Job Overview
A Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP) is a member of the Psychology Department who works as an semi-autonomous practitioner within an agreed scope of practice in an identified clinical team, under the direct supervision of an HCPC registered, qualified Practitioner Psychologist.

CAPs work as scientist practitioners and use psychological knowledge, research and theory to reduce psychological distress and to enhance psychological wellbeing. Their interventions are informed, but not wholly determined, by problem-specific treatment protocols, adapted using the developing evidence base, applied service research and evaluation to formulate interventions, in conjunction with their clinical supervisor.

CAPs provide a specialist mental health service for patients / service users of the identified team in which they are based. They also work together across service boundaries to provide consultation, supervision, training and service development to the wider Trust. They provide psychological expertise and support to the teams through research to Master's level, service evaluation and the dissemination of outcome measures.

Main duties of the job

• Provide a range of psychological treatments working within their scope of practice, reporting to an HCPC registered practitioner Psychologist for supervision of psychological assessment, formulation and intervention.
• Work with individuals and groups to provide psychological intervention where a timely intervention is likely to be efficacious.
• Use psychological measurement tools to evaluate psychological treatments and improve the quality of clinical practice to complement the work of Clinical Psychologists.
• Deliver treatment interventions developed with a Practitioner Psychologist who will review their practice through supervision.
• Act as a psychological resource providing support, advice, supervision and training using psychological models to the local and wider teams.
• Work from a range of settings including community, patient's home, inpatient, online and telephone settings.
• Understand and communicate a rationale for how psychological problems develop and are maintained using psychological knowledge and formulation skills including but not limited to cognitive, developmental and trauma-based models.
• Understand fundamentals of psychometric principles to guide the use of standardised tools with specific populations.

About us
We're an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital-based care to improve people's physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.

We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you'll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.

Over 5,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.

We work in people's homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 10 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.

Approximately 568,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increase the numbers of people who use out services.

Job responsibilities
To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see supporting documents.

Person Specification
Education / Qualifications and Relevant Experience
Essential

• Degree in Psychology
• Understand British Psychological Society (BPS) Professional Code of Conduct, local and national policies and procedures that define scope of practice
• Understand the range of behavioural change models including health belief models to synthesise best practice in the absence of a strong evidence base, or existence of clinical practice guidelines
• Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the BPS where applicable
• Demonstrate study at masters level (120 credits)

Desirable

• Experience of working within an acute adult mental health setting

Skills
Essential

• Understand how to analyse and appraise key theoretical concepts of psychological models of treatment both at individual and group level recognised in evidence-based national guidelines
• Able to assess limits of professional boundaries and capacity and understand when to seek appropriate supervision/advice on practice and whom to refer to so as to ensure best care

Desirable

• Knowledge and implementation of local, regional and national policy

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer.