Job Description
1. JOB DETAILS
Job title:
Psychology Assistant CMHT (Band 4)
Accountable to
Managerially:
Team manager
Accountable to
professionally :
Psychologist CMHT
Location:
Barrow in Furness
2. JOB SUMMARY
1. To work flexibly within role as part of the CMHT providing input to adults with severe
mental health presentation.
2. To assist the Clinical Director (non-psychosis) with projects to support service
improvement Cumbria wide.
3. To support the role out of the Bulimia online self-help package.
4. To undertake a range of standardised therapeutic activities and interventions delegated
by the senior registered staff.
5. To assist registered colleagues in implementing agreed care plans, monitoring progress
and providing specific agreed interventions.
6. To record patient information within clients records in accordance with Trust policies and
procedures and ensure good communication.
7. To support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the
specialist area; contributing to standardised psychological assessment and
psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified professional practitioner
working independently according to a plan agreed within the overall framework of the
CMHT’s policies and procedures.
8. To assist in clinical related administration, gathering and processing outcome data,
conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects,
teaching and project work as required.
9. Participation in NHS initiatives and training to support continued professional
development as required.
3. ROLE OF SERVICE
The CMHT is there to support people with severe mental health problems with their
recovery. The CMHT is multi-disciplinary, including nurses, social workers, psychiatrists,
psychologists, occupational therapists, and support workers.
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4. ORGANISATIONAL CHART
Service Manager and clinical director
(non psychosis)
Consultant
Psychologist
CMHT manager
CMHT
Psychologist
Psychology Assistant
5. KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder will have strong links with:
 Patients
 CMHT staff including nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, occupatopnal
therapists, psychologists and doctors
 Voluntary Organisations
 Clinical director non psychosis
Others relating to individual patient care and agencies under the umbrella of Health and
Social care.
6. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POST
Clinical:

To undertake protocol based psychological assessment of clients applying
psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured
observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others
involved in the client’s care as appropriate .

To contribute to the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological
treatment and/or management of a client’s problem, under the supervision of a qualified
practitioner.
.

To assist in the coordination and running of standardised therapeutic groups.

To work with other staff to carry out assessments in a multi-disciplinary team context.

To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding
and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes
place.
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
To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.

Provide information on mental health resources, and contribute to the development of
such resources.

Establish a therapeutic relationship with service users/carers within appropriate
boundaries and use appropriate communication skills to overcome barriers to
understanding, particularly when service user distressed, or agitated.

Able to work unsupervised. Plans and manages own time and activities with allocated
service users within a variety of settings.


Clients will have complex needs, high risks, and in some cases challenging behaviours.

Actively promote the rights and responsibilities of service users engendering
empowerment and well being.

Promotes the rights, responsibilities and recovery of
acknowledging diversity and promoting person centred care.

Interruptions to planned activity may happen frequently throughout the day. These are
unpredictable and may mean priorities change if it is something urgent that needs to be
dealt with immediately, therefore flexibility in working required.

Follows policies and contributes to discussion on development/changes to service
provision.

Ensures that the clinical governance policies and procedures of the Trust are
implemented and maintained, including participation in reflective practice.

Maintains and updates client records in accordance with best practice and in line with
Trust governance policies. Filing of documentation in case notes as appropriate.
Ensuring confidentiality and safe custody of patients case notes, filing of documentation
in the correct order and use of case note tracking system.


Maintain the Trust’s lone worker and Health and Safety policies.

Due to the nature of the post, post holder may spend long periods throughout each day
driving.
Contribute to the setting of high standards of care and ensure that all policies and
procedures appropriate to the work of the services are adhered to. This will include
Cumbria Partnership Trust policies, National Care Standards and policies, and individual
CMHT policies and guidelines.
service
users/carers,
Maintain personal development in line with evidence & good practice, Trust
modernisation priorities and professional bodies.
Teaching, training and supervision
 To receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice
guidelines.

To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.

To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.
Management, recruitment and service development


To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the
service as required.
To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.
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IT Responsibilities (other than those used for research)

To complete necessary administration and information management tasks through the
effective use of IT systems, including database management, spreadsheets, word
processing, internet and e-mail.
Research and service evaluation

To assist in gathering outcome data and maintain a database for this purpose.

To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects, including the
evaluation of this role.

To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using
IT and statistical programmes.

To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist qualified
clinical psychologists and other colleagues in evidence based practice in individual
work and work with other team members.
General

To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional
standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training
and development programmes, in consultation with the potholder’s professional and
team/operational manager(s).

To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in
accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society, the
Health Professions Council and Trust Policies and procedures.

To prepare test materials and visual aids as required.

To undertake specific administration duties as required.

To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade, which may be
required, from time to time, by their Manager/supervisor.

To comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those
relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information.

