Job summaryWe are excited to have a post available for a Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP) to work in our Community Mental Health Services over 2 sites in Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard.The CAP will work alongside psychologists and therapists and other colleagues from ELFT, with partnership agencies, and the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise sector to offer trauma-informed and psychologically-informed assessment and formulation-driven brief interventions in our neighbourhood mental health services. They will work in partnership to co-design, develop and deliver a range of psychological interventions to individuals, couples, families and communities under the supervision of a registered practitioner psychologist.We are particularly keen to hear from applicants who have ties with and a commitment to working in our local area, from those with diverse backgrounds and from people with lived experience of recovery from mental health difficulties.Main duties of the jobThe post holders will work in an MDT with people who use our services and their carers to develop a shared understanding of the complex issues the person is facing, how they cope and the impact this has on their mental, physical health and well-being and those around them (psychological assessment and formulation). Under supervision, they will explore social, psychological and other potential options which may improve health outcomes and help them achieve agreed goals.The characteristics of the core population being supported in our mental health services include people with complex psychological and emotional needs who may have experienced adverse life events, and/or people who may experience psychosis. Psychological based provision is offered to the local/identified population at the individual, group, couple and family level through to teams, systems and community level.About usOur mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease see the detailed Job Description and the Person Specification attached for further information.Person SpecificationEducation/ Qualification/ TrainingEssentialoAn approved qualification in psychology conferring eligibility for graduate basis for registration with the British Psychological Society, (Class 2.2 or higher)oCompletion of BPS [British Psychological Society] accredited CAP integrated degree apprenticeship training programme that includes end-point assessment (EPA) to Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) standardsoEligibility for registration on the BPS Wider Psychological Workforce register as a Clinical Associate in PsychologyExperienceEssentialoExperience of working in a multi-disciplinary community team with service users with complex mental health needsoRelevant supervised experience of conducting psychological assessments, developing shared formulations and delivering interventions to people with complex mental health needs.DesirableoLived experience of using services, and/or being a carer for someoneoExperience of working closely with experts-by-experience, local communities, and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises, to co-produce and co-develop servicesoExperience of using a range of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, relevant to situation and service context, that draw on specialist psychological tools to collect data to evaluate own practice as well as to enhance service deliveryKnowledge and SkillsEssentialoStrong ability to engage with a variety of services and community partners and stakeholders, and to expand existing networks, nurturing and maintaining strong working relationships with stakeholders from a wide range of backgroundsoAbility to 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 understandingoAbility to assess and formulate someone's experiences and complex difficulties, needs and risks, drawing on a range of psychological models and theoryoAbility to develop and review risk assessments and formulations when working with people with complex mental health and forensic needs within scope of practiceoAbility to assess limits of professional boundaries and capacity, and to understand when to seek appropriate supervision/advice on practice and whom to refer to so as to ensure best careoKnowledge and understanding of the principles of clinical supervision, using them to provide a safe and supportive environment to reflect, review and discuss personal and professional responses to workoSkilled in continuous self-reflection, seeking and responding to support and feedback to develop professional knowledge and skillsDesirableoAbility to evaluate and audit clinical practice through conducting service evaluations/QI projects and to inform change through dissemination of findings.oAwareness of diversity of cultural norms across Bedfordshire and Luton, and the ability to respond to this appropriatelyoKnowledge and implementation of local, regional and national policyDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is 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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).Employer detailsEmployer nameEast London NHS Foundation TrustAddressGrove View Integrated Health and Care HubCourt DriveDunstableLU5 4JDEmployer's websitehttps://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)