Job Description

Please note, at this stage, the role is open only to internal staff (including NHSP and Agency staff currently on placement within our organisation) and staff substantively employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). Any individual who is at risk of redundancy will be given priority, provided they meet the essential criteria.



We are delighted to be able to offer a fixed term opportunity for those wishing to join us working within Older People's Psychological Services. We are seeking an enthusiastic Assistant Psychologist, who is able to recognise and reflect upon personal and societal bias along a range of dimensions and difference.



We are committed to increasing diversity within clinical psychology. As such, we welcome applications from people from backgrounds that are currently under-represented in the profession.



The successful applicant will be placed in Thanet.



You will work with multidisciplinary teams under the supervision of a qualified psychologist offering psychological assessment, psychological/psychosocial interventions and working independently according to a plan agreed with qualified staff.



You will have the opportunity to be involved in providing individual and group work, working with carers and the wider team.



You will be required to work full time, Monday to Friday, travelling between multiple sites, attending meetings across Kent and, where necessary, undertaking home visits in a timely and efficient manner are all essential parts of the role.



Please note these positions are only open to Psychology Graduates who are eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society (BPS).

To be successful in this role you will:

Need to have a positive attitude towards ageing and older age and towards those who are living with dementia.



Already be confident in administering and interpreting neuropsychological assessments, or you will be a quick learner when it comes to picking up such skills, under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist.



Be a person who enjoys working in teams with other professional groups and values the contribution that other professionals bring.



Have strong organisational, time management and professional communication/writing skills.



Demonstrate the ability to engage with a wide variety of service users, their family members and multidisciplinary staff.



Bring a positive and flexible approach to your work.



We realise it can be difficult to embark on careers in psychological professions and we hope that by offering these posts, psychology graduates will have the opportunity to gain a wealth of valuable and relevant professional experience, to support career progression in the psychological professions. In these roles you will learn skills and gain experience which we hope will help support your career progression in the psychological professions.



We are the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway. Our teams support adults with a wide range of mental health needs. Because we cover the whole county and both hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the 1.8 million people of Kent and Medway. Rated 'Good' by the CQC, we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year.

Our vision is simple:

We are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. And everything we do is guided by our values caring, inclusive, curious and confident.



Join us - if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's doing well together.



You will work as part of the Older Peoples Psychological Therapies team, alongside Community Mental Health Teams & mainly in Memory services, enhancing the provision of psychological approaches for Older People. The role will include neuropsychological assessments (as part of dementia diagnostic processes) as well as individual and group therapeutic work.



There will also be opportunities to work with families and carers, colleagues from other professional backgrounds and external agencies. There will be opportunities to contribute to service evaluation and audit projects. You will benefit from high quality clinical and managerial supervision. Participation in a range of available CPD activities, as well as peer support, will be encouraged. The post holders will be part of the Kent & Medway Older Peoples Psychology Service, which includes clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, art therapists, music therapists, counselling psychologists, trainee psychologists, clinical associate psychologists, assistant psychologists and psychology placement students.



This is a varied and busy post, which will provide you with opportunities to learn and develop invaluable skills, both clinically and organisationally. We have a good track record of previous Assistant Psychologists gaining places on the Clinical Psychology doctorate courses after their posts with us.



Please note - the advert may be closed early if there is a high volume of suitable applicants.



Please see the attached job description for full details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role.