Assistant Psychologist

Job overview

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

As the Assistant Psychologist, your main duties will be:

• 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.

We are looking for highly motivated candidates with excellent communication skills who are able to build a strong rapport and relationship with both service users and staff; who have excellent research and IT skills and the ability to work flexibly and deliver high quality therapy with service users with a psychosis diagnosis.

Detailed job description and main 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.