Clinical Associate Psychologist

Job overview

This is a fantastic opportunity to join the South Hams Core Adult Community Mental Health team as a Clinical Associate Psychologist (CAP)

To improve the mental health of people within the agreed locality by undertaking specialised psychological assessments, contributing to bespoke clinical formulations, delivering structured, evidence-based and psychologically-informed interventions and undertaking agreed research activity, all appropriate to the post-holders level of training, competence and experience.

To work autonomously on a day to day basis, under supervision from a registered Practitioner Psychologist and within the scope of practice set out within the Apprenticeship Standard for Clinical Associate Psychologists and their own training.

Main duties of the job

To improve the mental health of people within the agreed locality by undertaking specialised psychological assessments, contributing to bespoke clinical formulations, delivering structured, evidence-based and psychologically-informed interventions and undertaking agreed research activity, all appropriate to the post-holders level of training, competence and experience.

To work autonomously on a day to day basis, under supervision from a registered Practitioner Psychologist and within the scope of practice set out within the Apprenticeship Standard for Clinical Associate Psychologists and their own training.

All clinical work will be overseen and reviewed regularly through supervision provided by an HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist (other qualified healthcare professionals may also contribute to supervision as deemed appropriate by the relevant Strategic Lead for Psychology and Psychological Therapies ).

Mandatory Standards and Codes for Healthcare Support Workers apply to all NHS staff delivering Psychology/Psychological Therapy Services who are not subject to statutory regulation. The post holder is required to hold and maintain membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and abide by the relevant Code of Conduct. The post holder will also be required to join and maintain a voluntary accreditation scheme for Clinical Associate Psychologists as these become established and available nationally.

Job responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Works as part of a multi-disciplinary community team or in specialised clinical settings. Consults with relevant external agencies such as primary care, social services, independent and voluntary sector, to facilitate and enable intervention at multiple levels.

Within Clinical Work:

Communicate clearly and empathetically to clients, families and carers. Communicates formulations and information professionally, sensitively and diplomatically frequently in a highly emotive atmosphere to clients, relatives, carers and other healthcare professionals. To communicate confidential and highly complex personal information concerning psychological needs, obtained through assessments and interventions, to referring agents and to the client themselves. The post holder will be required to work in a highly emotive atmosphere, frequently encountering highly distressing problems and circumstances and must maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times. The post holder will be required to work in situations where there are barriers to understanding, acceptance and possible exposure to aggression. Establish a rapport with individuals who have mental health disorders or other difficulties, some of whom may be aggressive or distressed. Discuss and negotiate clinical work with colleagues within a multidisciplinary team. Discuss clinical work with other agencies and professionals. Provide written reports and assessments for clients, their families and other agencies. Effectively communicate the content of their clinical work to supervisors and make use of direct feedback and direction to ensure safety and maximise the effectiveness of their work.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Formulates the nature, causes and maintaining factors of psychological difficulties and presentations informed by a broad range of potentially conflicting clinical, theoretical and conceptual models, the empirical, experimental and clinical literature base and the results of assessment. To make independent day to day clinical decisions and judgements based on detailed psychological assessments, within the scope of practice for Clinical Associate Psychologists set out in the apprenticeship standards and under the general guidance of their clinical supervisor who is available for consultation as required. Highly complex decisions and issues of clinical risk should be referred for discussion with the HCPC registered clinical supervisor. Planning for day to day clinical assessments and interventions takes place under the supervisors overall guidance through supervision provided on a weekly basis by a designated registered Practitioner Psychologist To determine appropriate psychological intervention, taking into account a range of potentially conflicting clinical information and dynamics.

Planning and Organisational Skills

In conjunction with their clinical supervisor and line manager, to plan and prioritise own workload, research, and individual and group sessions. Plans and implements psychological interventions empathetically, sensitively and independently, with a range of client groups/groups of clients, and evaluates the impact of such intervention. Plans and delivers structured group interventions for clients. To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups. To attend and participate in administrative and service planning meetings as determined by the line manager and clinical supervisor.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

To undertake structured interviews, psychological assessments and observations of individuals and groups. Carries out psychological assessments sensitively and independently with a broad range of client groups including individual psychometric testing. To assist in development of psychological formulations of complex clinical problems and the development and delivery of care plans, which include psychological treatment and/or management of clients problems. To carry out psychological and psychometric tests, to develop interview and observation skills and to assess client/patient needs. To assist in the design, implement and modify as appropriate, bespoke psychological interventions with clients and groups. To provide emotional support for clients. To work as a member of a multidisciplinary team. To follow a person-focused and evidence based approach. To work in partnership with service users. To work in a variety of settings including the clients own home.

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Works as part of a multi-disciplinary community team or in specialised clinical settings. Consults with relevant external agencies such as primary care, social services, independent and voluntary sector, to facilitate and enable intervention at multiple levels.

Within Clinical Work:

Communicate clearly and empathetically to clients, families and carers. Communicates formulations and information professionally, sensitively and diplomatically frequently in a highly emotive atmosphere to clients, relatives, carers and other healthcare professionals. To communicate confidential and highly complex personal information concerning psychological needs, obtained through assessments and interventions, to referring agents and to the client themselves. The post holder will be required to work in a highly emotive atmosphere, frequently encountering highly distressing problems and circumstances and must maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times. The post holder will be required to work in situations where there are barriers to understanding, acceptance and possible exposure to aggression. Establish a rapport with individuals who have mental health disorders or other difficulties, some of whom may be aggressive or distressed. Discuss and negotiate clinical work with colleagues within a multidisciplinary team. Discuss clinical work with other agencies and professionals. Provide written reports and assessments for clients, their families and other agencies. Effectively communicate the content of their clinical work to supervisors and make use of direct feedback and direction to ensure safety and maximise the effectiveness of their work.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Formulates the nature, causes and maintaining factors of psychological difficulties and presentations informed by a broad range of potentially conflicting clinical, theoretical and conceptual models, the empirical, experimental and clinical literature base and the results of assessment. To make independent day to day clinical decisions and judgements based on detailed psychological assessments, within the scope of practice for Clinical Associate Psychologists set out in the apprenticeship standards and under the general guidance of their clinical supervisor who is available for consultation as required. Highly complex decisions and issues of clinical risk should be referred for discussion with the HCPC registered clinical supervisor. Planning for day to day clinical assessments and interventions takes place under the supervisors overall guidance through supervision provided on a weekly basis by a designated registered Practitioner Psychologist To determine appropriate psychological intervention, taking into account a range of potentially conflicting clinical information and dynamics.

Planning and Organisational Skills

In conjunction with their clinical supervisor and line manager, to plan and prioritise own workload, research, and individual and group sessions. Plans and implements psychological interventions empathetically, sensitively and independently, with a range of client groups/groups of clients, and evaluates the impact of such intervention. Plans and delivers structured group interventions for clients. To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups. To attend and participate in administrative and service planning meetings as determined by the line manager and clinical supervisor.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

To undertake structured interviews, psychological assessments and observations of individuals and groups. Carries out psychological assessments sensitively and independently with a broad range of client groups including individual psychometric testing. To assist in development of psychological formulations of complex clinical problems and the development and delivery of care plans, which include psychological treatment and/or management of clients problems. To carry out psychological and psychometric tests, to develop interview and observation skills and to assess client/patient needs. To assist in the design, implement and modify as appropriate, bespoke psychological interventions with clients and groups. To provide emotional support for clients. To work as a member of a multidisciplinary team. To follow a person-focused and evidence based approach. To work in partnership with service users. To work in a variety of settings including the clients own home.