Assistant Psychologist

at  Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

We have a full time vacancy for an Assistant Psychologist in our South East Essex ARMS (At Risk Mental State) for psychosis Services in Essex. We are a standalone multidisciplinary team with psychological staff, peer support workers, a recovery coordinator and an employment and education specialist. We have been operational for just over two years now and we continue to develop and update our processes and ways of working. We take a psychological approach to all aspects of our service. The post is available until 31/12/2025.
We cover Southend, Rayleigh, Castlepoint and Canvey Island. We offer flexible working and remote work is possible for some of the role. It is an interesting and diverse role which will provide the successful applicant with broad experiences and good learning opportunities in both clinical, audit and service development tasks. We are looking for someone who is friendly, hardworking, adaptable with excellent organisational skills. We are one of three ARMSp teams in the Mid and South Essex area and we do a lot of joint development. We are also closely connected to our local Early Intervention in Psychosis team.
The role of the Assistant Psychologist is to assist with all parts of the Psychological Service provision, including individual and group assessments and interventions, supporting projects such as service user involvement, therapy or carers support, administrative and organisational tasks, audit and service evaluation. The role also includes working with and supporting all members of the multidisciplinary team where appropriate.
We are looking for a graduate in Psychology who has some relevant experience working in health and social care settings. The post holder will need to be organised in order to assist the psychology team in managing referrals and collecting and evaluating outcomes of interventions as well as having creative skills for producing documents and resources that are part of our ongoing development as a service. There will be opportunities for involvement in work that cuts across the other MSE ARMSp teams.
EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. 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
The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment
Join our Staff bank
What is Staff Bank?
Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.
All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.
If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank
The South East Essex ARMS for psychosis service is multidisciplinary but does not include psychiatry. ARMSp is a relatively new service offering predominantly, but not exclusively, psychosocial interventions with an evidence base of mental health prevention. As a team we pride ourselves on being trauma informed, respectful and thoughtful about our interactions with each other and as well as with our service users.
There are opportunities to be involved in service development. All of the teams are part of a wider network of EIP and ARMS teams across the county of Essex and have regular contact with them, as well as with other psychology services locally and regionally. There are good opportunities for shared learning and CPD.

ROLE SUMMARY

There is an opportunity for an Assistant Psychologist post in South East Essex ARMS for Psychosis Service.
The ARMS for psychosis service is a multidisciplinary service working with young people and adults aged 14-35 considered to be at risk of developing psychosis.
As an Assistant Psychologist you will support and enhance the professional psychological care of adults and young people at risk of a first episode psychosis, supporting psychological assessment and interventions under the supervision of a senior practitioner psychologist according to a plan agreed within the overall framework of the Trust’s policies and procedures. This will be through both direct and indirect work. Depending on experience, the responsibilities of the job will involve assisting in completing complex assessments, (including structured interviews and psychometrics) and communicating the outcome of these to clients, team colleagues and other professionals. There will be the opportunity for assisting in and conducting individual, family and group interventions, consultation, and staff training. The post holder will need to be organised in order to assist the psychology team in managing referrals and collecting and evaluating outcomes of interventions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Please note that this role outline serves to provide an illustrative example of the duties and responsibilities you may be expected to undertake during the course of your normal duties. It is not an exhaustive list and you will therefore be required to undertake other responsibilities and duties that are considered to be commensurate with the band.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

In addition to the above duties you will also be expected to perform the below key activities in line with your job role;
Complete mandatory training in line with Trust policy and procedures
To participate in the staff appraisal process ensuring you have an annual appraisal
To engage in regular clinical and management supervision with the qualified team Psychologists.
To keep yourself updated on all matters relating to Trust policy
You will be expected to work collaboratively with key partner organisations, service users, carers, clinicians and other practitioners within the multi-disciplinary team in delivering services