Assistant Psychologist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will be part of the FCMHT and the Adult Clinical Psychology Service within the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. The post-holder will support the provision of a psychological service to the community team with the FCMHT, alongside the registered psychologist.  The FCMHT is a large multi-disciplinary team that provides a specialist mental health service to those who present as a risk of harm to others, where this risk is linked to an identified mental health difficulty.  The FCMHT in reaches to secondary mental health services, the criminal justice system and works with service users placed in out of area secure services, with the aim to repatriate people back to the community.  The post is full-time of 37.5 hours per week. 

The post-holder will be expected to work alongside Registrant Psychologists to complete psychological assessments and risk assessments (of harm to self and others), to develop psychological formulations and risk formulations to inform interventions to address the presenting difficulties and risks presented by service users. 

This will involve working with the MDT within the FCMHT and the rehabilitation wards within the FCMHT, as well as working with other clinical teams in secondary services (CMHTs and acute wards and other specialist services) and commissioned secure placements.

Drawing from psychological models and robust psychological and specialist risk assessments, the post-holder will support the development of risk management and rehabilitation plans that build on the previous psychological work typically completed across treatment pathways. Opportunity to support the offer of reflective practice and formulation groups with the aim to develop skills within the workforce, will be available. in addition, there will be opportunity to support in the training of other professionals (in psychological models or approaches or risk assessments).

The post-holder will be joining a multi-disciplinary team where you will be supported by the Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Highly Specialist Forensic Psychologist and Clinical Psychologist, alongside another AP and a psychology placement student, based within the FCMHT.  You will also be joining a thriving adult psychology speciality who meet regularly and provide a sense of professional identity and belonging. Opportunities for peer support are also available through the adult psychology speciality and wider psychology network. 

The role of an AP is fundamental to support the delivery of the psychological service in the FCMHT.  The role will involve: 

·         Undertaking psychological assessments under clinical supervision of a registered psychologist

·        Undertaking group and individual interventions under clinical supervision of a registered psychologist.

·         Preparing clinical reports under supervision of a registered psychologist.

·        Undertaking risk assessments (of harm to others) under clinical supervision of a registered psychologist.

·        Supporting other members of the MDT in completing risk assessments (of harm to others), including completing file reviews and supporting with clinical interviews, under the supervision of the registered psychologist.

·        Preparing materials for the provision of training to other professional staff under supervision.

·         Supporting in the running of a team formulation group to aid reflective practice and team formulation.

·         Assisting with the delivery of training in the use of psychological approaches and thinking to other professionals and agencies under supervision.

·        Contributing to the evaluation of psychological therapy by participating in service-related research, performance reporting and evaluation reports.

·        Contributing to and conducting psychologically based research relevant to the service and/ or inpatient provision alongside a Registered Psychologist.

·        Undertaking the preparation of test materials, data collection, data analysis and the preparation of reports on service audit, performance and research projects.

·        Providing administration support to members of the psychology team including tasks relating to case work, including keeping case notes, conducting file reviews and preparing written reports under supervision. 

  This list is non-exhaustive