Assistant Psychologist

Job summary: The Adult Neurodevelopmental Service follows a person-centred, needs-led approach to delivering support to individuals, their families, carers, supporters and other services/professionals involved in their care. This is an exciting opportunity to work within Adult Neurodevelopmental service (ADHD and Autism) to have significant input into the diagnostic process of the Neurodevelopmental service pathways. Main duties: The current priority is to focus on the efficiencies of the assessment and diagnostic process based on the waiting list initiative. The AP role is pivotal to the diagnostic pathway, undertaking an expected number of Specialist assessments (such as DIVA-5, 3Di, and ADOS screening tools) and working collaboratively with the team to provide a multi-disciplinary team approach for reaching a decision on whether service users meet the threshold for a diagnosis. There will also be opportunities to enhance your psychological skills, such as involvement in the support pathways, undertaking groups, etc. You will also receive adequate supervision by clinicians in the team and a Consultant Psychologist.

Responsibilities

Provide significant input into the diagnostic process of the Neurodevelopmental service pathways; Undertake protocol-based and evidence-based assessments of clients under the supervision of a qualified professional, including neuro-psychological tests, screening tools (such as DIVA-5, 3Di and ADOS), self-report measures, rating scales, direct structured observations and semi-structured interviews; Attend and contribute to the decision-making process and weekly multi-disciplinary meetings; Partake in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups where possible; Form and maintain relationships with Psychology colleagues, multidisciplinary staff within CPG community services and Navigo's Mental Health services; Assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care; Assist in the formulation and delivery of care involving psychological treatment and/or management of client problems; Receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines; Contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care; Assist in the design and implementation of service development projects; Input and maintain appropriate computer and manual clinical records and statistical data; Maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing; Assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects; Undertake data collection, analysis and production of reports and summaries; Undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research; Contribute to the development and maintenance of professional standards through internal and external CPD

Requirements

At least 6 months full-time equivalent paid work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities, or neurodiversity, under the supervision of a qualified practitioner psychologist; A first class or upper second class honours degree in Psychology; Entitlement to Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society; High level communication skills (written and verbal); 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 with complex (step3 and 4) mental health problems or other disabilities; An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context; An understanding of psychology applied to health care; Effective communicator with service users, relatives and all members of the multi-disciplinary health care team involved in primary and secondary care; Knowledge and understanding of cultural and equal opportunities issues; An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines; An ability to interact with people with mental health problems disabilities; Ability to work reliably and consistently with work agreed and supervised at regular intervals; 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

Nice to have

Direct psychological care provision for ADHD and or Autistic Spectrum Services; Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis; Experience using microcomputers for databases or data-analysis, especially SPSS for Windows; Experience of using and interpreting psychometric tests and other psychological assessments; An interest in working with people with complex mental health problems or other disabilities

Benefits

Adequate supervision by clinicians and a Consultant Psychologist; Opportunities to enhance psychological skills, such as involvement in support pathways and undertaking groups