To assist with initiatives associated with library resources available to the team.
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7. WORK SETTING AND REVIEW
The Psychology Assistant is required to work within guidelines and receives weekly
supervision and direction from their clinical supervisor. They will be responsible for
managing own case load and prioritising daily tasks within explicit parameters.
There are clear guidelines describing the clinical work that is appropriate to this role, and
access to input from this post is gate kept by senior staff on the ward together with the
Psychologist supervisor.
8. INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The post holder is expected to:





adhere to Trust policies and procedures and relevant legislation including the
requirements of the any professional bodies
attend mandatory training as identified by the Trust
identify areas for professional and personal development and actively seek
supervision/training
All staff within CAMHS are required at all times to comply with policy, as well as with
local and national guidance regarding safeguarding.
Adhere to Trust infection prevention policies, procedures, audits in line with the Health
Act 2006, to actively reduce Health Care Associated Infections
9. CONFIDENTIALITY
The post holder must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients’
staff and Trust business in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and
Caldicott principles.
10. HEALTH AND SAFETY
Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the
Health & Safety at work Act (1974), to ensure that the agreed safety procedures
are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees and visitors.
11. RISK MANAGEMENT
All staff have a responsibility to report all clinical and non-clinical accidents,
incidents or near-misses promptly and when requested to co-operate with any
investigations undertaken.
12. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
All employees of the Trust have responsibility to:
 Act in ways that support equality and value diversity.
 Treat everyone with whom they come into contact with dignity and respect.
 Act in ways that are in accordance with Trust’s Single Equality Scheme,
Equality and Diversity policy, and Dignity in the Workplace policy.
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13. SAFEGUARDING
All employees have a duty for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
and adults at risk. Staff must be familiar with the trusts Safeguarding Policy and
the process for raising concerns about the welfare of anyone with whom they have
contact. Staff must also ensure they receive the appropriate level of safeguarding
children and adult training depending on their role in the Trust.
Staff are expected to access supervision and support from their line managers
and/or the locality based safeguarding team when managing complex cases
where applicable to their role.
14. INFORMATION GOVERNANCE
The post holder must keep up to date with the requirements of information
governance; undertake mandatory training and follow Trust policies and
procedures to ensure that trust information is dealt with legally, securely, efficiently
and effectively.
It is important that the post holder processes personal identifiable information only
in accordance with the Trust Data Protection Act notification to the Information
Commissioner. The post holder must check with the Data Protection Officer
before creating new systems to process person identifiable information to ensure
that this is carried out within the scope of the Data Protection Act 1998 notification.
The post holder must manage the records they create or hold during the course of
their employment with the Trust in an appropriate way, making the records
available for sharing in a controlled manner subject to statutory requirements and
agreed security and confidentiality policies, procedures and guidelines e.g. Data
Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000, Caldicott Guidelines NHS
Confidentiality Code of Conduct 2003, and professional codes of conduct on
confidentiality.
The post holder must maintain the confidentiality of information about service user
staff and organisational business in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998
and Caldicott principles.
It is likely that the post holder will be in contact at some time with a form of
information system, and therefore are responsible for implementing and
maintaining data quality. The post holder, when making entries into records, must
ensure that these are legible and attributable and that the record keeping is
contemporaneous. It is essential that information recorded within records either
on paper, in an electronic format or both paper and electronic is accurate,
complete and relevant.
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15. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
Post holder’s signature
………………………………………..
Date
………………………………………..
Line Manager’s signature ………………………………………..
Date
………………………………………..
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
POST TITLE: CMHT Psychology Assistant (Band 4)
Factor
Essential
 Degree in Psychology with
Qualifications

Experience

Desirable
Graduate Basis for Chartered
Membership (GBC)
Care Certificate or the willingness
and ability to undertake
(applicable for all non-registered
support workers that provide
health care)
Relevant paid or voluntary work
(eg with people with mental health
problems)




Knowledge




Skills and Aptitudes





Sound knowledge of the causes

and appropriate interventions and
risks with severe mental health
problems.
An understanding of the needs and
difficulties of people with severe

mental health problems.,
An ability to apply existing
theoretical knowledge to a clinical
context

Knowledge of the principles of
CBT as applied to adult mental
health difficulties.
High levels of communication, both
written and verbal
Good team worker
Ability to adapt communication to
the needs of the patient
Ability to communicate highly
sensitive information to service
users and colleagues
General computer skills, including

Experience of people
with severe mental
health problems in
either professional or
personal life.
Experience of providing
psychological care.
Experience of delivering
manualised
psychological
approaches.
Experience of delivering
group based
interventions.
Knowledge of the
principles of Motivational
Interviewing as applied
to adult mental health
difficulties.
Knowledge of the
principles of “Problem
Solving” approaches as
applied to adult mental
health difficulties.
Knowledge of the
causes of Bulimia
nervosa, and basic
evidence based
interventions.
High standard of report
writing
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

Personal Circumstances







Other requirements

designing spread sheets
Ability to “sit with” someone
expressing significant distress
Able to self-motivate and time
manage.
An ability to interact effectively with
adults with mental health problems
An ability to interact effectively with
colleagues and staff from other
disciplines and agencies
Ability to work independently and
consistently to a high standard
Awareness of the limits of your
knowledge and skills.
An ability to reflect on yourself and
your work.
Ability to appropriately manage the
emotional demands of working
with an emotionally challenging
client group, including
appropriately seeking support.
Ability to absorb and apply new
information quickly.
Willingness to work flexibly outside
of office hours if that meets the
service need.
PERSON SPECIFICATION AGREEMENT
Post holder
………………………………………..
Date
………………………………………..
Line Manager
………………………………………..
Date
………………………………………..
Each of the above points should be considered in the light of minimum requirements
listed in the job description.
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