Jon Description - Assistant Psychologist/Support Worker

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Assistant Psychologist Responsible and accountable to: Managerially accountable to designated Line Manager Professionally accountable to the designated clinically qualified and HCPC registered psychologist Hours: 37.5 (full time)

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

The purpose of the Assistant Psychologist post is to enhance the contribution of the qualified psychologist to the service(s), in accordance with the British Psychological Society (BPS) Guidelines for the Employment of Assistant Psychologists. The post- holder will contribute, under clinical supervision, to the delivery of care within the clinical service and to the clinical psychology component of the overall service.

Individual clinical supervision will be provided by a Clinical or Counselling psychologist who is working in the specialty area in which the Assistant Psychologist is involved. In addition the Assistant Psychologist will participate in clinical group supervision within the service(s).

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

All work for the Assistant Psychologist must be agreed with and closely supervised by the Clinical/Counselling psychologist working in the service area who is professionally responsible for any work carried out. The Assistant Psychologist must have a realistic balance of work, reflecting their qualifications, training and experience and the need to gain relevant new experience.

The following principal responsibilities and requirements are expected of the role of the Assistant Psychologist under the direction of the Clinical/Counselling Psychologist:

CLINICAL

 To assist the qualified Clinical/Counselling psychologist to carry out prescribed therapeutic interventions with individuals or in groups identified as part of individual care plans and informed by psychological formulation.

 To collect and collate data from patients, family and/or staff, using psychological tools including psychometric instruments, direct observational measures and semi-structured interviews to inform clinical practice and monitor individual and service outcomes.

1  To contribute to appropriate psychological reports for individual patients by summarising outcome measure data under the supervision of the Clinical/Counselling Psychologist.

 To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings as directed by the Clinical/Counselling Psychologist.

 To role model positive therapeutic relationships and hold a psychological perspective at all times as informed by psychological formulation and evidence- based practice.

 To contribute to and help to disseminate psychological formulations within the wider multi-disciplinary team.

RESEARCH AND SERVICE EVALUATION

 To support the design and implementation of audit, service evaluation and research activity as required under the supervision of a qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist.

 To undertake data collection, data input, data analysis and the production of specified reports and summaries, using statistical programmes under the supervision of a qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist.

 To review evidence-based literature and research to assist members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) as required.

 To undertake a service evaluation project and submit this for publication if appropriate.

TEACHING, TRAINING AND SUPERVISION

 To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.

 To receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines and The Retreat policy.

 Where appropriate, and under the supervision of a qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist, to contribute to the training and support of other staff.

GENERAL

 To collaborate with the community in maintaining a safe environment and contribute to the therapeutic milieu, promoting a culture of curiosity and collaboration.

 Where required, to collaborate with patients and staff during working hours to complete the essential tasks of a shift.

 To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in appropriate CPD training in consultation with the Unit Manager and Clinical/Counselling Psychologist.

2  To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society, the Health and Care Professions Council and The Retreat’s policies and procedures.

 To undertake specific administrative duties as required.

 The post-holder will be expected to make full use of IT packages available within the work area, for example Microsoft Office, Email, Internet and statistical packages.

 The post holder is expected to comply with all relevant policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Diversity and Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

 Head of Community Services & Psychological Therapies

 Unit Manager

 Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

 Consultant Psychiatrist

 CBT Therapist

 Named Nurses/Key Workers

 Support Workers

 Other Psychologists and Assistant Psychologists within The Retreat

The Retreat is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment including any specific duties for their role as identified under the Safeguarding of Adults Policy.

Date: June 2017

This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties but it is intended to give an indication of the type of work to be undertaken. It will be subject to review and any amendments will be made in consultation with the post holder.