Band 4 Assistant Psychologist - Bristol

Job overview

Do you have experience of working with perinatal mental health or an interest or willingness to learn more about working within this field? Are you looking for flexibility that involves remote working, as well as face to face support? We are looking for a like-minded, compassionate and enthusiastic person who is keen to make a difference to women, their partners and their families to join our team.

The Specialist Perinatal Community Mental Health Team provides specialist advice, support and oversight of the perinatal mental health pathway in Bristol, North Somerset and South Glos, from preconception through to the infant’s second birthday, working with and supporting health and social care professionals in primary care, maternity services, early years and adult mental health teams. This team carries a direct caseload of women who are experiencing moderate to severe perinatal difficulties, where the level of these difficulties exceeds the expertise of primary care or general mental health services. We also work with those who are at high risk of relapse, and may be under Secondary Mental health care services.

The clinical team is made up of psychiatrists, mental health nurses, nursery nurses, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, mental health workers and parent infant therapists.

Main duties of the job

Direct clinical work includes assessment and therapies with individuals, families & wider social networks, drawing on a range of therapeutic approaches guided by service user needs.

Under close supervision you will be supported to develop psychological formulations, and provide assessments and therapeutic interventions to people seen in our service. You will be part of a broader multidisciplinary team and may also be facilitating therapeutic groups and 1:1 interventions. You will receive regular supervision and training in relevant psychological approaches.

Under the direction and guidance of the team psychologists, you will communicate psychological approaches, develop interventions, tools and resources for the staff team, service users, their families and carers.

As part of the role you will collect and collate information to support the clinical psychologists in service audit and evaluation projects.

The BNSSG Specialist Community Perinatal Mental Health Team is a multi disciplinary team, which provides support for women who experience moderate-severe or complex perinatal mental health problems or present with a high risk of relapse during pregnancy and the postnatal period.  We work to support mothers with their mental health needs and maintain and improve their relationship with baby. We provide multi agency training in perinatal mental health to other professionals and agencies working with women in the perinatal period in addition to offering consultation and advice.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL

To support the Clinical/Counselling psychologists within the base service.

Where required, to prepare and deliver high quality psychological interventions under supervision, either individually or in groups.

Where required, to offer high quality psychological assessments following instructions appropriate to the assessment tools/processes.

To gather and organise information about clinical notes, relevant psychological interventions and clinical tools for use by other staff.

To work alongside other team members and ensure close liaison and communication within teams.

To work at level of autonomy appropriate to a Band 4 Assistant Psychologist. Goals to be agreed and reviewed in clinical/management supervision.

TEACHING AND TRAINING

To undertake such training as might be required to maintain an appropriate level of expertise.

To assist with the delivery of teaching and training for other members of the multidisciplinary team and staff in other agencies, in collaboration with qualified staff.

RESEARCH AND AUDIT

Where required, to assist with the audit and evaluation of the service in collaboration with qualified clinical and counselling psychologists and other members of the multidisciplinary team.

To compile and return statistics and activity levels as required.

Where required, to undertake literature searches and reviews.

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE

To participate in service governance processes to ensure a safe and effective service.

To support and participate in multidisciplinary clinical audit.

To liaise with other disciplines and agencies to ensure best practice is shared.

To promote the use of effective interventions in the service.

GENERAL

To assist in the production of resources and materials used by the service

To assist with the general running of the Team/Service e.g. minuting department meetings.

Please see attached Job Description for full details