37.5 hours per week.

You will provide supervised support to Plymouth Autism Spectrum Service and wider team across the range of provision.

You will be involved in a service that has high demand and is constantly being creative in how they deliver their services to meet the needs of the locality.

Undertakes clinically supervised assessment and intervention work with clients with varying presentations:

Working within the multi-disciplinary team to assess and formulate whether someone meets DSM-V criteria for autism.

Develop psychological formulations.

Develop communication tools such as social stories and easy read documents to support assessment and intervention.

Collaboratively establish individual service users goals.

Undertakes clinically supervised assessment and intervention work with clients with varying presentations:

Deliver psychological interventions.

Support the wellbeing of the MDT.

Works to support research projects, service evaluations and clinical audits as required.

Support teaching to service users and the wider MDT, plus to students in varying professional fields.

Main duties of the job

Plymouth Autistic Spectrum Service is at the frontier of developing needs led and innovative models of assessment and post diagnostic support. The team are looking for a motivated Assistant Psychologist, who can demonstrate a passion for supporting the autistic community.

If you are a clinician looking for a role that enables you to shine and demonstrate your tenacity, initiative, compassion and creativity, we would love for you to come and work with us.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Manage a caseload with support and clinical supervision from a designated practitioner psychologist.

Deliver brief non-complex therapies to service users of the respective services commensurate with level of knowledge and skills and under supervision of qualified psychological therapist/psychologist.

Co-facilitate group or 1:1 intervention to service users of the respective services alongside and under the supervision of qualified psychological therapists/psychologists.

Work with service users using self-help materials in a creative and collaborative way and provide information about other local services relevant to their needs.

Under supervision of a qualified psychologist administer, score and interpret neuropsychological or cognitive assessment and develop/deliver appropriate intervention plans, e.g. cognitive remediation.

Proactively and positively contribute to the achievement of effective outcomes. This will include conducting evaluations using clinical outcome measures and satisfaction surveys.

Communicate effectively with service users, relatives/carers and colleagues from diverse backgrounds in a manner that is sensitive, open, welcoming and person-centred.

Use IT systems effectively.

Maintain accurate, up to date clinical records in accordance with Trust policy.

To maintain appropriate client records as required by the employer.

To maintain clinical resources and databases as required by the team.

Manage a caseload with support and clinical supervision from a designated practitioner psychologist.

Deliver brief non-complex therapies to service users of the respective services commensurate with level of knowledge and skills and under supervision of qualified psychological therapist/psychologist.

Co-facilitate group or 1:1 intervention to service users of the respective services alongside and under the supervision of qualified psychological therapists/psychologists.

Work with service users using self-help materials in a creative and collaborative way and provide information about other local services relevant to their needs.

Under supervision of a qualified psychologist administer, score and interpret neuropsychological or cognitive assessment and develop/deliver appropriate intervention plans, e.g. cognitive remediation.

Proactively and positively contribute to the achievement of effective outcomes. This will include conducting evaluations using clinical outcome measures and satisfaction surveys.

Communicate effectively with service users, relatives/carers and colleagues from diverse backgrounds in a manner that is sensitive, open, welcoming and person-centred.

Use IT systems effectively.

Maintain accurate, up to date clinical records in accordance with Trust policy.

To maintain appropriate client records as required by the employer.

To maintain information on internal systems and PASS app.

Human Resources

To receive regular clinical supervision and line management from a Registered Clinical or Forensic Psychologist.

Required to demonstrate own duties to new staff.

Support teaching input on a variety of training courses.

Research and Development

To assist with research, evaluation studies and clinical audit that is relevant to the service.

To conduct statistical analyses using SPSS and Excel and prepare data tables, graphs, etc.

To assist with the dissemination of the results to service users, carers, service managers, other professionals and academic audiences.

Information Technology

To maintain clinical records within the computerised patient information system (System one clinical records).

To be competent at word processing and the use of Office software, particularly e-mail.

To conduct literature searches on electronic data-bases.

To be able to use Excel & SPSS to aid in the management of data used for research purposes.

To monitor, process and present digital assessment data form PASSAT app.

Professional development

To undertake Continuing Professional Development in line with that recommended by the Heath & Care Professions Council and the BPS.

To keep up to date with clinical and research developments within the post-holders areas of expertise.

