Assistant Psychologist ABUHB Learning Disability Directorate
We encourage applications from all with protected characteristics and from those in the Armed Forces Community. Applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted through the medium of Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications made in English.
If you are successful at interview for this post you will receive your conditional offer of appointment and information pack via email.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time. Therefore we encourage early applications to ensure consideration for this post. If you are short listed for this post, you will be contacted via your email account you used to apply for this post, therefore please check your account regularly.
Please check your email account regularly. Successful applicants will receive all recruitment related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board support flexible working.
Please note that this vacancy may be withdrawn at any time should it be filled via the internal redeployment process
Job overview
We are seeking a compassionate and skilled individual who is passionate about using psychological approaches to support adults with a learning disability across Community Learning Disability Teams in Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent. This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience within multi-disciplinary teams supporting adults with a learning disability and care systems presenting with psychological distress.You will support the Clinical Psychologist in the team to undertake work across the clinical cycle, teaching activities, relevant research, service development and audit.
Prior experience of working with people with a learning disability and experience of developing cooperative working relationships within multi-disciplinary teams is essential as is an openness to working across settings and being present in the team.
Our Service is supportive and strives for the highest standards of care. In this context you will receive clinical supervision from a qualified Psychologist. We have close links with the S Wales Doctoral Course in Clinical Psychology and with Psychology colleagues across the organisation.
As part of the application, please write a short essay of no more than 250 words in the Supporting Information section answering: What contribution can an Assistant Psychologist bring to a Community Learning Disability Team? Candidates who do not answer this essay question and or do not meet all of the essential criteria will not be long-listed.
Main duties of the job- Undertaking psychological assessments and interventions as part of the multi-professional team and as delegated by the Clinical Psychologist.
- Supporting the Clinical Psychologist to undertake clinically relevant research, service evaluation and audit.
- Supporting the Clinical Psychologist to undertake clinically relevant service development projects.
- Supporting the Clinical Psychologist to undertake teaching and training.
- Carry out other duties as part of the role and as delegated by the Clinical Psychologist.
Working for our organisation
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is a multi-award-winning NHS organisation with a passion for caring. The Health Board provides an exceptional workplace where you can feel trusted and valued. Whatever your specialty or stage in your career, we have opportunities for everyone to start, grow and build your career.The health board provides integrated acute, primary and community care serving a population of 650,000 and employing over 16,000 staff.
We offer a fantastic benefits package and extensive training and development opportunities with paid mandatory training, excellent in-house programmes, opportunities to complete recognised qualifications and professional career pathways including a range of management development programmes.We offer flexible working and promote a healthy work life balance, provide occupational health support and an ambitious plan for a Wellbeing Centre of Excellence to support you at work.
Our Clinical Futures strategy continues to enhance and promote care closer to home as well as high quality hospital care when needed. Join us on our journey to pioneer new ways of working and deliver a world-class healthcare service fit for the future.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will be part of Learning Disability Psychological Services within the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. The service provides a range of psychological interventions for adults with a learning disability within the geographical area of Gwent, South Wales.There are five boroughs, each with its own multi-disciplinary Community Learning Disability Team provision and 24 hour services.
The post holder will support the provision of a psychological service to adults with a learning disability living in the Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent areas and as part of these Community Learning Disability Teams. The post will involve undertake psychological assessments and interventions, teaching activities, clinically relevant research, service development and audit relevant to adults with a learning disability and the systems that support individuals under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist.
Professional support and clinical supervision will be provided by the Principal Psychologist. Opportunities for peer support are also available through Learning Disability Psychological Services and wider psychology network.
