JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Salary: Locality: Responsible to: Liaison with: Educational Psychologist Soulbury Scale A, Points 2-7 (Pro rata). Up to three SPA points can be offered Various Settings Principal Psychologist Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, other Psychologists, Head Teachers and Registered Managers 2. Job Summary 2.1 Accountable for own professional practice in the delivery of specialist psychological support to young people with highly complex needs, which may include challenging behaviours. 2.2 To provide support and training to staff supporting children young people in our settings. 2.3 To be pro-active in continual service improvement within own area. 3. Main Duties and Responsibilities 3.1 Clinical Responsibilities 3.1.1 Provides specialist psychological assessment of young people with highly complex needs based on the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of information from a variety of sources. 3.1.2 Provides consultation, advice and support to school staff and liaises particularly with the SENCo. 3.1.3 Formulate plans for specialist psychological therapy and/or management of young persons mental health conditions based upon an appropriate conceptual framework and evidence-based practice. Negotiate the implementation of such plans with young people and staff in the settings.
3.1.4 Implement a range of specialist psychological therapies for individuals, groups, care staff and families as appropriate. 3.1.5 Undertakes skilled evaluations and makes decisions about possible interventions. 3.1.6 Provides specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other staff contributing directly to the young persons' diagnosis, formulation and intervention plan. 3.1.7 Facilitates decision-making by planning and mapping processes/ interventions with other staff to determine the most appropriate intervention options. 3.1.8 Works in partnership with external professionals and agencies. 3.1.9 To maintain professional registration and memberships relevant to the profession. 3.2 Administrative Responsibilities 3.2.1 May be required to undertake administrative tasks in relation to own work. 3.2.2 Uses Microsoft Office applications on a daily basis. 3.3 Responsibility for Information Systems 3.3.1 Responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive records for each young person in accordance with the Witherslack Group and professional record keeping standards. 3.3.2 Write high quality reports for other members of the multi-disciplinary team and external parties providing information regarding the assessment and identified targeted support for each young person. 3.4 Responsibility for Planning/Organising & Strategic/Business Development 3.4.1 Organise own workload on a day-to-day basis, prioritising work as appropriate.
3.5 Policy Development 3.5.1 Ensure that new or revised policies and procedures are communicated effectively and put into practice. 3.5.2 Pro-active in identifying and proposing changes to local procedures and working practices in own area and plays a significant role in implementation. 3.5.3 Participates in the development, monitoring and evaluation of operational and professional policies in own area. 3.7 Financial Responsibilities 3.7.1 Personal duty of care. 3.8 Responsibility for Physical Resources, Estates, Hotel Services 3.8.1 Has a personal duty of care to ensure all equipment is used safely and effectively, following manufacturer s instructions, immediately reporting any defects in accordance with local procedures. 3.8.2 Uses available resources efficiently and effectively. 3.8.3 Uses psychological test equipment. 3.9 Staff Management, Training and Development, HR 3.9.1 Provides support to less experienced staff in the Therapeutic Team and staff in other Group settings. 3.9.2 Provides training to members of the school, multi-disciplinary team and care staff as appropriate. 3.9.3 Professionally oversees the clinical work of assistant psychologists as required, including work allocation, checking record keeping and quality of assessments and interventions delivered. 4. Communication 4.1 Communicates in a way which recognises difference and ensures that people feel included and their individual communication needs are met. 4.2 Shares information relating to psychological assessment and formulation with young people, staff 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.
4.3 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 young person may react in an antagonistic manner. 4.4 Communicates effectively with all professionals involved in the young person's care including: All members of the therapeutic team School staff Care Staff External Professionals Social Services 5. Analysis and Judgement 5.1 Analyses complex information about the young person, derived from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semistructured interviews with the young person, care staff, family members, when appropriate and others involved in the young person's care. 5.2 Adjusts and refines psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses. 5.3 Evaluates and makes decisions about possible interventions, taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group. 6. Freedom to Act 6.1 Works as an autonomous practitioner accountable for own professional practice in respect of assessment and therapy within defined caseload. 6.2 Works within the British Psychological Society and Health and Care Professions Council Professional Codes of Conduct. 6.3 Professionally accountable to the Principal Psychologist. 6.4 Uses significant discretion as appropriate in applying clinical/professional policies. 7. Personal Responsibilities 7.1 Adhere to the terms of the contract of employment 7.2 Be aware of, adhere to and keep up to date with all Witherslack Group Policies and Procedures and other communications relevant to the role.
7.3 Maintain registration with the appropriate professional body where applicable and adhere to the relevant code of conduct and standards of professional practice. 7.4 Fully participate in management, clinical and professional supervision sessions relevant to the role, as required by the Witherslack Group. 7.5 Fully participate in annual appraisal and appraisal reviews. 8. General The post holder must: 8.1 Adhere to the Witherslack Group s Information Governance Policies and maintain confidentiality of information at all times in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act. 8.2 Adhere to the Witherslack Group s Health and Safety Policy and risk management procedures and report as necessary any untoward incident or hazardous event in accordance with local procedure. 8.3 Carry out the duties of the post with due regard to the Equality and Diversity Policy. 8.4 Be aware of and adhere to the Witherslack Group Safeguarding policy and protocols as relevant to the role. 9. Other Responsibilities 9.1 The post holder may be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the role and/or band as required by business need, not specified in the job description 9.2 The post holder may be required to work in locations other than those specified in the job description as required by business need 9.3 There may be a requirement to change the job description in light of developing service needs.
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Educational Psychologist Personal Specification Essential Qualification A degree in Psychology or equivalent as recognised by the BPS for graduate membership Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) An approved qualification in Educational Psychology Desirable Method of Assessment Additional qualifications/ specialist training Application Form Interview References Experience Experience in working with young people with complex social, emotional, mental health and learning needs Experience of producing high quality psychological assessments. Working with a multi-disciplinary team/ external agencies Skills/Knowl Ability to work as part of a team. edge Excellent written and verbal communication skills Commitment to supporting the ethos of the Witherslack Group Knowledge of the safeguarding of young people Knowledge of appropriate assessment tools for young people with complex needs. Ability to provide consultation for staff Experience of working in a challenging environment Experience of using an information database Awareness of a range of appropriate interventions for individuals and groups Awareness of the recent legislation and its implications Awareness of the importance of individual casework within a range of approaches Application Form Interview References Application form Selection Process Pre-employment checks Personal Qualities Excellent communication skills, both written and oral Ability to relate to young people Good organisational skills, time management and ability to work under pressure Evidence of self-motivation Evidence of CPD Evidence of commitment and enthusiasm Evidence of innovative ideas Application form Selection Process Pre-employment checks