Assistant Psychologist

This Assistant Psychologist role has been created as part of a new Cancer Psychological Service for Kent and Medway, which has been funded for two years initially by Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance and Macmillan. The role provides a fantastic opportunity for an enthusiastic, motivated and experienced Assistant Psychologist to take part in the development of a new service within a small friendly and supportive team of two experienced Clinical Psychologists and a Counsellor (led by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist). The new service will provide psychological assessment and interventions to patients receiving treatment for a cancer diagnosis, and their relatives, throughout Kent and Medway training and supervision for the cancer workforce and consultation to cancer multi-disciplinary teams. The service will work closely with existing cancer Counselling and Psychosocial services across the region.

The post-holder will be based at Maidstone Hospital, but the service covers four Trusts across Kent and Medway and the Assistant Psychologist will need to travel between sites. Job share requests will be considered.

Please note that this role may often attract a high level of applications. Please note this role may close earlier than the original closing date so please ensure you submit your application as soon as possible.

Main duties of the job

This is a new and developing role, in which the Assistant Psychologist will conduct clinical triages with newly referred patients, support in the delivery of group work for patients and training for staff, undertake clinical administrative duties, including database management and collection of outcome data, and take part in the development and implementation of audit and research projects. The post-holder will be supervised by a Clinical Psychologist.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• BA or BSc (Hons) in Psychology or equivalent
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working in a psychological or mental health setting with people with mental or physical health problems or disabilities
• Graduate level knowledge of psychological research methodology and statistical analyses.
• Good theoretical knowledge of psychological theories and concepts and their relevance to people with mental health problems and/or physical health problems/disabilities.
• Aware of racial and diversity issues
• Understanding of relevant NICE Guidance.

Desirable

• Experience of working with people with cancer
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment with people with cancer
• Knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics.

Skills
Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills including an ability to interact with people with mental health and/or related problems
• Good research skills including knowledge of Excel and SPSS
• Well developed IT skills including ability to use Microsoft Office
• Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals
• Ability to use supervision effectively to develop clinical skills
• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to interact with people with mental health problems/disabilities/chronic physical health problems
• High standard of report writing
• Good communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive
• Ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines
• Ability to contribute to the teaching and training of others.
• Excellent organisational skills

Employer details
Employer name
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Address
Maidstone Hospital
Hermitage Lane
Maidstone
ME169QQ