Higher Assistant Psychologist
Job summary
Internal applicants only LWSW employees only
This post is available to LWSW employees only. Please do not share these details outside of the organisation.
37.5 hours per week.
LWSW serves a population of approximately 262,000 in Plymouth. This is a new post and will support a higher assistant psychologist within the Home Treatment Team and Glenbourne inpatient unit. As well as carrying an appropriate case load under supervision, the post holder will support development of the psychology service, including group interventions, staff support, research, and multi-agency links.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced assistant psychologist to provide psychological services at the interface of the acute inpatient mental health setting and the home treatment team. This is an exciting opportunity to continue to develop a relatively new role and contribute to improving the psychological provision to individuals who transfer between the acute to the care of the home treatment team.
Main duties of the job
You will be working within and supported by the psychology team based at the Glenbourne unit at the Derriford Hospital site with some days based at the Home Treatment Team (HTT) at Mount Gould Hospital.
You will be working alongside a range of professionals as part of an MDT providing care and treatment to individuals with varying and complex mental health difficulties at a point of crisis. They may have been admitted to the inpatient unit or be under the care of the HTT which provides an alternative to hospital admission. You will be expected to work proactively to promote psychological approaches with staff and support the development of psychological formulations and aid its translation into appropriate care and treatment for service users. You will also be expected to provide brief interventions with service users both at an individual and group level. There will also be opportunities to support service evaluations and clinical audits.
"please note that this role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility"
All Livewell Southwest staff are expected to able and willing to work across a 7 day service.
Please note that LW may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
Job Share(s) Considered
About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.
We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.
We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.
Date posted
24 February 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 5
Salary
£29,970 to £36,483 a year pa, pro-rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
Reference number
B9832-2025-SP-1079
Job locations
Livewell South West
Mount Gould Road
Plymouth
PL4 7QD
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will work principally from the Mount Gould Hospital and Glenbourne (Derriford Hospital) sites.
The post holder will work with patients referred into Home Treatment Team or to inpatient wards in the Glenbourne unit. It is intended that the post holder will continue to work with them providing continuity of care in the event that they move between those two services.
The primary role is to support the qualified psychologists working within the acute pathway through undertaking clinically supervised psychologically-informed assessments and intervention with people with varying and complex mental health challenges who are admitted to an acute inpatient setting or are under the care of the Home Treatment Team either as an alternative to an admission or post discharge. To undertake brief psychological interventions, individually or in groups, and with families and professional carers. To proactively work with MDTs and service users to support the development of psychological formulations and communicate how these can inform care and treatment in both the inpatient and community settings. To support research projects, service evaluations and clinical audits as required.
Please see attached job description.
Job responsibilities
The post holder will work principally from the Mount Gould Hospital and Glenbourne (Derriford Hospital) sites.
The post holder will work with patients referred into Home Treatment Team or to inpatient wards in the Glenbourne unit. It is intended that the post holder will continue to work with them providing continuity of care in the event that they move between those two services.
The primary role is to support the qualified psychologists working within the acute pathway through undertaking clinically supervised psychologically-informed assessments and intervention with people with varying and complex mental health challenges who are admitted to an acute inpatient setting or are under the care of the Home Treatment Team either as an alternative to an admission or post discharge. To undertake brief psychological interventions, individually or in groups, and with families and professional carers. To proactively work with MDTs and service users to support the development of psychological formulations and communicate how these can inform care and treatment in both the inpatient and community settings. To support research projects, service evaluations and clinical audits as required.
Please see attached job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Honours degree at 2:1 or above in psychology and the qualification renders the applicant eligible for graduate membership of the BPS
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant area of professional psychology, health and social care practice
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of complex mental health difficulties and the role of acute mental health services
- Basic knowledge of research skills and methodology
Desirable
- Knowledge of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience in an assistant psychologist role
- Experience of working with people with complex mental health difficulties
- Experience of working in acute or in-patient mental health services Experience of working as part of a team Experience of using clinical supervision / reflective practice in the workplace
- Experience of applying psychological models practically with people in a health or social care setting
Desirable
- Experience of psychological assessments including the use of psychometric tests
- Experience of providing psychological intervention
- Experience of using DBT or DBT informed approaches in practice Experience of providing teaching, training or supervision
Specific Skills
Essential
- Excellent verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills, including being able to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information in a potentially highly emotive atmosphere.
- Ability to integrate complex data; make evaluations; produce psychological formulations and contribute to decisions.
- Organisation and time management skills, including the ability to be flexible and cope with multiple demands, being capable of using initiative and organising work to agreed goals.
- Ability to use supervision, knowing when to ask for and use supervision, identifying when there is need for advice and using supervision at agreed intervals.
- Good IT skills, including the ability to use common software for routine communication and effectively conveying information.
- Ability to work as a member of a clinical team and to work collaboratively, flexibly and supportively.
- Ability to tolerate ambiguity and maintain own morale and motivation in challenging service delivery contexts.
- Ability to listen to and tolerate material that maybe considered upsetting and difficult.
- Ability to travel across Plymouth
Desirable
- Working knowledge of software for analysing quantitative and qualitative data.
Qualifications
Essential
- Honours degree at 2:1 or above in psychology and the qualification renders the applicant eligible for graduate membership of the BPS
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant area of professional psychology, health and social care practice
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of complex mental health difficulties and the role of acute mental health services
- Basic knowledge of research skills and methodology
Desirable
- Knowledge of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience in an assistant psychologist role
- Experience of working with people with complex mental health difficulties
- Experience of working in acute or in-patient mental health services Experience of working as part of a team Experience of using clinical supervision / reflective practice in the workplace
- Experience of applying psychological models practically with people in a health or social care setting
Desirable
- Experience of psychological assessments including the use of psychometric tests
- Experience of providing psychological intervention
- Experience of using DBT or DBT informed approaches in practice Experience of providing teaching, training or supervision
Specific Skills
Essential
- Excellent verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills, including being able to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information in a potentially highly emotive atmosphere.
- Ability to integrate complex data; make evaluations; produce psychological formulations and contribute to decisions.
- Organisation and time management skills, including the ability to be flexible and cope with multiple demands, being capable of using initiative and organising work to agreed goals.
- Ability to use supervision, knowing when to ask for and use supervision, identifying when there is need for advice and using supervision at agreed intervals.
- Good IT skills, including the ability to use common software for routine communication and effectively conveying information.
- Ability to work as a member of a clinical team and to work collaboratively, flexibly and supportively.
- Ability to tolerate ambiguity and maintain own morale and motivation in challenging service delivery contexts.
- Ability to listen to and tolerate material that maybe considered upsetting and difficult.
- Ability to travel across Plymouth
Desirable
- Working knowledge of software for analysing quantitative and qualitative data.
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Livewell Southwest
Address
Livewell South West
Mount Gould Road
Plymouth
PL4 7QD
Employer's website
https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Livewell Southwest
Address
Livewell South West
Mount Gould Road
Plymouth
PL4 7QD
Employer's website
https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
For questions about the job, contact:
HTT Team Manager
Richard Kua
07591800387
Date posted
24 February 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 5
Salary
£29,970 to £36,483 a year pa, pro-rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
Reference number
B9832-2025-SP-1079
Job locations
Livewell South West
Mount Gould Road
Plymouth
PL4 7QD
Supporting documents
Please view the full job description on NHS Jobs for attached documents.
Supporting links (all open in new tabs)
Privacy notice
Livewell Southwest's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)
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