To support and enhance the professional psychological care of service users within the service, across all relevant sectors; providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with the supervising qualified psychologist and within the overall framework of the team’s policies and procedures.
To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.
The post holder will hold a key position as assistant psychologist at Stafford House, a Psychologically Informed Planned Environment (PIPE). They will have a role in maintaining a psychosocial environment; ensuring that the service adheres to the principles of the PIPE model. The post holder will contribute to staff development by offering consultancy and formulation. They will receive monthly line supervision from the Clinical Lead. They will be connected to a well-developed and supportive network of colleagues, and they will have access to training opportunities and conference events.
This role is based within Stafford House Approved Premises. Stafford house is an accredited Psychologically Informed Planned Environment and Enabling Environment. PIPEs are specifically designed environments supporting people on probation upon their release (3-6 month residential placement). Staff members have additional training to develop an increased psychological understanding of their work. This understanding enables staff to further develop a safe and supportive environment that can retain the benefits gained from treatment and help residents navigate their return to community living including the development of lasting support networks.
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Clinical
Under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist:
1.1 To work with potentially distressing material in relation to service users’ personal histories and possible offending behaviour, risks to self and others, and additional security requirements as integral to a low secure environment.
1. 2 To undertake psychological assessments of service users which may include, a range of psychometric tests, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, carers and others involved in the client’s care.
1.3 To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s problems.
1.4 To assist in the coordination and running of psychologically informed groups.
1.5 To work with other disciplines to assess inpatients, outpatients, day patients or residents and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.
1.6 To assist in the development of a psychological framework of understanding and care to all service users.
1.7 To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings as directed by the qualified psychologists.
1.8 To use a degree of initiative and work independently with service users on planned pieces of work and to exercise judgment based on good practice and operating procedures.
1.9 To undertake PIPE specific 1:1 support of residents focusing on the relationship as a mechanism for change.
1.10 To assist in the coordination, running and summary of focus groups.
2. Teaching, Training and Supervision
2.1 To receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines and Directorate Policy.
2.2 To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties
2.3 Where appropriate, and under the supervision of qualified staff, contribute to the training and support of other staff.
3. Management, Recruitment and Service Development
Under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist:
3.1 To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
3.2 To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed as required.
4. Research and Service Evaluation
Under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist:
4.1 To assist qualified clinical psychologists in the design and implementation of audit, effectiveness and research projects.
4.2 To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of full reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
4.3 To review evidence based literature and research to assist qualified psychologists and work with other team members in their clinical responsibilities as necessary.
4.4 To assist in the gathering of clinically relevant information to contribute to the Offender Personality Disorder strategy national research programme.
5. General
5.1 To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in appropriate CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the postholder’s professional and team/operational manager(s).
5.2 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 Professions Council, Clinical Business Unit and Trust policies and procedures.
5.3 To undertake specific administrative duties as required.
5 4 To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade, which may be required by their Psychological Services Manager.
5.5 Develop a skill base in the administration and analysis of a range of psychometric packages as directed.
This advert closes on Wednesday 22 Jan 2025