Assistant Psychologist

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust celebrates diversity and promotes equal opportunities; we are committed to challenging and eliminating racism and other forms of discrimination and advancing and promoting equality of opportunity in the provision of services and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. We take positive action to support disadvantaged groups and also particularly encourage applications from ethnically diverse, disabled and LGBTQIA+ people that are under‑represented in our workforce.

We also welcome applications from reservists and ex‑armed forces personnel. We encourage all applicants to share their equality information with us.

To support the Integrated Mental Health Team (IMHT) in providing a high‑quality talking therapies service within HMP Liverpool, the Assistant Psychologist will deliver direct clinical work, including 1:1 and group therapy, assessment and screening for a range of mental health difficulties, as well as consultation and training opportunities.

The role involves working within the Integrated Mental Health Team (IMHT) based in the Healthcare unit at HMP Liverpool, a local Home Office Category B prison. Clients are remanded or sentenced male prisoners. The post holder will provide brief psychotherapy services under close supervision from qualified staff, and will utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development.

Given the nature of secure services, there is potential exposure to face‑to‑face verbal and physical aggression. The post holder is expected to maintain professionalism and awareness of the potential risks for patients, themselves and other colleagues, at all times.

Due to the security status of HMP Liverpool, the post holder works under the direction of the security arrangements of Her Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service/Ministry of Justice/HMP Liverpool and will be subject to prison vetting procedures.

• Assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.
• Under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist:
  • Work with potentially distressing material in relation to service users’ personal histories, possible offending behaviour, risks to self and others, and additional security requirements.
  • Undertake psychological assessments of service users, including psychometric assessments, direct and indirect structured observations and semi‑structured interviews with service users, carers and others involved in the client’s care.
  • Assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s problems.
  • Assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups.
  • Assist in the development of a psychological framework of understanding and care for all service users across all care settings.
• Attend and contribute to appropriate multi‑disciplinary meetings as directed by the qualified psychologists.
• Use a degree of initiative and work independently with service users on planned pieces of work and exercise judgment based on good practice and operating procedures.
• Receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines and directorate policy.
• Develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.
• Where appropriate, and under the supervision of qualified staff, contribute to the training and support of other staff.
• Under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist:
  • Assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.
  • Attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed as required.
  • Assist qualified clinical psychologists in the design and implementation of audit, effectiveness and research projects.
  • Undertake data collection, analysis, the production of full reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
  • Review evidence‑based literature and research to assist qualified psychologists and work with other team members in their clinical…