[ref. p7225417] Assistant Psychologist - London

West London NHS Trust provides a full range of mental health, community and physical healthcare services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.

We also provide some specialist services that are commissioned regionally, such as our medium secure services; and nationally, such as the Cassel Hospital for people with complex and severe personality disorder and our high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital.

Job overview

You will be working with people experiencing First Episode of Psychosis (aged 14-65) and their families.

Role 2: 0.4 WTE Assistant Psychologist, Hammersmith & Fulham Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, 1 year fixed term contract

Please state which position you are applying for (i.e. Hounslow, H&F or both)

Main duties of the job

You will be working with people experiencing First Episode of Psychosis. The people we work with may also present with comorbid difficulties including dual diagnosis of substance misuse, trauma, depression, anxiety, complex emotional needs and neurodevelopmental conditions.

Your work will be under the direction of a qualified psychologist who will retain clinical responsibility for clinical work carried out.

Skills and experience in communicating potentially complex information and organisation are essential to helping the psychology team manage referrals and the waiting list.

We require a genuine commitment to developing an understanding of how to apply psychological models and their applications for service users with severe and enduring mental health difficulties under the guidance of a qualified psychologist.

You will be based for 4 days a week in Hammersmith and Fulham or 5 days a week in Hounslow.

This role will include working with people from varied cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary; a passion for creating and enabling equality of access to services for all is vital.

Please see the attached Job Pack for full details about this role.

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person specification

Training & Qualifications

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

• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
• Advanced keyboard skills

Experience

• Relevant as an assistant psychologist, a research assistant or as an HCA or equivalent in a setting for those with severe and enduring mental disorder.

Knowledge

• Able to understand a number of psychological models and their applications for service users with severe and enduring mental health problems.
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context.
• Understanding of psychology applied to health care.

Communication Skills

• High level communication skills (both written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
• Ability to communicate complex, sensitive and potentially contentious information to service users in a way that addresses psychological resistance and the propensity of the service users towards hostile reactions.

• High standard of report writing.

Analytical & Judgement Skills

• Able to make judgements based on psychological knowledge, clinical information and environmental events within a session and make decisions on this basis e.g. with regard to feedback to nursing or other staff.
• Able to plan, and organise straightforward tests and activities.

• Experience of using databases or data analysis, knowledge of SPSS for Windows.

Planning & Organisational Skills

• Able to manage their own time.

Physical & IT Skills

• Able to administer psychological tests using co-ordination and other psychomotor skills.
• Able to operate video equipment.
• Able to use word processing, database and test/administration scoring software.

Personal

• Able to sit for lengthy periods of time while demonstrating active listening skills.
• Able to maintain intense concentration frequently with service users (e.g. in the assessment and treatment of service users with a history of mental disorder and offending).
• Able to function in potentially traumatic circumstances and in highly emotionally distressing circumstances on a frequent basis (e.g. in dealing with service users with serious mental illness, histories of homicide and serious violence, self-harm, sexual abuse).
• Able to provide services in a highly secure environment with service users who are disturbed and sometimes violent and where the awareness of the risk of assault must always be maintained.
• Able to “hold” the stress of service users compulsorily detained in a secure hospital.
• An interest in working with people with mental health problems or other disabilities

Other Requirements

• Knowledge of the professional code of conduct of the BPS.
• Capable of being guided by precedent, clearly defined policies, procedures and codes of conduct.
• Able to accept the professional advice and guidance of qualified psychologists

• A desire to explore a career in professional psychology.

As an employee of West London NHS Trust, you have a responsibility to maintain a sound understanding of, and a commitment to uphold the National Health Service values and principles set out in the NHS Constitution.

We reserve the right to close adverts prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications.

After which your information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system (ESR ).

Please ensure you include email addresses for your referees which MUST be at supervisory or managerial capacity covering the last 3 years of employment to date to avoid delay in the recruitment process.

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).

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).

West London NHS Trust is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.