Assistant Psychologist - Early Interventions Team

The Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) Team in South Staffordshire are pleased to advertise this opportunity to recruit a Band 4 Assistant Psychologist on a fixed-term 12-month contract to work within the ‘At Risk Mental State’ (ARMS) branch of the EIP service.

ARMS is a speciality within EIP that works with people across the county of South Staffordshire who are aged 14-35 and considered to have an ‘at risk mental state’ and may be vulnerable to experiencing their first episode of psychosis (FEP). As a relatively new development within EIP nationally, being part of ARMS is an exciting opportunity to work preventatively in mental health.

• To support and enhance the professional psychological care of service users by assisting qualified practitioners in the delivery and evaluation of cost-effective services that meet Trust and Directorate objectives, national strategic and policy guidelines, commissioner requirements and user and carer needs and expectations.
• To support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the service, providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions including group work, under the close supervision of a qualified Practitioner Psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with the Practitioner Psychologist and within the overall framework of the service’s policies and procedures.
• To work with inpatients, outpatients and staff of the South Staffordshire Mental Health Services.
• To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, and development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.

MPFT provides physical and mental health care, learning disability, and adult social care services across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. In addition, we provide services on a wider regional and national basis. We serve a population of 1.5 million and employ around 8,500 members of staff.

By joining MPFT you will become part of a diverse and inclusive team who are empowered and supported to deliver care in a way which is consistent with our values:

• putting people at the heart of what we do
• empowering people to improve care and wellbeing
• delivering better health, better care in partnership

We are embedding values based and inclusive recruitment practices to ensure that all applicants, from any backgrounds, from under-represented groups, such as black, Asian or other ethnic groups, individuals with a disability, or LGBTQ+ individuals. All have an equal chance of success in achieving a role with us.

We will support your career development and progression. Membership of the excellent NHS pension scheme, generous maternity, paternity, adoption leave, pay and the option for flexible working. You will receive up to 27 days annual leave (increasing to 33 days) and the opportunity to purchase additional annual leave.

We are also proud to have a choice of staff networks that help you meet like-minded people.

Check out our videos showcasing why you should grow your career here with us at MPFT:

Why Work for Mental Health Services at MPFT - YouTube

Development and Progression Within Mental Health Services at MPFT - YouTube

The ARMS care team are a psychology-led multidisciplinary group that advocate for formulation led (rather than diagnosis led) interventions. This means the client is at the heart of what we do. The successful applicant will demonstrate the principles of recovery in their practice; working within a multi-disciplinary team to support and develop people’s strengths and positive qualities, ensuring the care we deliver is respectful and meaningful to each client and reflect the individual experience of recovery. Alongside specific psychological interventions with individuals and groups, the role also entails supporting the work of the team as a whole and a degree of flexibility and initiative is expected.

We take a team around the client approach, so work collectively to provide clients with a tailored multidisciplinary package of support that champions the role of psychosocial interventions to reduce distress and promote social/occupational functioning and wellbeing. As such, candidates will be passionate about the role of therapies in recovery and will value the benefits of teamwork.

The team provides input to people across South Staffordshire, working out of bases in Cannock, Stafford, Lichfield and Burton, as well as people’s homes, GP surgeries, other public settings, and occasionally inpatient settings. Therefore, the successful applicant must be able to travel across the geographical area.

We encourage candidates to bring their authentic selves to work, and as such value applicants from diverse backgrounds and with varied experiences. As we anticipate a high volume of applicants, we reserve the right to close this advert early. However, we would love to talk to you about this role and our service; please feel free to get in touch either before or after you make an application – Dr. Anna Hooper (Principal Clinical Psychologist) 0300 303 3427, Anna.Hooper@mpft.nhs.uk or Celeste Callaghan (Operational Lead) 0300 303 3428, Celeste.Callaghan@mpft.nhs.uk.