Role

Assistant Psychologist

Duration of Post

Temporary fixed term 12 months

Location

Children Disability Network Team (CDNT-5) based in Rossecourt, Lucan.

Reporting Relationship

Reports to Senior Psychologist /line manager Children Network Disability Manager as directed

Job Purpose

To provide family-centered and quality-driven psychology assistant services as part of an interdisciplinary team and in alignment with standards, guidelines and policies.

Scope of the Role

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work within an interdisciplinary team, providing quality services to children and young adults between ages of 0-18 based on the family centred model of practice.

The brief of the post will be working with children in CDNT 5 in Stewart’s Care which is the lead agency for two CDNT’s (CDNT5 and 6) in line with HSE Progressing Children’s Disability Services (PDS). These teams are based in Palmerstown and Rossecourt, Lucan. Flexibility will be required by the post-holder to meet the needs of the children supported by the organisation.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Duties

  • Assistant Psychologist will be supervised by Senior Psychologist in the CDNT 5 team

  • Support clinical interventions in line with evidence based practice for service users and their families as lead by the Senior psychologist

  • Undertake systematic observations and functional assessments

  • Record and evaluate interventions and training programmes as guided by the Senior psychologist

  • Assist with client and family training and programme implementation.

  • The candidate will develop their skills within the role to become a positive influence on the team and service users

  • To develop report writing skills and provide information to other professionals under the direct supervision of Senior Psychologist

  • To conduct and evaluate research directly aligned with service provision

  • Work within limits of competence in line with principles of best practice, and clinical governance

Education & Training

  • Maintain mandatory training compliance as advised by Stewarts Care.

  • Actively engage in induction, supervision, mentoring, appraisal, clinical reflection and reflective practice.

  • Partake in career and personal development planning

  • Maintain own professional development and competence.

  • Contribute to and participate in psychology and other relevant interdisciplinary education sessions.

  • Abide by the code of ethics of the Psychological Society of Ireland?

Administrative

  • Keep up to date records, reports and statistics as required.

  • Be conversant with and comply with all relevant GDPR requirements

  • Respect and maintain confidentiality of service users and colleagues’ information.

  • Engage in service planning and performance management activities

  • Represent the service at meetings and conferences as delegated.

Health & Safety

  • Comply with the policies, procedures and safe professional practice of the Irish Healthcare System by adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standards

  • Assist in the development, implementation and review of the department’s Health and Safety statement, as appropriate

  • Document appropriately and report any near misses, hazards and accidents and bring them to the attention of the relevant person(s)

  • Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others

  • Be aware of risk management issues, identify risks and take appropriate action

  • Support a culture that values diversity and respect

Qualifications & Experience

Candidates must meet the following criteria relevant to the role:

Essential Criteria

Have a Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) accredited qualification at not less than a Level 8 at 2.1 honours grade on the QQI qualifications framework in which psychology was a major subject

Or

A Level 8 honours degree in another subject ( 2.1) or higher) together with an accredited conversation qualification at a minimum of ( 2.1) as conferring eligibility for graduate membership of the Psychological Association of Ireland

Or

A qualification equivalent to the above accredited by the British Psychological Society for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

And

Demonstrate competence in the area of working with children and families with disabilities

Possess the requisite knowledge and ability, including a high standard of suitability and ability, for the proper discharge of the office

Knowledge of the relevant children and disability-related legislation and standards of practice.

Have a full clean driving license and access to a car.

Remuneration

Remuneration is in accordance with the Department of Health consolidated pay scales

Salaries and increments are paid in accordance with DOH scales

The (single-point) salary scale for the post is at (01/10/2021): €27,366 per annum

Annual leave

The annual leave associated with the post will be confirmed at contracting stage.

Working week

The allocation of these hours will be at the discretion of the CDNM and in accordance with the needs of the service

Probation

All employees will be subject to a probationary period of 6 months, with an extension if required to 9 months. This probationary period applies to all employees irrespective of their role or type of role.

Garda Vetting

Stewarts will carry out garda vetting on all new employees. An employee will not take up employment with the organisation until the garda vetting process has been completed and the organisation is satisfied that such an appointment does not pose a risk to the Service Users and employees.

References

Stewarts will seek up to two written references from current and previous employers, educational institutions or any other organisation with which the candidate has been associated. Stewarts reserves the right to determine the merit, appropriateness and relevance of such references and referees.