About this role
Job summary
Do you aspire to be a Clinical Psychologist?
Are you being held back from your dream, because of the financial burden of an unpaid role to gain the experience you need?
Do you have additional responsibilities (e.g being a carer for someone) that mean unpaid experience is not an option?
Have you had fewer opportunities to go further in your education because you didn't have the support of a family behind you?
If you are a psychology graduate who, due to socioeconomic disadvantage, has been unable to enter the clinical psychology profession e.g. through unpaid work opportunities, the NHS England-funded Aspiring Clinical Psychologist (ACP) Scheme could be your chance to get a step up on the career ladder at Berkshire Healthcare.
Working part-time (2.5 days a week) for 6 months, the post holder will contribute to multi-disciplinary service delivery, by assisting the work of the psychological professionals working within Older Peoples' Mental Health Services (OPMH) across Berkshire. The aim will be to provide valuable experience, insight and preparation for taking the next step towards a Clinical Psychology career. In addition to the supervision provided by a Clinical Psychologist, the post holders will have access to continuous professional development opportunities, and the option to join our temporary staff Bank.
We strongly encourage all applicants to read the Application Guidance Notes before submitting their application.
Main duties of the job
You will act as an assistant to the work of the psychological professionals, contributing to multi-disciplinary service delivery.
Supervised by a Clinical Psychologist, you will work jointly with psychological professionals to support the delivery of psychologically informed care through group working, individual work and/or work with families and carers.
Under supervision, you will assist in the assessment and formulation of a service user's difficulties, and where relevant assist with the delivery of psychologically informed treatment planning, including case consultation.
You will have opportunities to enhance your skills in research, audit, data management and service development
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
This role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under current UK immigration rules. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role
An upper second class (2:1) honours degree or higher in psychology, or an equivalent qualification, which confers eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
Demonstrable interest and/or learning in relevant areas of applied psychology and mental health practice
Experience that supports working with people with mental health difficulties, neurological difficulties or learning disability: This could have been obtained through employment, volunteering, lived experience or research or education.
Ability to conduct service evaluation and research particularly within a clinical setting
Ability to travel independently between locations to fulfil the requirements and duties of the position, with minimal impact on daily productivity
Experience of socio-economic disadvantage that has caused barriers to access to unpaid work experience opportunities, relevant to pursuing a career in Clinical Psychology.
Person Specification
Scheme Eligibility Requirements
Essential
- Must NOT be currently studying for a post graduate qualification or enrolled to study for a post graduate qualification whilst employed in this post.
- Must not have held any substantial previous (paid or voluntary) Assistant Psychologist, Research Assistant or similar posts. Previous work experience as an Assistant Psychologist, Research Assistant or similar, amounting to less than the equivalent of four weeks full time is nonetheless permissible.
- Experience of socio-economic disadvantage that has contributed to barriers to access to unpaid work experience opportunities, relevant to pursuing a career in Clinical Psychology.
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- An upper second class (2:1) honours degree or higher in psychology, or an equivalent qualification, which confers eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
- (Entitled to) Graduate Membership of British Psychological Society
Continuous Professional Development
Essential
- Can demonstrate additional interest and/or learning in relevant areas of applied psychology and mental health practice
- Evidence of an interest in pursuing a career in the psychological professions
Desirable
- Undertaken additional training (e.g. practice-based training and workshops) in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, neuropsychology, health and social care practice and/or research design and analysis
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience that supports working with people with any of the following: mental health difficulties; neurological difficulties, learning disabilities, eating disorder, personality difficulties or people with emotion regulation difficulties. This could be obtained through employment, volunteering, lived experience, research, or education.
Desirable
- Experience conducting service evaluation and research, particularly within a clinical setting
- Experience of providing direct clinical or social care
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Awareness of psychological theory, practice and evidence-based psychological interventions as relevant to this role
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotional
- Appreciation of the needs and challenges face by people with mental health difficulties, neurological difficulties and learning disabilities
- Ability to apply existing psychological theory and knowledge within a mental health, dementia and/or learning disabilities context
- Ability to appropriately communicate sensitive information to service users, carers and colleagues
- Ability to conduct service evaluation and research particularly within a clinical setting
- Excellent IT skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office including a high standard of letter and report writing
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to interact and engage with people who may be experiencing mental health difficulties, neurological difficulties and learning disabilities
- Ability to work under supervision, using own initiative to think quickly on the spot in often challenging situations and to deliver work as agreed and reviewed at regular intervals
- Ability to recognise the limits of own competencies and to seek supervision and support as required to practice safely and within professional guidelines
- Able to work flexibly as required
- Able to travel independently between locations to fulfil the requirements and duties of the position, with minimal impact on daily productivity
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.
Employer details
Employer name
Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Address
OPMH Services Reading
Reading
RG30 4EJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)