JOB DESCRIPTION - Psychologist
JOB TITLE:
Psychologist
Organisation
Young Foundations Ltd.
SERVICE:
Stafford Hall School
BASE:
Halifax
Line Manager:
Head Teacher
Salary :
£25,000p.a ( pro rata)
Hours :
40 Hours per Week
Job Summary
Accountable for own professional practice in the delivery of specialist psychological care to children/
young people with Autism, Learning Difficulties, Communication Difficulties and Complex Health
Needs and Challenging Behaviour.
To be compassionate in meeting the needs of clients, their carers and families.
To be pro-active in continual service improvement within own area.
Key Duties/Responsibilities
Clinical:
Provides specialist psychological assessment of children/young people with complex conditions based
on the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of data from a variety of sources.
Undertakes risk assessment and risk management for individual young people and provides specialist
advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.
Formulates plans for specialist psychological therapy and/or management of young peoples, Autism,
Learning Difficulties, Communication Difficulties and Complex Health Needs and Challenging Behaviour
evidence-based practice. Negotiates the implementation of such plans with children/ young people
and team.
Implements a range of specialist psychological therapies for individual young people and families (if
required), adjusting and refining psychological formulations as required.
Evaluates therapy options and makes decisions about treatment, in the context of the multidisciplinary team.
Provides specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other staff, contributing directly
to client’s diagnosis, formulation and intervention plan.
Communicates in a way which recognises difference and ensures that people feel included and their
individual communication needs are met.
Communicates complex and sensitive information to young people during the course of psychological
therapy where the atmosphere may be emotive, there may be barriers to understanding or the client
may react in an antagonistic manner.
Shares information relating to psychological assessment and formulation with clients, carers and
families in a responsive, empathic manner, taking into consideration the possible complexities of the
family’s circumstances and the highly sensitive nature of the information.
Communicates effectively with all professionals involved in the client’s care including all members of
the multidisciplinary team, Social Services, education providers etc. to maximise the quality of service
delivered to clients and their families.
Analyses complex client information, derived from a variety of sources including psychological and
neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured
observations and semi-structured interviews with the young person, family members and others
involved in the client’s care.
Adjusts and refines psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and
maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses.
Evaluates and makes decisions about treatment options, taking into account both theoretical and
therapeutic models and complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have
shaped the individual or family.
Responsible for maintaining appropriate boundaries with service users.
The post holder may be required to undertake duties not specified in the job description, but which
are commensurate with the role as required by service need.
The post holder may be required to work in locations other than those specified in the job description
as required by service need.
The post holder will be required to work flexible hours as required by service need.
There may be a requirement to change the job description in light of developing service needs.
Teaching, Training,
Organises own workload on a day to day basis, prioritising work as appropriate.
Assists in the development and facilitation of in service training.
Policy and service development:
Ensures that new or revised policies and procedures are put into practice.
Pro-active in identifying and proposing changes to local procedures and working practices in own area
and plays a significant role in implementation.
Pro-active in identifying and proposing safety, quality and service improvements within own work
area.
Participates in the development, monitoring and evaluation of service improvements in own area.
Governance
Maintains an active engagement with current developments in the field of psychology and related
disciplines and utilises theory, evidenced based literature and research to support evidence-based
practice in individual work and work with other team members.
Professional standards and guidelines:
Uses available resources efficiently and effectively.
Uses psychological test equipment.
Works within the Professional Codes of Conduct of the Health Care Professions Council and the British
Psychological Society.
Uses discretion as appropriate in applying clinical/professional policies.
Information Technology:
May be required to undertake administrative tasks in relation to own work.
Uses Microsoft Office applications on a daily basis.
Responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive records using
IT in accordance with the organisation and professional record keeping standards.
Writes reports for other members of the multidisciplinary team and external parties regarding
children/young people related matters.
Uses psychometric testing software packages.
May use software packages for statistical analysis.
Personal duty of care.
Specialist/technical requirements
Knowledge and experience of administering, interpreting and drawing conclusions from a wide range
of psychometric tests.
Personal Responsibility
As the Psychologist you must take a personal responsibility for ensuring you cater for your own training
needs, and that you remain aware of all current issues in your field of work. You are expected to discuss
your work in supervision and appraisal (Performance Development Reviews) with the Head Teacher.
SAFEGUARDING
Young Foundations is committed to the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of all children and
young people in our care. All staff have a key role and responsibility in this area. As Deputy Head of Care
you are required to lead on safeguarding/support staff in the same
This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure check.
Due to the nature of your work, circumstances may arise which are unpredictable and you may be required
to carry out duties that are not outlined in this Job Description but are requested by the Head of Care Head
or Deputy Head Teacher. On such occasions we will strive to give you adequate notice and guidance of
these duties.
REVIEW
This job description will be reviewed at least once per year and may be subject to amendment or
modification at any time after consultation with the post holder. It is not a comprehensive statement of
procedures and tasks but sets out the main expectations of the establishment in relation to the post
holder's professional responsibilities, duties and grading.