Assistant Psychologist
Job overview
We are seeking to appoint an Assistant Psychologist to work within Ancora
We are seeking to appoint an Assistant Psychologist to work within Ancora House as part of our Ancora CARE team. Ancora CARE is the Tier 4 service for Bed Based and non-Bed Based care, the three main functions are access assessments, admission avoidance and facilitating timely discharge, delivering interventions in the community.Operating 7 days a week, between the hours of 9am and 9pm. Ancora CARE operates 364 days a year (Christmas Day the inpatient team assumes gatekeeping role).
Ancora CARE delivers a high-quality evidence based assessment and outreach service to the young people between the ages of 13-18 years old across Cheshire and Merseyside. The team is an MDT composed of nursing, occupational therapy, psychology, family therapy and psychiatry.The successful candidates will work with the Lead Clinical Psychologist, psychology team and the wider MDT within the inpatient areas including Nurses, Support Workers, Occupational Therapists, and Psychiatrists.
Main duties of the job
The Assistant Psychologist will assist the Clinical Psychologists and the multi-disciplinary staff in the care and treatment of adolescents and supporting their families/carers. All work to be undertaken will be under supervision of a Clinical Psychologist.
The role will involve supporting and enhancing the psychological care of service users, providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions (individual and group) under clinical supervision. Additional aspects of the role will include clinical administration, audit, and data collection.Applicants are required to have achieved a degree in psychology which confers Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society.
- An understanding of the needs of young people with mental health problems and their families, high level of communication and facilitation skills with regards to clients, their families and professionals – ability to tailor information to a range of levels is essential.
- Ability to work autonomously as well as collaboratively as a team member, organise own workload within competing demands, have competence in IT skills and ability to use information technology e.g. SPSS, EXCEL, WORD, databases, and carry out large amounts of data collection/analysis is also essential.
Please note this vacancy may close early if a high number of applications are received.
Working for our organisation
CWP provides health and care services for local people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care – including the provision of three GP surgeries.
Our aim is to help people to be the best they can be, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We were recently rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission with a Good rating overall.
We offer a variety of roles at all levels, so whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your skills and experience in a new role, CWP is the right employer for you.
CWP are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences.
To support this, we offer up to three weeks induction, dependent on role, with our Prepare to Care programme for all new starters. This programme welcomes you to CWP and provides you with information and training to support you in your role.
We welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description for full details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values and Behaviours in their everyday life. Therefore, if you are invited to interview, you will be undertaking a Values Based Interview/Assessment, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and Behaviours which are ‘the 6 Cs’ Communication, Competence, Courage, Care, Compassion and Commitment. The supporting information section in your application should therefore reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated behaviours.You will be expected to provide us with examples from work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviour.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website https://www.cwp.nhs.uk/completing-application-guidance. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email – [email protected] or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
CWP is proud to be an accredited Veteran Aware organisation helping to provide and share best practice in NHS care for our armed forces community. As a veteran aware organisation, CWP is committed to delivering on the principles of the Armed Force Covenant and has a ‘Silver’ award with the MOD Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (DERS).
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
If you experience any technical difficulties or need help when making an application please contact our Recruitment Team on 01244 393100.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Good honours degree in Psychology (2.1 or above). Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS
- To undertake breakaway training or equivalent following appointment.
- Advanced keyboard skills
- Other related academic qualifications to Masters or Doctorate level.
Knowledge
Essential criteria- The ability to communicate complex/ sensitive information where barriers to understanding exist. For example, instances requiring empathy and reassurance.
- The ability to make judgements involving a range of facts or situations requiring analysis or comparison of a range of options. Also skills for assessing clients in one-to-one sessions, group dynamics or who are participating in research.
- The ability to organise straightforward tasks, activities or programmes, some of which may be ongoing. Also, the ability to plan and prioritises own workload, research programme activities; group sessions, etc
- Working to Professional Guidelines
- Must be capable of working within guidelines; receives regular supervision/ direction
- Ability to use routinely available spreadsheet/database software (Excel, Access, etc.)
- Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books
Experience
Essential criteria- Demonstrable relevant work experience or knowledge of working with children, young people or adults with mental health difficulties.
- Relevant work experience with adolescents with mental health problems.
- Relevant work experience with young people or adults with Eating Disorders.
- Desire to progress to Clinical Training (DClinPsy)