Job overview
An opportunity has arisen to apply for the post of Assistant Psychologist within the Wirral Complex Needs Service. The Complex Needs Service plays a role in delivering mental health care for adults with personality-based difficulties and complex trauma. The post-holder will be part of a multi-disciplinary team who are predominantly providing direct and indirect psychological care to our client group, whilst also helping to support the wider system that works with our clients. The Complex Needs Service are a team committed to making a difference and creating change for the service users we support. We would like an enthusiastic and motivated person who shares these values to join our dynamic team as an Assistant Psychologist.
Main duties of the job
This is an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Psychologist to help shape our services and work in a specialist team.
We are seeking to recruit an Assistant Psychologist to support and enhance the psychological care of clients within the service, across all sectors of care. The role will involve working collaboratively with members of the Multi-disciplinary Team providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with a qualified psychologist and within the overall framework of the team’s policies and procedures.
The post holder will also assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, and development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.
Working for our organisation
CWP provides health and care services for local people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care – including the provision of three GP surgeries.
Our aim is to help people to be the best they can be, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We were recently rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission with a Good rating overall.
We offer a variety of roles at all levels, so whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your skills and experience in a new role, CWP is the right employer for you.
CWP are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences.
To support this, we offer up to three weeks induction, dependent on role, with our Prepare to Care programme for all new starters. This aims to give you all the knowledge and guidance to help you grow and flourish with CWP.
We welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description for full details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values and Behaviours in their everyday life. Therefore, if you are invited to interview, you will be undertaking a Values Based Interview/Assessment, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and Behaviours which are ‘the 6 Cs’ Communication, Competence, Courage, Care, Compassion and Commitment. The supporting information section in your application should therefore reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated behaviours. You will be expected to provide us with examples from work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviour.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email – or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
CWP is proud to be an accredited Veteran Aware organisation helping to provide and share best practice in NHS care for our armed forces community. As a veteran aware organisation, CWP is committed to delivering on the principles of the Armed Force Covenant and has a ‘Silver’ award with the MOD Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (DERS).
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £13 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
If you experience any technical difficulties or need help when making an application please contact our Recruitment Team on 01244 393100.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Good honours degree in Psychology (2.1 or above). Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS.
* To undertake breakaway training or equivalent following appointment.
Desirable criteria
* Advanced keyboard skills
* Other related academic qualifications to Masters or Doctorate level.
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential criteria
* The ability to communicate complex/ sensitive information where barriers to understanding exist. For example, instances requiring empathy and reassurance.
* The ability to make judgements involving a range of facts or situations requiring analysis or comparison of a range of options. Also skills for assessing clients in one-to-one sessions, group dynamics or who are participating in research.
* The ability to organise straightforward tasks, activities or programmes, some of which may be ongoing. Also, the ability to plan and prioritise own workload, research programme activities; group sessions, etc.
* Working to Professional Guidelines
* Must be capable of working within guidelines; receives regular supervision and direction.
* Must be familiar with MS teams and/or Accru Fleming online platforms
* Previous experience of working with clients with Personality Disorder and Complex Trauma
Desirable criteria
* Ability to use routinely available spreadsheet/database software (Excel, Access, etc.)
* Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books
* Experience of cofacilitating therapy groups.
Experience
Essential criteria
* Demonstrable relevant work experience or knowledge of working with people who have complex mental health problems, risk patterns and challenging behaviour.
Desirable criteria
* Relevant work experience of people with mental health problems
* Desire to progress to Clinical Training (DClinPsy)