Assistant Psychologist
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Community Mental Health Team, based in Bridgwater. We are looking for an enthusiastic Assistant Psychologist who is keen to be part of the exciting transformation of Mental Health Services in Somerset.
Our team respond rapidly to the needs of adults needing mental health advice and support. The team is established, supportive, knowledgeable and above all passionate about what they do!
We are a trailblazer Trust for the Community Mental Health Framework for Adults and Older Adults, and have received significant investment to transform all our community mental health services in recent years!
We are a supportive, compassionate multi-disciplinary service where every person is an integral part of the team.
"Working as part of the Community Mental Health team, is one of the most rewarding roles I have undertaken. Every day is different -- it is interesting, challenging and I love being able to make a difference. From the moment I started, I felt relaxed and included."
As part of our Community Mental Health Team, you can take part (or not) in team days/nights out, sweep stakes and 'secret Santa', as well as other activities organised by the team!!
Main duties of the job
As an assistant psychologist, you will assist in the provision of psychological assessments and evidence-based psychological interventions to people with mental health difficulties. You will also contribute to training, service development and audit as required.
The post is in a friendly multi-professional Community Mental Health Service that has challenged the traditional boundaries between primary and secondary care in partnership with Service Users and the Voluntary Sector and Community Enterprise. You will be working within a psychology and trauma informed service provision model with a focus on a collaborative and strengths-based approach.
All clinical work will be overseen and reviewed regularly through supervision provided by an allocated HCPC registered Clinical or Counselling Psychologist within the team.
We recognise that Assistants are looking to further their career in the Psychology professions and promote opportunities for development whenever possible. You will also be resilient, reflective and motivated to work psychologically with this client group.
The post holder must have a full driving license and have permanent access to own transport with appropriate business insurance.
About us
As an organisation, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust offers employees a wide range of benefits including flexible working, NHS pension scheme, generous annual leave allowance and a commitment to career development.
You will be eligible for our Blue Light Card and a wide range of NHS exclusive shopping & leisure discounts.
We are proud of our skilled, diverse workforce and as an inclusive employer we welcome applications from all backgrounds.
Working in Somerset enables you to enjoy the idyllic countryside, areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.
There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable.
Somerset offers the countryside and the cosmopolitan - there is truly something for everyone!
Date posted
10 October 2024
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 5
Salary
£29,970 to £36,483 a year
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
184-OL-GR-1083
Job locations
Glanville House
Church Street
Bridgwater
Somerset
TA6 5AT
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a full list of duties and responsibilities, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Job responsibilities
For a full list of duties and responsibilities, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- First degree in psychology.
- Eligibility for Graduate Membership of the BPS.
Desirable
- A further qualification in an appropriate subject.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in community settings.
- Demonstrable experience of working directly with a vulnerable client group, including experience of working psychologically with people with mental health problems.
Desirable
- Experience of developing therapeutic relationships with people who can be hard to engage.
- Experience of undertaking planned psychological interventions with adults who are experiencing mental health problems.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Professional, mature and client-centred approach.
- Excellent organisational skills, ability to manage own time and plan timed activities.
- Evidence of ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner.
- Able to take instruction and direction and work effectively as part of a team.
- Able to demonstrate cultural competency and awareness of power and identity issues in relation to clinical practice.
- Evidence of a good standard of Literacy / English language skills
- Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing clinically sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS.
- Personal resilience to be able to frequently work with the distress of others and with potentially upsetting subject matter.
- Compassionate - Open minded, treats colleagues, patients, carers and relatives with dignity and respect.
- Act in ways that support equality and diversity.
- To be able to recognise the impact that frequent exposure to distressing circumstances has on care and compassion.
- Flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the service and its' users.
- Able to use initiative and work independently as appropriate.
- Ability to recognise limits of competence and seek support when needed.
Desirable
- An ability to deal sensitively with distress, disturbance and unpredictability.
- Evidence of reflective approach and use of supervision to support this.
Qualifications
Essential
- First degree in psychology.
- Eligibility for Graduate Membership of the BPS.
Desirable
- A further qualification in an appropriate subject.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in community settings.
- Demonstrable experience of working directly with a vulnerable client group, including experience of working psychologically with people with mental health problems.
Desirable
- Experience of developing therapeutic relationships with people who can be hard to engage.
- Experience of undertaking planned psychological interventions with adults who are experiencing mental health problems.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Professional, mature and client-centred approach.
- Excellent organisational skills, ability to manage own time and plan timed activities.
- Evidence of ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner.
- Able to take instruction and direction and work effectively as part of a team.
- Able to demonstrate cultural competency and awareness of power and identity issues in relation to clinical practice.
- Evidence of a good standard of Literacy / English language skills
- Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing clinically sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS.
- Personal resilience to be able to frequently work with the distress of others and with potentially upsetting subject matter.
- Compassionate - Open minded, treats colleagues, patients, carers and relatives with dignity and respect.
- Act in ways that support equality and diversity.
- To be able to recognise the impact that frequent exposure to distressing circumstances has on care and compassion.
- Flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the service and its' users.
- Able to use initiative and work independently as appropriate.
- Ability to recognise limits of competence and seek support when needed.
Desirable
- An ability to deal sensitively with distress, disturbance and unpredictability.
- Evidence of reflective approach and use of supervision to support this.
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
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Glanville House
Church Street
Bridgwater
Somerset
TA6 5AT
Employer's website
https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Glanville House
Church Street
Bridgwater
Somerset
TA6 5AT
Employer's website
https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
For questions about the job, contact:
Hiring Manager
Julie Rainforth
julie.rainforth@somersetft.nhs.uk
Date posted
10 October 2024
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 5
Salary
£29,970 to £36,483 a year
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
184-OL-GR-1083
Job locations
Glanville House
Church Street
Bridgwater
Somerset
TA6 5AT
Supporting documents
Please view the full job description on NHS Jobs for attached documents.
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