Assistant Psychologists - Widening Access

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ASSISTANT PSYCHOLOGISTS – WIDENING ACCESS

BAND 4

8 POSTS - PART TIME 26.25 HOURS PER WEEK OVER 3.5 DAYS

FIXED TERM CONTRACTS ENDING 31.03.2022

Working collaboratively with Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, we have several exciting paid opportunities for aspiring clinical, counselling or health psychologists to work with us in various NHS settings across the beautiful counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, as Assistant Psychologists. We are strongly encouraging applications from candidates with a BPS-accredited psychology degree, who may have been previously disadvantaged by the current culture of volunteering for unpaid assistant psychologist positions. We are keen to recruit based on values and potential and are seeking people with a strong commitment and passion to work as a practitioner psychologist in healthcare.

We are recruiting to eight, fixed term posts (each will be for 3.5 days per week/ 0.7 WTE) these fixed term contracts will end no later than 31st March 2022. Each post will be based in a service from across our organisations. However, we will also encourage opportunities for potholders’ to have experiences in other areas. We therefore hope to maximise successful candidates’ opportunities to develop vital experience of professional psychology within the NHS, to help them successfully apply for further training into practitioner psychologist careers.

You will be able to demonstrate key personal qualities and enthusiasm for placing patient care at the heart of services. You will be highly motivated to learn about and work to support the roles of qualified practitioner psychologists in various NHS settings with the overall goal of improving psychological wellbeing and outcomes for people with mental and physical health conditions across a variety of client groups. You will be able to demonstrate research and/or audit skills and apply these to developing quality services.

We have opportunities in various services such as older adult mental health, adult mental health, children’s mental health, paediatrics, staff support and physical health services. Successful candidates will typically work as part of a multidisciplinary team supporting qualified psychologists in delivering services, for example developing client-related materials, audit and quality improvement projects, supporting group work, assisting with assessments and interventions etc.

We pride ourselves on our commitment to increase equal opportunities and flexible working for diversity in the workforce. We value and strongly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. Peer support and high quality supervision from qualified clinical, counselling or health psychologists will be provided. We are part of the guaranteed interview scheme for applicants with a disability.

For more information please contact Dr Ben Rogers benjaminrogers@nhs.net , Trust Lead for Psychological Interventions, Herefordshire and Worcestershire NHS Trust.

Please note this post is likely toquicklyattract a high volume of applications and therefore we recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. This post will close at 100 applications and we will be unable to accept any further applications.

If you do not hear from us within 2 weeks of the closing date, please assume you have not been successful on this occasion.Due to the high number of applicants usually received we are sorry that we will not be able to provide individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

PLEASE NOTE:

Flexible working-The Trust has a commitment that all employees should be able to balance their working life with commitments outside of work. Our Flexible Working policy enables you to request a flexible working pattern that suits you.

Closing Vacancy Early-In the event of exceptionally high levels of response, we reserve the right to close the post before the date stated in order to prevent the number of applications received being unmanageable.

Interview Pool-If the same or similar vacancy arises within the recruitment period of this post or up to 3 months afterwards, the Trust may chose not to re advertise, but to select a suitable candidate from this interview pool. The new post may differ in terms of the base, hours or contract type and therefore you are encouraged to apply for advertised posts but specify on your application form your preferences.

Applicant Requirements-Applicants must have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English in both verbal and written formats.

Probationary Period -All new appointments are subject to 6 months’ probation period.

Priority of Applicants -Please note that applications are welcomed from all suitably qualified/experienced individuals. However prior consideration will be given to applications from individuals who are ‘at risk’ and employed by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust. If an appointment is made from that at risk group, the post will be withdrawn.

Requirement for DBS Update Service- If the position being applied for requires a DBS check to be undertaken on you, it will be a condition of your employment that you have subscribed and continue to subscribe to the DBS Update Service. Further information on the update service can be found on our website link ‘DBS Update Service.’

Preceptorship for Newly Qualified Staff - The Trust offers a preceptorship year for newly qualified nurses and AHP’s and attendance at preceptorship programmes is a condition of employment.