Assistant Psychologist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Clinical:

· Working with colleagues to accept referrals via agreed protocols within GHWS and develop care package programmes.

· Make protocol-based assessments of risk to self and others and respond to client risk as appropriate.

· Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the department’s referral protocols, refers unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary or steps-up the person’s treatment to other forms of psychological therapy or other services where appropriate.

· Undertakes patient-centred interviews which identify areas where the person wishes to see change

· Make decisions with people about which appropriate low-intensity intervention would address the client’s difficulties and areas where the person wishes to change.

· Provide a range of information and support for evidence based high-volume low-intensity psychological treatments.

· Provide a range of high-volume low-intensity psychological treatments based on evidence-based literature and research to support best practice in clinical work. Interventions may include guided self-help, computerised CBT and information about pharmacological treatments. Treatment might be individual or in psycho-educational groups.

· Clinical work may be face to face, telephone or via other media according the choice of the client. Clinical work may take place in GP Practices, community settings on the Primary Care Psychological Health Centres.

· involve family members and others in treatment as necessary. Provide appropriate psycho education / access to digital support and information as necessary.

· Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the overall number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.

· Monitor treatment and client progress and provide appropriate feedback to client, GP and referrer.

· Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.

· Complete all requirements relating to clinical data collection within the service including clinical and service data.

· Keep coherent and accurate records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols and use these records and clinical outcome data in clinical decision making.

· Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.

· Assess and integrate issues surrounding work and employment into the overall low intensity intervention process.

· Operate at all times from an inclusive values base which promotes recovery and recognises and respects diversity.

· Prepare and present clinical information for all on their caseload for clinical case management meetings with their clinical supervisor within the service on an agreed and scheduled basis, in order to ensure safe practice and the clinical governance obligations of the worker, supervisor and service are delivered.

· Prepare and present clinical information for clients on their caseload in clinical supervision sessions in order to ensure safe practice and adherence to high volume low intensity treatment principles.

· Respond to and implement supervision suggestions by supervisors in clinical practice.

· Engage in and respond to personal development supervision to improve competences and clinical practice.

· Work independently and manage own time on a day-to-day basis

· To hold a caseload of clients and manage and organise client follow up appointments.

· Provide and receive complex and emotive information to individuals, carers, members of the public and professionals and react accordingly with sensitivity to mental health issues within the Caldicott Guidelines.

· Recognise personal and professional limitations and not exceed professional competencies.