Job summary
Are you are interested in being part of cutting-edge research within Mental Health care? Are you looking to develop your research skills and experience further?

If yes, then this opportunity could be for you.

We are looking to appoint an Assistant Psychologist to a Wellcome Trust-funded programme of research, called Sleeping Better: two linked randomised controlled clinical trials treating sleep problems psychologically in young people at ultra-high risk of psychosis or people who have been diagnosed with psychosis.

You can read more about the study here:https://www.psy.ox.ac.uk/research/oxford-cognitive-approaches-to-psychosis/projects-1/sleeping-better

You will be primarily responsible for the delivery of therapy to participants in the study. Therapy delivery for the project will be based in the catchment areas of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

The post will provide excellent experience of engaging individuals at the early stages of psychosis; delivery of a specialist CBT intervention with close supervision from a clinical psychologist; working within NHS services; and clinical trials methodology. The post would suit individuals interested in going on to pursue a career in clinical psychology or clinical research.

Training will be provided in the Sleeping Better treatment. No experience with delivering therapy is required.

A full driving license is essential as you be required to travel to locations not easily accessible by public transport.

Main duties of the job

• To deliver the sleep intervention in line with the treatment manual and study protocol, under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist/psychological therapist, as part of the Sleeping Better trial.
• To establish a trusting and supportive relationship with those taking part in the Sleeping Better therapy.
• To contribute to the screening and recruitment of patients with psychosis and young people at ultra-high risk of psychosis.
• To attend and contribute to study fidelity rating meetings, supervision, and regular training sessions with other study staff members, and to record activity in notes and reports.
• Participants will be seen in clinic settings or at home across a large geographical area. This means there will be extensive travel which would be facilitated by having valid driving licence, and access to own or other independent means of transport.

About us
This position does not meet the threshold for skilled worker sponsorship for a health and care worker visa. We can only accept applications for candidates who do not require sponsorship and have an unrestricted right to work in the UK for the duration of this contract, or who meet the skilled worker threshold for sponsorship and can evidence a minimum of 4 years of experience in an NHS equivalent role at the same professional level

The R&D department in Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust is a large and vibrant department with research assistants and clinical research practitioners working across a variety of projects.

As the Sleeping Better trial Assistant Psychologist, you will work directly with the Senior Research Assistants, the trial co-ordinator/lead psychologist and with the Sussex Principal Investigator Professor Kathryn Greenwood (Professor of Clinical Psychology) locally.

You will also receive expert training and supervision with international leaders in their fields and through the multidisciplinary research group (Oxford, Bristol, Glasgow and Cumbria, Northumberland Tyne and Wear).

There will also be opportunities to meet staff on other projects and from different disciplines, and to take up CPD opportunities to strengthen your clinical and research experience. There are regular psychosis research lab meetings, and Sussex Psychosis Research interest Group (SPRiG) seminars to further strengthen your knowledge and skills.

Job responsibilities

• To deliver the sleep intervention in line with the treatment manual and study protocol, under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist/psychological therapist, as part of the Sleeping Better trial.
• To establish a trusting and supportive relationship with those taking part in the Sleeping Better therapy. High levels of engagement with participants will be expected from the post-holder.
• To contribute to the screening and recruitment of patients with psychosis and young people at ultra-high risk of psychosis. This will involve speaking to referrers regularly, attending clinical team meetings, visiting community mental health teams and hospital wards. There are monthly recruitment targets.
• To attend and contribute to study fidelity rating meetings, supervision, and regular training sessions with other study staff members.
• Good record-keeping will be needed, including updating medical records with trial progress and completing the recruitment database.
• To produce brief clinical reports based on the treatment delivery as part of the trial.
• You will need to follow standard operational procedures for the trial and NHS Trust policy regarding safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children.
• To ensure high quality record keeping on the electronic patient record system and study specific session records.
• You will need to regularly enter and check data in the study databases.
• Participants will be seen in clinic settings or at home across a large geographical area. This means there will be extensive travel which would be facilitated by having valid driving licence, and access to own or other independent means of transport.
• Attendance at supervision will be expected, and at appropriate research team meetings, including occasional training at the lead site, Oxford.
• To maintain blinding and ensure research assistants working on the trial are able to conduct the research assessments blinded to treatment allocation.
• Administrative duties related to the project.
• Other duties appropriate to the grade as directed by the grant-holders.
• Work within the guidelines set out by the Data Protection Act, the Code of Ethics, and with full understanding of confidentiality issues.
• Contribute towards consistent and safe practices by being aware of and adhering to all the relevant Trust policies and procedures.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• A degree (2:1 or above) in a psychology or related field.

Desirable

• Further post graduate training in relevant area of professional psychology, health and social care practice, and / or research design and analysis

Knowledge, Experience
Essential

• Postgraduate research experience.
• Up-to-date theoretical and practical knowledge in working with people with severe mental health problems, particularly people who experience psychosis.
• Experience working with people with severe mental health problems in an NHS context.
• Experience of delivering therapies within the NHS
• Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Knowledge of databases, research skills and methodology
• Understanding of confidentiality and protocols for ethics and data protection.

Desirable

• Experience working as an assistant psychologist or research assistant or PhD completed in a clinical psychology field.
• Experience with, and commitment to, patient and public engagement and non-academic dissemination of research study findings.
• Experience of in-patient settings
• Lived experience of mental health issues

Skills
Essential

• IT skills (e.g. experience using Microsoft Excel, SPSS, R or equivalent statistical package, Nvivo qualitative data software).
• Proven ability to use supervision effectively to strengthen clinical skills.
• Proven time management skills including ability to manage own workload within defined parameters and adhere to agreed timelines.
• Proven ability to work effectively as a team member as well as working alone.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work with colleagues at all levels.
• Flexible approach to dealing with research problems as they arise.
• Excellent organisation skills and demonstrable initiative.

Personal Attributes
Essential

• Ability to travel to different research sites. A driving license and access to a vehicle is essential.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Professor of Clinical Psychology
Prof Kathryn Greenwood
k.e.greenwood@sussex.ac.uk
07879551385