The post-holder will be expected to adhere to the HCPC code of conduct and the BPS Code of Practice.

The post holder is required to comply with all relevant policies and procedures pertinent to their post. Current versions can be found on the intranet or via your manager. The areas listed below are those Livewell Southwest currently places particular emphasis on. Failure to follow correct policies and procedures may result in disciplinary action.

6. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will:

Communicate with people, their families, cares and friends, in the process of autism assessments. The post holder will interpret words, observe and record verbal and non-verbal communication in accordance with DSM5 diagnostic criteria.

Develop and present psychological formulation both prior to and as part of MDT diagnostic decision making process.

Provide support to MDT colleagues

Under the guidance of the clinical psychologist, provide clinical supervision

With the support of Clinical Psychologist, collaborate with other Livewell Southwest teams and practitioners.

Represent the team at appropriate events and meetings as agreed with Clinical Psychologist/Service Manager

7. PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB

The post holder regularly uses IT equipment, working from the office base and home.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ALL POSTS

The post holder is required to comply with all relevant policies and procedures pertinent to their post. Current versions can be found on the intranet or via your manager. The areas listed below are those Livewell Southwest currently places particular emphasis on. Failure to follow correct policies and procedures may result in disciplinary action.

Risk Management

In accordance with the Risk Management Strategy, employees will participate, whenever required, with the risk management process. They will support line managers by attending mandatory and statutory training, completing incident/accident forms for every adverse event or near miss that occurs, report all defects and complaints, and communicate any dangerous situation to individuals potentially at risk.

Health and Safety at Work

You must co-operate with those in authority and others in meeting the statutory requirements and in following policies and procedures. A copy of the Health and Safety Policy is available from the intranet or from the Risk Management Department.

You are reminded that in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 you have a duty to take reasonable care to avoid injury to yourself and to others affected by your work activities.

You will be notified where your post carries a requirement for immunisation.

You may be required to be able to undertake physical intervention training and participate in physical intervention as part of a physical intervention team and Basic Life Support (BLS).

Safeguarding Children and Adults

All employees have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and adults and are required to act in such a way that at all times safeguards their health and wellbeing. Familiarisation with and adherence to national and local safeguarding adults and children policies is an essential requirement upon all employees. Livewell Southwest has specific safeguarding policies and in addition, employees also have a responsibility to practice and work within the multi-agency policy developed by the Safeguarding Adults Board and the Safeguarding Children Board. Staff are also required to participate in related mandatory/statutory training.

Research

For clinical posts at bands 5 and 6, there is an expectation that engagement in research will be part of this role. Therefore, an awareness of the value and relevance of research is expected, and the post holder should either support existing research within their specialty area as appropriate or identify opportunities to raise awareness of research possibilities. For clinical posts at band 7 and above, the post holder will be required to actively participate in complex audits using research methodology or participate as required in clinical trials or equipment testing and will demonstrate high level involvement in local ongoing research projects.

Other

This Job Description is not exhaustive and may change as the post develops, but such change will not take place without consultation between the post holder and their manager. Job descriptions should be reviewed at least annually at the appraisal meeting.

The Working Time Regulations apply to all employees of Livewell Southwest. Livewell Southwest will not permit staff in all employments to work in excess of 48 hours in any one week except where there are exceptional service needs where an absolute limit of averaging over a reference period of 17 weeks would apply.

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of psychological theory in the context of mental health and neurodiversity.
• Knowledge of issues relating to the diagnosis and post diagnostic support for autistic people
• Knowledge of research and audit methodologies

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of relevant and current research around ASD
• Knowledge and understanding of autism assessment methodology
• An understanding of community Psychology
• Knowledge and understanding of current legislation related to autistic people

Skills

Essential

• Report writing, manage caseload, formulation negotiation, presentation, analytical, planning & organisational, subject to the provision of the Equality Act, able to drive across Plymouth & other geographical areas etc. The applicant must be comfortable working in community settings

Desirable

• Motivational interviewing
• ADOS assessment and scoring
• Neuro-developmental History interviews
• Have practiced Community Psychology
• App and webpage editing and building

Qualifications

Essential

• Essential
• Graduated with undergraduate degree in psychology minimum 2:1 OR 2:2 with evidence of additional academic abilities within the last 18 months.
• Eligible for graduate membership of the BPS
• D.

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

B9832-2024-SP-1066