Job Description

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people's and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.



We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and want to reflect the diversity of our local communities within our teams. We welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience

Please note, NSFT uses tools to screen any applications generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Job overview

We are delighted to be able to bring to advert the role of a Clinical Associate Psychologist in our West Suffolk Dementia Intensive Support Team (DIST).



We are inviting applicants both from qualified Band 6 CAPS, and also those who would like to train to qualify as a CAP. We are able to offer the apprenticeship pathway in conjunction with EPUT-University of Essex providing the academic training on their Health, Ageing and Disability CAP pathway.



In the case of a Trainee CAP, the successful candidate will initially start in a Band 5 CAP apprentice role at the start of the apprenticeship programme in November 2025. The CAP Apprenticeship is an eighteen-month full-time training divided between work-based experience (up to 4 days per week) and academic teaching and study, which leads to a Masters level qualification. If successful in training, on qualification, the post will be converted to a Band 6 CAP role.



CAPs are trained to work with a particular service user group and in this case with Older adults, some of whom are living with complex mental health problems, and the majority will be living with dementia, as well carers for these people.

Main duties of the job

The CAP role in DIST is fully integrated within an extremely responsive and compassionate multi-disciplinary team, and you will be supervised by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Neuropsychologist throughout your training. The focus of DIST is to support people who are living with a diagnosis of dementia, or suspected dementia, whether in their own home, or a care home, at times of increased distress. Their role is to identify the stressors both within and around the person with dementia, develop individualised intervention plans to reduce the stress and distress, as well as support the family or paid carers. The aim is to improve people's quality of life, re-connect them with their personhood and values, extend their time living in their home, and reduce the likelihood of them having to leave their home or be admitted to hospital.



The CAP role will provide assessments, formulations and interventions for adults living with dementia, with some work with carers and family members alongside this or individually. DIST benefits from having close relationships with its sister teams within the wider West Suffolk Older People's services, and the CAP will be part of the Older People's psychology group; benefitting from monthly peer supervision, access to neuropsychology supervision groups and monthly CPD training.

Working for our organisation

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us?

We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

Why Norfolk and Suffolk?

The people here are warm and welcoming, you'll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We're an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The DIST team covers the West Suffolk geographical area, with the team base in Bury St Edmunds. We have additional clinical bases in Newmarket, Sudbury, Thetford and Haverhill; although most clinical work is delivered to people in their home. Access to a vehicle and a full driving licence is therefore essential for this role.



We are particularly keen to hear from applicants with a Psychology degree who have a commitment to working in the local region, from those with diverse backgrounds and from people who bring lived experience relevant to dementia care work. Ideally we would wish to recruit someone with familiarity in working with Older People, and a passion for specialising their career with Older People. The CAP role is a new psychology career path in its own right, and is not intended as a stepping stone to another post. The selection process will aim to recruit those suitable for and committed to training for this role who are not currently enrolled on another publicly funded training that will not be complete by the time of commencement in post. Please be aware that Health Education England introduced limitations that restrict access to publicly funded training courses until two years post qualification in another publicly funded programme. This affects programmes such as PWP, High Intensity CBT training, CAPs and Clinical Psychology.

Please see the attached and Eligibility Criteria for full details.

Please do make contact if you would like an informal discussion, with Dr Rebecca Poz,

Person specification

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Qualifications

Essential criteria

Bachelors degree in Psychology accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as conferring Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBS), or Bachelors degree plus master degree, or PGDip in Psychology accredited by the BPS as conferring GBC (minimum 2:2)

Desirable criteria

Demonstrate ability to study at masters level #

Experience

Essential criteria

Demonstrate the ability to reflect, review and discuss personal and professional responses to work

Desirable criteria

Demonstrate experience of managing conflicting information or emotive and challenging situations in a healthcare setting #

Skills

Essential criteria

Communicate effectively, share information and check understanding using clear language and appropriate, written materials, making reasonable adjustments where appropriate in order to optimise people's understanding #

Other

Essential criteria

Dedicated in treating patients with dignity, respecting individuals' diversity, beliefs, culture, needs, values, privacy and preferences

YOUR APPLICATION



We can provide all our job application materials in alternative formats so that these are accessible to everyone. Should you require any documents within this job pack in an alternative format, please do not hesitate to contact us at recruitment@nsft.nhs.uk.



PLEASE NOTE: If you use a hotmail, msn or yahoo e-mail account, you will need to check your "junk" mail regularly as these email providers will divert any communication from this Trust/NHS JOBS straight into your " junk" inbox.


EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES Apart from its legal duties in relation to equality and diversity, the Trust recognises and actively promotes the benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.


As a part of the Disability Confident Employer Guaranteed Interview Scheme we interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job vacancy (outlined in the Person Specification).. We encourage you to indicate your eligibility through TRAC jobs when applying.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post may be subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.