Adult mental health Services

North Area Psychological Services

Band 5 Assistant Clinical Psychologist

Acute and Crisis Care Pathway

37.5 hours per week, FTC until 31st Dec 2021

Based at Parklands Hospital, Basingstoke

If you are someone who wants to deliver the best possible care and be part of a team committed to supporting its staff, patients and carers then we are the job opportunity you are looking for. We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and highly motivated Assistant Psychologist to join our established and skilled Acute and Crisis Care pathway. It is of note that this is a senior assistant psychologist post. Applicants must have paid experience of working as an assistant psychologist (minimum Band 4),and preferably experience of working with individuals presenting with severe mental illness. Acute care is a busy and vibrant setting to work in, but also demands the ability to work flexibly and responsively.

Mid and North Hampshire has adopted an innovative model in providing psychological therapies within acute care based on Comprehend, Cope and Connect model. This involves the delivery of groups and individual work within the recovery model, focusing on skills acquisition and self-management. The CCC is aimed at those who are in the midst of an acute crisis and/or suffer from a severe mental health problem, including those with personality disorders and psychosis.

The acute service comprises of an acute ward, a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) and a Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment team (CRHT), which provides acute mental health care to individuals in a community setting (i.e. at home). We are looking for anassistantpsychologistto work primarily within CRHT, however, also support delivery of the group programme on the acute mental health wards. Duties will involve coordinating and co-facilitating skills groups and undertaking research into the effectiveness of the programme (including the possibility for publication). There will also be opportunities for individual clinical work, dependent on the skills and experience of the successful applicant.

The post-holder will work under the supervision of a Band 8a Counselling Psychologistand will join a team consisting of a Band 8b Principal Psychologist, a Band 7PsychologicalTherapist and 3 Assistant Psychologists. In addition, the role will involve working closely with the teams within the acute mental health services. We are fortunate that the post holder will join a psychologically minded multidisciplinary team to support the recovery of our service users. As a team, we are committed to working with and supporting the wider team to develop and implement their psychological skills.

The acute psychology team forms part of the wider Mid and North Area Psychological Therapies Team of Clinical Psychologists and Therapists and there will be opportunities to work with the larger team. We have well established clinical supervision structures, as well as good links with the Doctoral Programme in ClinicalPsychologyat Southampton University. We have supported assistants in their applications for clinical training and provide placements for trainee clinical psychologists from Southampton University.

The post will be based at Parklands Hospital in Basingstoke, although some travel may be required.

If you would like to find out more about the post please contact Dr Justyna Fila, Principal Clinical Psychologiston 01256 376 403 or

Closing date for applications: after 30 applications limit is reached.

Interview date: 2nd March 2021

Happy to talk flexible working- all requests for flexible and part time working will be considered.

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