Assistant Psychologist

Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS FT; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job description

Job Summary

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, motivated Band 5 Assistant Psychologist within our well-established Neurological Enablement Service (NES) in Sheffield. This role will be based within a team consisting of a Clinical Psychologist and Trainee Clinical Psychologist, as well as highly specialist Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech & Language Therapists, therapy assistants, and administrative support. The team aims to improve the wellbeing, quality of life, and participation of adults with long-term neurological conditions (e.g., Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, Huntington's disease).

The post is community-based, requiring travel to deliver assessment and intervention within patient's homes. You will also communicate with family members and carers, as well as other professionals involved in patient care, such as Neuro-Case Managers, Social Workers, care agencies, Specialist Nurses, and third sector providers.

NES sits within the Long-Term Neurological Conditions Unit of services alongside the Neurological Case Management Service and the Sheffield Community Brain Injury Rehabilitation Team. You will also be a member of the Older Adults and Neurological Conditions Psychology department, alongside other clinical and assistant psychologists. Both memberships will provide you with opportunities for peer support, learning, development, and training / CPD.

Main duties of the job

To support the delivery of stepped psychological care. You will complete psychologically and neuropsychologically informed assessments and interventions under the supervision of a Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist. The work of psychology in this setting includes cognitive assessment and rehabilitation, behaviours of concern, supporting Mental Capacity Act assessments and care planning, and improving emotional and psychological wellbeing and adjustment. This will require close multidisciplinary working with the NES team, multiagency liaison with professionals in other services, and work with families and carers.

We are looking for applicants who are highly motivated, conscientious, compassionate, with great communication and organisation skills, and an ability to work creatively and flexibly in the delivery of psychological care. Prior experience as an Assistant Psychologist plus experience of working with people with neurological conditions is required. This role is based in Sheffield and involves travel across the city; a valid UK driving licence and use of a car is needed due to the nature of the role is required.

About Us

At SHSC, we prioritise the well-being and safety of both our service users and employees. It is our policy and a condition of employment that all employees must join the DBS Update Service. This service carries an annual fee, which employees are responsible for paying up front. However, employees may claim this cost back through the Trust's Employee Expenses Reimbursement Policy. For those requiring a Basic DBS check, it is necessary to register for a DBS Online Account.

Date posted

14 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

457-25-7095715

Job locations

Michael Carlisle Centre

75 Osborne Road

Sheffield

S11 9BF

Job Description

Job responsibilities

General requirements:

1. 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 post-holder's professional and service manager(s).
2. To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in psychology across the service, by continuing to develop the skills of a reflexive and reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal, and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of clinical psychology and related disciplines.
3. To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry, recording and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the BPS and Trust policies and procedures.
4. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues.
5. To attend and contribute to relevant professional meetings.
6. To develop and maintain good working relationships with colleagues within Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust and in the statutory and voluntary services with the aim of promoting high standards of care and clinical practice.

Principal duties
Clinical

1. To work on a frequent basis with adults with cognitive, behavioural, emotional, and psychological symptoms related to their progressive neurological condition.
2. To undertake or contribute to specialist psychological assessments of service users, including the use of service-users records, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations, and semi-structured interviews with service users, family members, and others involved in the person's care, under the supervision of the Clinical Psychologist.
3. To assist in the preparation and delivery of some cognitive assessments in order to inform the psychological treatment and/or management of a service user's problems, including summarising the findings, under the supervision of the Clinical Psychologist, within NES.
4. In the context of severe/profound cognitive impairment to use approaches including Functional Analysis assessments, interviews, Unmet Needs analysis, Assessment of narratives to support interventions around Behaviours of concern or to better manage significant emotional distress.
5. To work directly with service users using guided self-help or psychoeducation approaches where appropriate.
6. To work with other staff to assess service users and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.
7. Where required, to attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.
8. To assist in the maintenance of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all users of the service, across all settings where care takes place.

Teaching, training and supervision

1. To receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
2. To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.
3. To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.

Service Development

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

Research and service evaluation

1. To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.
2. To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
3. To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist the qualified clinical psychologist in evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

Working Environment

This is a community-based role, using LTNC team bases at Michael Carlisle Centre & Albert Terrace Road (S6 3EB) & working into people's homes or more formal care settings. The job role may involve working in situations where there may be occasional verbal abuse from service users, carers, and the general public.

Job Description Review

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities and in discussion with the manager the postholder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the Banding of the post. The job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the post holder.

All Employees Are Expected To Observe The Following:
Equal opportunities and dignity at work statement of intent

The Trust is a major employer and provider of services. We are committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of and meets the needs of the local community. We oppose all forms of discrimination on legal and moral grounds and recognise that discrimination creates barriers to achieving equality for everyone. The Trust is committed to making equality of opportunity and fair treatment a reality whereby an individual can seek, obtain and continue employment without unfair discrimination. As an equal opportunities employer, we will ensure that all job applicants and employees receive fair and equal treatment and will not be disadvantaged by unjustified conditions or requirements. The Trust's Equal Opportunities and Dignity at Work Policy underpins the Trust's commitment to achieve equality and fairness at work and to ensure that individuals or groups are not unfairly discriminated against. We are committed to improving our practice through signing up to initiatives such as Stonewall Champions, the Disability Standard/Disability Confident, and Mindful Employer.

Safeguarding children and adults

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people (anyone under the age of 18), and adults. It expects all staff, volunteers, and contracted staff to share this commitment and act in such a way that safeguards and promotes the health and wellbeing of children, young people, and adults. Staff must ensure that they are familiar with the signs and symptoms of abuse and know what to do if any such concerns are raised. Staff are expected to know about and follow the Trust's safeguarding children and safeguarding adult policies which can be found on the Trust intranet and participate in related mandatory/statutory training.

Risk management

Staff should be aware of the principles of risk management and adopt appropriate practice to reduce the risk to themselves and others. In particular, staff should observe the Trust's Risk Management Strategy, Risk, Incident, and Serious Incident reporting and management policies, Health and Safety regulations, and the risk management training requirements for all staff.

Infection prevention and control

Staff are expected to comply with the Trust's Infection Prevention and Control policies and conduct themselves in such a manner as to minimise the risk of causing healthcare associated infections.

Person Specification

Knowledge & skills
Essential

• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of working age and older adults with organic progressive neurological conditions.
• UK driving licence and access to a car.

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working as an assistant psychologist with adults with organic neurological conditions (e.g., progressive neurological conditions, brain injury, stroke, dementia).
• Experience of paid employment within the NHS as an assistant psychologist.

Desirable

• Experience of using and scoring cognitive screens (e.g., ACE III, MoCA) and/or neuropsychological tests (e.g., WAIS IV).
• Experience of delivering psychological/emotional coping strategies (e.g., relaxation, mindfulness).

Qualifications
Essential

• An upper second-class Honours degree or higher in Psychology - NB. already obtained & not an estimated final grade.
• Eligible for Graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (GBC).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details
Employer name

Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Michael Carlisle Centre

75 Osborne Road

Sheffield

S11 9BF

Employer's website