Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Assistant Psychologist/ Research Assistant
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Job Overview
Westminster Talking Therapies is a long-established service with a reputation for excellence and great staff retention. We provide Low intensity and High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapies alongside a Counselling service provided by our partners, Mind. Based in the very heart of London, the service has offices in Paddington and Victoria with GP partner sites across an exciting and vibrant Borough.
We are looking for enthusiastic and committed individuals to join the Westminster Talking Therapies Service. We are a large and well-established service and are responsible for the provision of Low intensity and High Intensity therapies within the standards of stepped care model at steps 2 and 3. The team consistently meets recovery targets and has recently undergone further expansion to meet new demands and needs of the local population.
There are also opportunities to be involved in service development projects. This role is a split administrative / research and minor clinical role, it requires someone who is willing to be working on site to support both the administrative and management teams.
CNWL is committed to providing high quality, evidence-based treatment options and is a learning organisation which promotes staff competence and training and values clinical governance, audit and research.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users.
- You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, be adaptable, enjoy challenges, diversity and demonstrate an enthusiasm for primary care work.
- You will be required to undertake regular research projects and routine audits in order to ensure service development and best practice.
The post holder will be involved in providing a full range of administrative and research duties to support the delivery of a high-quality service by the Westminster Talking Therapies team. You will need to develop an understanding of the objectives of the service and support the team in carrying out their duties effectively.
You may be involved in the delivery of psycho educational workshops and become involved in other project work as appropriate including working within the local community and voluntary service organisations.
CPD is offered as part of the role.
Working for our organisation
Psychological Therapies within Westminster Talking Therapies service has rapidly grown and developed, and is in the process of further expansion to meet the growing needs of the local population. Alongside high and low intensity CBT interventions, the service also has a counselling service at step 3. EMDR and group-based treatments are provided also. We also work alongside Wellbeing services (Employment support, Navigators and Peer Support).
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What Do We Offer?
- You will be based at either 190 Vauxhall Bridge Road (south Base) or 11 Praed Street (north Base) but will be required to undertake work at other areas within the borough as appropriate.
- You will be expected to participate in extended hours clinics offered by the service which include early morning and late evening clinics from 8 am to 8 pm. It is a service requirement for all staff to work at least two evenings per week until 8pm.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
The post is based in Westminster. The main base for the post is at 190 Vauxhall Bridge Road, with a secondary base at 11 Praed Street. The postholder will be required to work across both sites and in other parts of the catchment area and/or wider service, as necessary including community centers. The postholder will also be expected to participate in extended hours early and late clinics offered by the service from 8 am to 8 pm.
The postholder will be required to support and enhance the psychological care of service users and carry out duties under supervision such as supporting group based interventions and outreach interventions. Assistant Psychologists also support the admin functions of the team, including reception cover, telephone work and appointment booking.
KEY RESULT AREAS
Research and service evaluation
- To assist, under the direct supervision of a qualified professional CBT Therapist, in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.
- To undertake data collection and, under the direct supervision of a qualified professional CBT Therapist, the analysis and production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
- To familiarise themselves with, and to comply with, the Trust’s requirements on research governance.
IT & Administrative responsibilities
- The post holder will input and maintain, appropriate computer and manual clinical records and statistical data and provide this to the Clinical Lead when necessary.
- To assist in the design and management of electronic spreadsheets / databases as required.
- The postholder will engage in relevant computer and IT training as required.
- To assist, under the direct supervision of a qualified professional CBT Therapist, in the development, design and implementation of relevant IT projects.
Clinical:
- To work under supervision with other staff to support the delivery of outreach interventions to community groups and the general public.
Teaching, training and supervision
- To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties, once appropriate trainings have been completed
- To contribute, under the direct supervision of a Senior PWP/HI therapist, to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.
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Management, recruitment and service development
- To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
- To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Honours degree at 2:1 or above in Psychology, or equivalent. Eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartership with the BPS
Desirable criteria
- Further post graduate training in relevant area of professional psychology, health and social care practice, and / or research design and analysis
Personal
Essential criteria
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines
- An ability to interact with people with mental health problems disabilities.
- Desire to work with people with mental health problems to facilitate research recruitment
- Willingness to blend remote and onsite working and travel between different sites as required (by public transport or own transport)
Desirable criteria
- An interest in working with people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
- Ability to work reliably and consistently with work agreed and supervised at regular intervals.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of paid work in care provision
- Experience of carrying out data analysis using qualitative and quantitative methods.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
- High level communication skills (written and verbal).
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care
- High level of proficiency in working with databases such as Excel and designing spreadsheets and other tools for analysing and reviewing data
- Ability to maintain accurate records
Desirable criteria
- Experience using microcomputers for databases or data analysis, especially SPSS for Windows. Experience in consenting participants for research remotely
- Understanding of quantitative research data.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context
- Experience in collecting data and producing reports.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
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