Assistant Psychologist | Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

We have an exciting opportunity for a full time enthusiastic and dynamic Assistant Psychologist (Band4) to join Blackpool Parent-Infant Relationship service (PaIRS) . This is a fixed term post for 1 year.

Blackpool PaIRS provides specialist assessment and intervention for parents/ primary care givers and their children 0-5 yrs, that live within the Blackpool area. The administrative base for this post is Kirkham Clinic, Kirkham

The successful candidate must be passionate about working with infants and their primary care givers. The role will centre around supporting the primary care givers (antenatally/postnatally) and infant to develop physically and emotionally and nurture their developing relationship and attachment.

All activities undertaken by the Assistant Psychologist will be at the discretion/delegation of the Clinical Psychologists within the team, and after appropriate in-service training has been given and level of competency demonstrated.

It will include working independently according to the work plan devised together with the clinical psychologist and within the overall framework of the Parent-Infant Relationship Service polices and procedures.

Support the delivery of a parent infant mental health service to local babies and their parents and carers.

The job will involve supporting the promotion and awareness of the importance of parent infant mental health through supporting our workforce development offer (both digital and face to face), contributing to our social media presence and developing and distributing promotional material.

The role will support with the delivery of a clinical service to babies and families through developing and delivering group work, developing resources (digital and hard copies), and supporting clinicians with their clinical work.

It will involve contributing to the evaluation of service activity and delivery by collecting, analysing and summarising data for reporting and clinical purposes.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is ideally situated just a forty five minute drive from Manchester. The Trust provides services to the 440,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and North Lancashire, as well as specialist tertiary care for Cardiac and Haematology patients.

As one of the United Kingdom's largest coastal resort, Blackpool has plenty to offer its residents - it's not just a good place to work; it's a great place to live. In addition to its bustling centre and historic seafront, the town is world famous for its many attractions, including the famous Blackpool Tower. Blackpool also offers a number of scenic cycling routes round our local parks and across the surrounding countryside, as well as boasting panoramic views of the coast on its picturesque Promenade. Further afield, Blackpool also benefits from less than three-hour connections via rail to Edinburgh in the north and London in the south.
1. To undertake clearly defined clinical tasks, such as observations, patient interviews surveys / feedback, low level clinical work under closely monitored supervision within the level of own competence and under supervision
2. Working with the parent-infant population and their families and associated professional networks
3. To collect data for research and audit purposes
4. To develop and maintain database of collected data and undertake appropriate statistical analyses.
5. To keep up to date and accurate records of treatment provided
6. To maintain test equipment/materials and other clerical support duties as required.
7. To maintain patient records and other paperwork relating to patient care.
8. To be aware of and comply with the Service and Trust's operational and professional guidelines, policies and procedures.
9. To have responsibility for the Health, Safety and Welfare of self and others in the working environment, and follow safe working practices and to comply at all times with the Trust's Health and Safety Policies and Procedures.
10. To ensure confidentiality on all matters relating to patients and information obtained during the course of employment, and not release such information to anyone else other than those acting in an official capacity.
11. To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibility and scale of the Post.
12. To participate in the Trust's staff development and performance review scheme.
13. The post holder will support service user participation initiatives which may require some evening and weekend work

Personal
1. Fully participate in the appraisals and personal development review process.
2. Maintain and develop own skills and knowledge. Undertake all mandatory training to ensure knowledge is current and complies with Trust policy.
3. Maintain appropriate professional appearance at all times.

General
1. To undertake any other reasonable duty, which is appropriate to the band, when requested by Senior Staff.
2. To be familiar with and comply with all Trust and departmental policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines.

This job description is not exhaustive, but is intended to give an overall picture of the role. Other duties within the general scope of the post may be required from time to time. The duties of the post and job description can be reviewed through the agreed process.

1. Long periods of sitting and computer work on a daily basis (up to eight hours a day), when working face to face with clients and travelling out into the community.
2. Ability to travel independently in the community.

The postholder must be a fully licensed car driver and have use of car.

Mental Effort
1. Prolonged periods of concentration when managing clients, assessing problems and formulating appropriate treatment plans with guidance.
2. Communicating information in situ and in a way that meets the needs of the recipient.
3. Ability to cope with unexpected interruptions, or unpredictable behaviours by clients.
4. Cognitively multi-task and plan ahead for a variety of complex tasks.
5. Analyse the impact of an individual's situation and interactions with others to formulate the appropriate treatment.

The post holder will be expected to organize their own day to day work tasks and activities and will be expected to plan activity and make appropriate judgments regarding urgency. Guidance will be provided via fortnightly supervision with the Senior Clinical Psychologist in PaIRS. There is opportunity to bring current clients to the weekly multi-agency team meeting.

Emotional Effort
1. Ability to cope with distressed service users; to cope with challenging behaviours, attitudes, verbal abuse and aggression.
2. Managing frequent highly distressing or emotional circumstances, including family breakdown, serious mental illness and debilitating conditions, child and adult neglect and abuse, etc.

Working Conditions
1. To work from various settings including clinics, clients homes, various community venues., Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.