ASSISTANT PSYCHOLOGIST – Older Adults

NHS; Blackpool; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job description

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Fylde Coast Older Adult Community Mental Health Team. We are seeking a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and compassionate assistant psychologist with a genuine interest in older adult mental health. The team specialises in working with individuals aged 65 and over with severe and enduring mental health problems and people with complex needs associated with dementia of any age. The position is open to applicants who have an undergraduate psychology degree and can demonstrate the required personal competencies. You will work closely with the team Clinical Psychologist and as part of the wider multidisciplinary team. Your work will include supporting the Clinical Psychologist with assessment, formulation, intervention and consultation as appropriate. There may also be opportunity to contribute to audit and service development. You will work within the policies, procedures and protocols for the service.

You will be linked in with the wider older adult psychology network where there are further opportunities for learning and development.

Main duties of the job

Job summary:

1. Under supervision from a qualified clinical psychologist to assist in the professional and psychological care of clients within the service across all sectors of care by providing basic aspects of psychological assessment and psychological interventions.
2. May assist in clinically related audits, surveys, collation and analysis of statistics information.
3. All clinical work and actions to take place under the management and supervision of qualified psychology staff according to an agreed plan and associated goals within parameters set out by the Division of Clinical Psychology and Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust departmental policies and procedures in connection with Assistant Psychologists.
4. Formal supervision with a named member of qualified clinical psychology staff to take place on a weekly basis to facilitate work with additional frequent opportunities for informal contact with qualified psychology staff for guidance and advice.
5. Driving is a requirement of this post. Clinical activity involves sitting, often in a constrained position for long periods of time. Related activities will require the use of a VDU screen for approximately 50% of working hours.

About us

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care. The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area. Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, believing that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview. For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology or equivalent.
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.

Knowledge

• A good knowledge of lifespan psychology.
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with psychological/mental health difficulties or other disabilities.

Experience

• Contact with people with mental health difficulties and/or other disabilities.

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.

Address

Older Adults CMHT Blackpool Fylde & Wyre (65+)