KEY RESPONSIBILITES
Clinical
To undertake psychological assessments as delegated by a qualified clinical psychologist
To undertake a range of psychological therapeutic interventions, in the light of an on-going evaluation of the outcomes of the intervention; and under the clinical supervision and guidance of a qualified clinical psychologist
To provide psychological guidance and support to carers and families of patients under clinical supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist
To use initiative and act independently within guidelines, knowing when to refer to a qualified clinical psychologist for clinical decisions and guidance
To prepare clinical reports and obtain the counter signature of a qualified clinical psychologist on such reports
To support the qualified clinical psychologist in preparing material or psychological assessments and therapeutic interventions
To carry out such other duties as the qualified clinical supervisor may reasonably request
Teaching and Training
To prepare teaching materials for the provision of training to other professional staff and agencies as directed by the qualified clinical psychologist
To assist in the provision of training in the use of psychological approaches to other professional staff and agencies as delegated by the qualified clinical psychologist
Research and Evaluation
To contribute to the evaluation of psychological therapy by participating in service-related research, performance reporting and evaluation projects
To contribute to and conduct psychologically based research relevant to the Clinical Psychology Service and/or inpatient provision, as agreed with the Clinical Supervisor
To undertake the preparation of test materials, data collection, data analysis and the production and presentation of reports on service audit, performance and research projects
To undertake literature searches and reviews of current research to support the evidence based practice of psychology within inpatient provision
Administrative
To be responsible for administrative tasks relating to case-work including keeping case notes and preparing written reports in line with the Policies and Procedures of the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
To be responsible for relevant data collection on work activities and service performance reports, as required, and to maintain a high standard of clinical and audit record keeping
To manage diary to ensure competent time management and completion of clinical work, research, professional development and attendance at meetings
To participate fully in supporting the activities of psychological professions within the Health Board, including attending relevant meetings
To carry out additional routine administrative tasks that may be required
Professional Development
To participate in regular clinical supervision (at least 60 minutes every week) receiving close professional support appropriate to the assistant grade and in accordance with the good practice guidelines as outlined in the clinical supervision policy of the Gwent Psychology Service
To meet with identified lead for Professional Supervisor with a view to constructing, reviewing and up-dating a Personal Appraisal Development Plan (PADR)
To receive on-the-job training in psychological skills as required for the post and undertake appropriate Continuing Professional Development activities as agreed within the PADR
To work within the Code of Ethics and the relevant professional practice guidelines of the British Psychological Society and the professional guidance framework of the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
To work within the framework of the policies and procedures of the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Health and Safety at Work
All staff are reminded of their responsibilities as employees to take reasonable care of their own health and safety at work and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.
You are to attend all mandatory/statutory training according to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board requirements.
Confidentiality
In the course of your duties you may have access to confidential material about patients, members of staff or other health service business. On no account must information relating to identifiable patients be divulged to anyone other than authorised persons, for example, medical, nursing or other professional staff as appropriate.If you are in any doubt whatsoever as to the authority of a person or body asking for information of this nature, you must seek advice from your manager.
Similarly, no information of a personal confidential nature concerning individual members of staff should be divulged to anyone without the proper authority having first been given. Failure to observe these rules will be regarded by your employers as serious gross misconduct, which could result in disciplinary action being taken against you.Individuals with the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board are responsible for any records they create, use or handle. This responsibility is established at, and defined, by law.
All employees working for or within the NHS who record, handle, store or otherwise come across information, have a personal common-law duty of confidence. The Data Protection Act 1988 now places statutory restrictions on the use of personal information, including health information.All staff need to acknowledge the importance of health records and their personal responsibilities.
Its security is of prime importance and serious consequences can result should a record go missing. Any disclosure of such information without permission is a disciplinary offence and may result in dismissal.
Review
The job description is a guide to the duties you will be expected to perform immediately on your appointment. It is not part of your contract of Employment and your duties may well be changed from time to time to meet changes in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s requirements in consultation with yourself.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Good honors degree in Psychology accredited by BPS
Experience
Essential criteria- Previous experience of working with individuals with a learning disability
- Experience of functioning effectively within a multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to reflect on own lived experience of psychological distress or caring for someone with a learning disability
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential criteria- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with agreed goals that are reviewed regularly
- An understanding of the theory and practice of meeting the needs of individuals presenting with emotional distress with physical and mental health problems
Values
Essential criteria- Demonstrates ability to develop appropriate and sensitive therapeutic relationships
Other
Essential criteria- Ability to work within professional guidelines and Health Board policies
If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.