To work under supervision with people with severe and enduring mental health difficulties, their families and carers, requiring professional judgements about risk.

To cope with (on a daily basis) exposure to people presenting with a range of emotional/behavioural difficulties, often with very distressing and traumatic histories.

There may also be an occasional requirement to assert light physical effort but participation in breakaway training is mandatory and there is an expectation that these skills will be used in emergencies.

To document client care by recording information on Electronic Patient Record Systems, demonstrating keyboard skills.

To travel between bases and further afield as required on occasion.

Additional Information:

To undertake specific administrative duties, as required.

To perform other duties of a similar kind, appropriate to the grade, which may be required from time to time by the psychologist.