Assistant Psychologist

In SPA: to co-ordinate referrals, implement decisions made liaise and gather further information from service users and referrers if required, to be brought back to the MDT The team for decision making. To participate in the MDT discussion. It includes feedback of decisions to service users and referrers. The AP role will be particularly with a focus on potential Psychological Therapy referrals, as well as with other secondary care CMHT referrals.

In SCPT to gather and synthesise clinical information, and contribute to assessment and treatment planning. They can do direct clinical work through supporting the delivery of group psychological interventions under supervision and provide structured client check in calls. To attend as needed MDT meetings at team bases, wards, CMHTs etc. To liaise with GPS and other parts of the health system.

Job Purpose: You will co-ordinate multidisciplinary working, maintaining excellent communication and working relationships with all team members, and other services within the Alliance.

You will provide clinical work as required by the service, under the clinical and professional supervision of a qualified mental health practitioner.

You will have expertise in leading conversations about peoples health and wellbeing and be able, within the context accessing services and engaging with the first step of psychological interventions. You will gather further information to clarify current mental health needs and aide treatment pathway decision making. This could include co-facilitating skills-based workshops focusing on complex emotional needs.

You will be expected to support personal and professional development through clinical appraisal and supervision .

You will assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work. You will provide a psychology service, as part of the SCPT pathway, to users of secondary care community mental health services in Lambeth, and, where appropriate, their families and caregivers. This includes referral processing and screening, assessment, treatment planning and implementation, and monitoring of outcomes, according to relevant guidance and the evidence base.

This job post requires someone who works as at appropriate levels of independence, following clinical guidelines and the policies and procedures of the service, supported by the clinical/professional supervisor or manager as required. They will work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor.

So, if you are someone with the relevant training and experience and who is highly organised and has effective and compassionate communication skills, and who is committed to delivering high quality healthcare advice, then this is a fabulous opportunity for you to join our team.

KR 1 Clinical and Client Care

To support the Senior Decision Making Team/Process. There are Support worker, admin and one AP role to support the SDM. They will co-ordinate referrals, implement decisions made liaise and gather further information from service users and referrers if required, to be brought back to the MDT The team for decision making. It includes feedback of decisions to service users and referrers. The AP role will be particularly with a focus on potential Psychological Therapy referrals, as well as with other secondary care CMHT referrals.

The post holder will work with the SDM MDT to support and advise on the delivery of high-quality safe care, ensuring consistently high standards of practice and clinical excellence which complies with their registered professional body and code of professional conduct.

Within LSCPT, the Assistant Psychologist will help gather and synthesise clinical information, contribute to assessment and treatment planning. They will support the delivery of group psychological interventions under supervision. They will have direct clinical contact through cofacilitating skills-based therapy groups, (such as dealing with low mood, and managing emotions) and provide structured check in calls, and promote a psychologically informed approach across the wider Alliance services.

To arrange, schedule and provide mental health assessments for clients in the community service including, where indicated, psychometric, neuropsychological, behavioural, observational, semi-structured interview and indirect assessments under the clinical and professional supervision of a practitioner psychologist.

To assist the psychological therapists in the development of individual or group clinical materials or training materials, and in addition to develop such materials independently as falls within own degree of competence.

To arrange, schedule and provide group psychological interventions including psychoeducation, skills-based and transdiagnostic therapy groups under the close clinical and professional training and supervision of a practitioner psychologist.

To make an accurate assessment of patient risk to self and others

To use supervision support to establish suitability for the service and decide on the most appropriate treatment option.

Undertake administrative tasks including talking over the phone and data entry

To enter clinical notes and outcome measures on an electronic records system

KR 2 Administrative

To be responsible for SDG admin tasks, including managing referral numbers and pathways, contacting clients for further information and send out communications to relevant parties and following the service procedures.

To assist in managing the waiting list for specific care pathways, ensuring co-ordination with clinicians and team leads

To assist in the design and management of electronic spreadsheets and databases as required

KR 3 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning

To contribute to the effective working of the service by; contributing to the training and support of other staff in developing and providing psychological care of clients; monitoring compliance with external accreditation systems; contributing to MDT processes.

Arrange and in some instances chair relevant meetings involving other agencies, patients and carers when necessary to facilitate good communication.

Attend meetings and forums, representing the team at various levels both within the Trust and with external agencies, ensuring that all staff are kept fully briefed on any new developments etc. The post-holder may be required to participate in specific inter-agency work relevant to the service.

Ensure that all communication (verbal or written) between the team and other departments or agencies is of a high standard both in its content and presentation.

Ensure that all written and electronically stored information is accessible only to authorised personnel and is stored in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

SLAM has links with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience ( IOPPN) and has a broad range of training and CPD opportunities.

Qualifications

Experience

Knowledge

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