We are very excited to request applicants for a new type of Psychology role and training: an apprenticeship post known as a Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP). Clinical Associates in Psychology are graduate psychologists (have completed a degree in Psychology) who fill an identified skills gap between assistant psychologists and qualified clinical psychologists. They are able to practice autonomously with appropriate support, working within their scope of practice, under the supervision of a registered clinical psychologist.The broad purpose of the occupation is to provide high quality, evidence-based psychological interventions, often working with people who have long-standing or complex difficulties. CAPs work with specific populations and therefore provide a more proscribed range of activities than Clinical Psychologists.

Applications are invited for a Band 5 Clinical Associate in Psychology apprenticeship post. As the expected start for the apprenticeship is May 2022, the successful candidate may initially start in a Band 5 Assistant Psychology role and move onto the CAP apprentice role and job description at the start of the apprenticeship programme (depending on availability).The CAP Apprenticeship is an eighteen-month full-time training divided between work-based experience (up to 4 days per week) and academic teaching and study, which leads to a Masters level qualification.

Main duties of the job

• To undertake the range of clinical activities including psychological assessments, treatments and other types of clinical intervention with individual service users, carers, families, groups etc, along with other activities such as staff training, research and development activity.
• To work semi-autonomously on a day-to-day basis within their scope of practice under supervision of and subject to review at regular intervals by a registered clinical psychologist in accordance with British Psychological Society (BPS) guidelines.
• To undertake and meet the requirements of a degree apprenticeship including personal study, academic work, research, clinical experience and assessment leading to the award of a Masters Clinical Associate in Psychology.
• CAPs adhere to NHS values and legal & ethical responsibilities as a supervised psychological practitioners along with professional (BPS) standards of conduct, performance and ethics, including patient consent and confidentiality,
• Are a part of an effective team and work independently in the community,
• Keep high quality records, and
• Demonstrate accurate computer skills and willingness to embrace new systems.

About us

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Open, Compassionate and Empowering. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer

Important notice: On 9th November 2021 the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) formally announced that individuals undertaking CQC regulated activities in England must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than 1st April 2022. The purpose of this is to protect all those that use health and social care services, as well as to protect colleagues, and to help reduce the amount of COVID-19 related sickness absences.

Please note that for all roles at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust that fall into the regulated activity criteria, evidence of vaccination status (first and second dose) will become a condition of employment from 1st April 2022. Therefore, please note that if you are successfully appointed at EPUT for one of these roles, your vaccination status will form part of your pre-employment checks.

Job description Job responsibilities

CAPs are trained to work with a particular service user group. This post seeks to train a Clinical Associate in Psychology to work with working age adults with mental ill health, and in particular, those who might attract a diagnosis of Personality Disorder. This post will be based with the Adult Community Psychological Services team in West Essex centred on the towns of Harlow, Epping and Uttlesford - working alongside qualified Clinical and Counselling Psychologists,Psychotherapists and Assistant Psychologists as part of the psychological services contribution to the locality multidisciplinary community teams. If successful in their training, CAPs can apply for a Band 6 CAP role upon qualification.

We envisage this post as having a particular role to play in ongoing service transformation for people who might attract a diagnosis of personality disorder, creating an environment for our clients that diminishes the traditional demarcation of primary and secondary care, adopting a whole system approach that provides for the range of complexity of presentation observed from least to most severe. The successful candidate will receive specialist supervision and training for this work.

We are particularly keen to hear from applicants who have a commitment to working in the local region, from those with diverse backgrounds and from people who bring lived experience relevant to mental health work.

The Clinical Associate in Psychology role is a new psychology career path in its own right, therefore the selection process will aim to recruit those suitable for and committed to training for this role, rather than those who might be seeking interim experience to support their applications for Clinical or Counselling doctoral training.

Person Specification Education/ qualifications Essential

• Eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered membership of the British Psychological Society.
• An honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology at 2.1 or better OR Successful completion of a BPS accredited post-graduate Psychology conversion programme with 60% (2.1 equivalent) or above. OR A 2.2 honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology with appropriate additional experience demonstrating academic potential.

Experience Essential

• Paid or voluntary experience relevant to working in mental health and or psychological service settings.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a setting with service users presenting with severe and enduring mental health difficulties.
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

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