Assistant Psychologist

Job overview

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Psychologist to join the Sefton Learning Disability Team based at Hartley Hospital, Southport.

The successful applicant will support the work of the qualified Clinical Psychologist in improving the psychological offer to people with a learning disability who may have mental health difficulties and/or behaviours that challenge.

Specifically, the assistant will support the Clinical Psychologist with assessments, formulations and interventions as well as teaching and training sessions. There is also opportunity for audit/service data collection and analysis. You will also gain experience of working within a vibrant multi-disciplinary team and working alongside other team members including Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Medics and Speech and Language Therapists.

You will have the opportunity to develop your psychological knowledge, skills and experience while undertaking creative psychological work with adults who have a learning disability .  As an assistant psychologist your work will be supervised by a qualified psychologist. There will be opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills in assessment, formulation and intervention and to attend relevant CPD events. You will also become part of a wider Psychology workforce across Mersey Care's Specialist Learning Disability Service.

Main duties of the job

The Assistant Psychologist will support and enhance the psychological care of clients who are referred to the Community LD team by providing psychological assessment, formulation and interventions under the close supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist. They will also work independently according to a plan agreed with the multi-disciplinary team.

We are looking for people who share our core values of continuous improvement, accountability, respect, enthusiasm and support.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. To undertake psychological assessments of clients - applying psychological tests, including neuropsychological, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client’s care.  2. To review a variety of data sources, including medical records, case files, and depositions to inform  standardised risk assessments for qualified members of the Secure Care Division and Community Learning Disability Service (CLDS) colleagues. 3. To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s problems, under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist.  4. To contribute to the development of outcome measures for clinical interventions, and to assist the design and implementation of service development projects within the Secure Care Division and CLDS, as required.  5. To communicate and liaise with staff and other disciplines with regard to assessing clients and reviewing their care in preparation for multidisciplinary review meetings.  6. Under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist or clinical nurse specialist, to prepare reports on clinical assessments with individuals, the results of psychometric assessments, case note reviews and research/audit projects.  7. To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, training and project work.  8. To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care, including contributing to the organisation of training seminars and conferences for others.