Assistant Clinical Psychologist | South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust
| Posting date: | 18 June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £31,081 - £33,665 per annum inclusive of outer London HCAS |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 18 July 2025 |
| Location: | Teddington, TW11 0LB |
| Company: | South West London and St Georges Mental Health Trust |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 7285970/294-MHCA-7285970-JB |
Summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join Richmond Care Home Liaison Services (CHLS) as a Band 4 Assistant Clinical Psychologist, within the broader Older People’s Mental Health Services. This is an established and varied role with opportunities for a broad range of experience in both clinical and research/audit duties. We are interested in applications from people who have a desire to work with older people and their families/carers. The focus of the role will be mainly supporting people with dementia and behaviour that challenges and/or functional mental health needs living in care homes, although you may also be asked to carry out small amounts of work within other parts of the Older People’s Team.
You will receive regular individual supervision and support from a senior psychologist within the service. You will be joining established Clinical Psychologists based within the team and a good network of Psychologists and Assistant Psychologists across the Cognition and Mental Health (CMHA) service line, who have a wide range of expertise and who regularly meet for CPD activities and peer supervision. You will also have access to the Trust’s Aspiring Clinical Psychologists Network who meet regularly. We have good links with the ClinPsyD course at Surrey University and regularly have psychology trainees on placement and contribute to teaching on the programme. Both the multidisciplinary team and the wider Trust recognises and values the contribution of Clinical Psychology.
The role involves a variety of tasks working towards meeting the complex and challenging needs of people with dementia and other mental health problems living in nursing and residential homes, carried out under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist. The CHLS is based on the belief that people’s distressed behaviour in dementia, even when challenging, can be understood in the context of their current and previous experience and can often be seen as a communication of need, and this understanding often leads the way in identifying unmet needs and in developing care practice. The Assistant Psychologist role includes: Provision of direct and indirect clinical work with clients; Support to staff teams; Helping to design and implement teaching and support interventions for both clients and carers; Assisting in developing and conducting of audits, monitoring outcomes, teaching and project work.
The post is based at Livingston House, Teddington – Livingston House serves as a base for Richmond Older People’s Services. The site is a ten minute walk from Teddington station and is served by local bus routes. This post is full time and Outer London Weighting.
N.B. Please only apply to this job if you meet the essential criteria for training and qualifications (see person specification). Having access to using a car for work would be of benefit.
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ - we aspire to be ‘outstanding’.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive. Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Under appropriate supervision from a qualified Clinical Psychologist
· To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, in both community and in-patient/residential settings.
· To attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings, including referral, clinical and review meetings.
· 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 client’s care under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist.
· To assist in the implementation and monitoring of treatment programmes in a way that is positive and respectful of clients’ and carers' needs.
· To assist in the compilation of assessment, update and discharge reports as required.
· To work with other staff to assess clients in various settings and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.
· 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.
Teaching, Training and Supervision
· To receive regular supervision from a qualified professional psychologist every week.
· To attend and participate in multi disciplinary supervision meetings held for clients on caseload as required.
· To attend and participate in professional or multi-disciplinary meetings and training as required.
· 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.
· To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties
· To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.
Management, Recruitment and Service Development
· To assist, under supervision, in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
· To attend meetings, as appropriate, in which service developments are planned and discussed.
· To contribute to the development of user and carer involvement within the service as appropriate.
Research and Service Evaluation
· To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.
· To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
· 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.
· To contribute to the maintenance and development of specialist educational and assessment resources to be used with this client group.
Training and Development
· To undertake mandatory and statutory training as required by Trust policy.
· To contribute and commit to undertaking an annual Development Review.
· To undertake personal development as identified in the personal development plan.
This advert closes on Tuesday 29 Jul 2025