Job summary
The post of assistant psychologist is based inthe Clinical Neuropsychology Service at the Central England Rehabilitation Unit (CERU), a national level 1 neurorehabilitation unit. The Clinical Neuropsychology Service is a consultant-lead service for individuals with acquired brain injury (including stroke) who require specialist in-patient neurorehabilitation.

The band 4 Assistant Psychologist will work closely within the inter-disciplinary team which includes medical staff, nursing, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and dietetics with the support of and under the supervision of clinical psychologists.

Main duties of the role

• Conducting cognitive, mood and behavioural assessments under supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist.
• Provision of psychological interventions to both individuals and groups with acquired neurological conditions (including stroke) to promote adjustment and well-being
• Data collection and analysis in relation to behavioural management, and service development such as clinical audit and service delivery.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

For further information please contact:
Dr Gavin Farrell, Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist, on 01926 - 317700.

Main duties of the job
The purpose of the role of the assistant psychologist (band 4) is to undertake structured psychological assessments of patients with acquired brain injury (including stroke) and to deliver psychological interventions and well-being activities under the supervision of a qualified applied psychologist in a ward setting. In addition, the assistant psychologist will be required to assist in the collection and analysis of behaviour data as well other clinical administrative duties that support the service such as clinical audit.

About us
Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further. In addition our staff survey results have placed us 4th in the country for recommended place to work.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide safe, inclusive, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

Job responsibilities
Knowledge skills and experience required:

• Makes judgements and responds appropriately to patients responses and mood during therapeutic interventions.
• Analyses patients progress when facilitating therapeutic activities and makes recommendations to the qualified psychologist in relation to possible adjustments required to the activities.
• Identifies non-routine situations and escalates to qualified staff.
• Responsible for recognising signs of patient harm and risk including abuse or neglect, poor clinical practice, and reporting all such concerns to the qualified psychologist.
• Responsible for maintaining appropriate boundaries with patients.
• Undertakes basic analysis of data from clinical audits and behavioural data
• Work is checked and monitored through regular clinical supervision from qualified psychologists, in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
• Carries out delegated duties in accordance with agreed care plans, policies and procedures within range of own competency and scope of practice.

Measurable Result areas:
Clinical Responsibilities

• Undertakes psychological assessment of patients under supervision, using structured tests and reporting results to the qualified psychologist for further assessment
• Assists the qualified psychologist in the formulation of neuropsychological interventions.
• Delivers psychological interventions and well-being activities under supervision and reports progress to the qualified psychologist for further consideration. Patients with acquired brain injury may present with behaviours that challenge and may display aggression.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Undertakes administrative tasks in relation to own work and as requested.
• Uses Microsoft Office applications on a daily basis.
• Prepares test materials and visual aids. Uses basic psychometric testing equipment.
• Assists in the development of self-help and other educational material for use by clients, carers and other healthcare staff

Responsibility for Information Systems
Responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient records in accordance with the Trust and professional record keeping standards.

Responsibility for Planning/Organising & Strategic/Business Development

• Organises own workload on a day to day basis, prioritising work as appropriate.
• Plans and organises therapeutic activities for individual patients or groups in accordance with care needs.

Policy Development
Contributes to the development of policies and procedures in own area as part of the team.

Service Development, Project Management
Contributes to continual safety and quality improvement activities as part of the team.

Financial Responsibilities
Personal duty of care to complete time sheets, mileage forms, expense claim forms etc, accurately and in a timely manner, providing receipts as required.

Responsibility for Physical Resources, Estates, Hotel Services

• Has a personal duty of care to ensure all equipment is used safely and effectively, following manufacturers instructions, immediately reporting any defects in accordance with local procedures.
• Uses available resources efficiently and effectively.

Research and Audit

• Keeps up to date with new developments in the field, undertaking literature searches to inform evidence-based practice.
• Demonstrates an awareness of the audit process within the clinical governance framework and the relevant standards that are required and monitored within the team.
• Assists in clinical audits in own work area, undertaking data collection and basic analysis using statistical software programmes.

Staff Management, Training and Development
Participates in the induction of new staff into the clinical area.

Communications and Working Relationships:

• Communicates in a way which recognises difference and ensures that people feel included and their individual communication needs are met.
• Communications with patients must at all times be appropriate in content, effective and respectful and made compassionately and positively to minimise anxiety and distress related to their health and well-being.
• Uses appropriate communication methods to ensure effective therapeutic engagement with patients where understanding may be limited.
• Attends multi-disciplinary team meetings providing structured, objective clinical information to assist in decision-making.
• Ensures that communication with members of the public is professional and courteous at all times.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• BPS accredited Degree in Psychology at 2:1 or higher.
• Eligible for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable

• Post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working psychologically with people with acquired brain injury (paid or voluntary)
• Experience as a psychology assistant (paid or voluntary)
• Experience of using psychometric assessments

Desirable

• Experience of clinical audit, research or service evaluation.
• Experience using statistical software packages e.g. SPSS.

Skills
Essential

• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with acquired brain injury
• An awareness of the application of psychology to health care and neurorehabilitation
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Awareness of the British Psychological Society Code of Conduct.
• Ability to communicate information (verbal and written) effectively in a manner appropriate to the individual and situation
• Record Keeping (within agreed timescale)
• Methodical and accurate approach to data collection and analysis.
• Competence in using psychometric assessment tools (within agreed timescale)
• Competencies in administering and scoring psychometric tests

Desirable

• Post-graduate training in applications of psychological interventions

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours.
• Compassionate in meeting the needs of vulnerable people and their families and carers.
• Able to engage with vulnerable people and work effectively in distressing or emotive circumstances
• Ability to work on own in a variety of settings using initiative appropriately
• Able to work flexibly and cooperatively as part of a team.
• Committed to continual quality and service improvement
• Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions and/or learning disabilities
• Committed to promoting a positive image of the service
• Self-aware and committed to continual personal development.
• Able to accept and respond positively to feedback from clinical supervision.

Other
Essential

• This post is subject to a satisfactory 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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.