Assistant Psychologist

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a cross -life span assistant psychologist post, with inpatient and outpatient clinical roles, as part of a supportive Clinical Health Psychology Department at Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT). You will be based within 2 friendly multi-disciplinary clinical teams on acute hospital sites. Your main role will be working with adult inpatients/relatives on ICU, as well as contributing to day to service running/development of outpatient pathways/audit, research and staff training. You will also deliver clinical services to young people/their families as part of the BHT community Paediatric Long Covid Pathway. We value our assistant psychologists and you will have regular supervision and informal contact working alongside experienced clinical psychologists, including your line manager.

This post will be split between the adult Critical Care Service (0.7 wte) - the main home team and the Paediatric Psychology Service (0.3 wte). As a member of the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) Psychology Service, the post holder will be involved in i) day to day running of the clinical psychology service in ICU, particularly maintaining an inpatient presence ii) developing the clinical psychology ICU service for patients and their families, including regular audit, data collection and analysis and research iii) audit of the newly established Long Covid Clinic.

Main duties of the job

Contribute to the development and provision of ICU clinical psychology service for patients and families under the supervision of the clinical psychologist. Examples include inpatient psychological screening on the ICU ward and sometimes at step-down to general wards, possible brief interventions with patients and families and attending regular MDT meetings to discuss referrals. It may also include project work to develop screening pathways/data collection for MDT outpatient pathways. This may include assisting with the gathering of clinical information from people discharged from ICU in the community using structured interviews, questionnaires to assist the MDT ICU follow-up clinic pathway Contribute to the ICU support initiatives as appropriate and under the supervision of the clinical psychologist. Examples include providing staff training (including supporting volunteers on the ICU) about trauma informed/psychologically informed care Work and liaise with multidisciplinary staff, as appropriate. Contribute to information gathering of clinical information from paediatric patients within the Long Covid MDT clinics, using structured interviews, questionnaires. Gather Patient Experience data and report on these. Follow-up paediatric patients to support self-guided rehabilitation and psychoeducational tools.

About us

Listen to why colleagues think we are a great place to work! - BHT - A great place to work (buckshealthcare.nhs.uk)

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?

• As part of our BHT family, you'll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
• We offer flexible and agile workingopportunities,alongside your NHS benefits ofgenerous annual leave entitlement, pension andaccess toNHS discount schemes.
• We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

Why work for us?

• We're committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
• As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
• Greater diversity withinourBHT familyimprovespositive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
• A keen supporter of the Armed Forces Community who know the value of employing a service leaver/veteran and their families.

What do we stand for?

• Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
• Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
• Our care values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.

If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.

If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on [email protected] quoting the vacancy reference number.

Person Specification

Education, training an qualifications

Essential

• An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology, or equivalent qualification.
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
• Must hold a full UK driving licence and have access to vehicle for use during work hours

Desirable

• Post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• High-level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people and their families with psychological and physical problems
• Understanding of psychology applied to healthcare and desire to explore a career in clinical psychology
• Capable of working productively as a team member and ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
• High standard of report writing or previous publications.
• Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently and be able to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
• Knowledge of computer statistical packages and data storage such as Excel, SPSS, R and Bayesian statistics is a positive advantage.
• Knowledge of good clinical practice
• Excellent time management skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of psychological assessment tools, psychometric reliability and validation would be a positive advantage.
• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a physical health rehabilitation context

Experience

Essential

• Relevant work experience with people with psychological and/or physical health problems e.g. Assistant Psychologist or other health, social care or research jobs
• Experience of working to a demanding schedule and capable of completing and finishing tasks

Desirable

• Experience of working as an Assistant Psychologist would be desirable.
• Experience of working in acute or rehabilitation care settings
• Experience of working with trauma or young people and their families (particularly in observational role at school) is desirable

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

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Stoke Mandeville Hospital

Mandeville Road

Aylesbury

HP21 8AL

Employer's website

https://careers.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

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