Psychology Assistant B4

Job Purpose: To support and enhance the professional psychological care of adults with a neurological disability across all sectors of care within the Warrington and Halton catchment area. To provide psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with a qualified psychologist and within the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures. To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work. Duties and Responsibilities: Clinical: 1. To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients applying psychological, including neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care, some of which may require prolonged concentration and manipulation and timing skills for complex testing. 2. To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a clients problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, in a range of both community and residential settings, where a range of actions needs consideration. 3. To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups. 4. To work with other staff to assess clients with a neurological diagnosis and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews. 5. To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place. 6. To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings. 7. To record personally generated clinical observations and enter data into appropriate patient record systems. 8. To work with clients with neurological disabilities, mental health problems and challenging behaviour in frequently distressing situations. Able to reflect on and contain own emotions. 9. To communicate complex and sensitive information including condition related information to clients, relatives care staff as appropriate. Able to overcome client/carer resistance to potentially threatening information. Policy and Service Development: 1. To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required. 2. To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed. 3. To follow policies and to comment on proposals. Teaching, Training and Supervision: 1. Plans and prioritizes own workload, works independently on a day-to-day basis. 2. In common with all clinical psychologists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines. 3. To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS over and above that provided within the principal service area where the post holder is employed. 4. To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties 5. To contribute to the training and support of other staff, carers and professionals. 6. To receive further training through specialist courses where appropriate. Research and Service Evaluation: 1. To regularly undertake R & D activity. 2. To assist in the design and implementation of audit, service evaluation, clinical outcomes and research projects. 3. To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes. 4. To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist qualified clinical psychologists in evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members. General 1. To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holders manager. 2. To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures. 3. To prepare test materials and visual aids as required. 4. To undertake specific administrative duties as required. 5. To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade, which, may be required from time to time by their Psychology Manager. Job description Job responsibilities Job Purpose: To support and enhance the professional psychological care of adults with a neurological disability across all sectors of care within the Warrington and Halton catchment area. To provide psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with a qualified psychologist and within the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures. To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work. Duties and Responsibilities: Clinical: 1. To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients applying psychological, including neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care, some of which may require prolonged concentration and manipulation and timing skills for complex testing. 2. To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a clients problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, in a range of both community and residential settings, where a range of actions needs consideration. 3. To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups. 4. To work with other staff to assess clients with a neurological diagnosis and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews. 5. To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place. 6. To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings. 7. To record personally generated clinical observations and enter data into appropriate patient record systems. 8. To work with clients with neurological disabilities, mental health problems and challenging behaviour in frequently distressing situations. Able to reflect on and contain own emotions. 9. To communicate complex and sensitive information including condition related information to clients, relatives care staff as appropriate. Able to overcome client/carer resistance to potentially threatening information. Policy and Service Development: 1. To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required. 2. To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed. 3. To follow policies and to comment on proposals. Teaching, Training and Supervision: 1. Plans and prioritizes own workload, works independently on a day-to-day basis. 2. In common with all clinical psychologists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines. 3. To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS over and above that provided within the principal service area where the post holder is employed. 4. To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties 5. To contribute to the training and support of other staff, carers and professionals. 6. To receive further training through specialist courses where appropriate. Research and Service Evaluation: 1. To regularly undertake R & D activity. 2. To assist in the design and implementation of audit, service evaluation, clinical outcomes and research projects. 3. To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes. 4. To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist qualified clinical psychologists in evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members. General 1. To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holders manager. 2. To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures. 3. To prepare test materials and visual aids as required. 4. To undertake specific administrative duties as required. 5. To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade, which, may be required from time to time by their Psychology Manager.