Trainee Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP)

St Andrew’s Healthcare – Northampton, Neuropsychiatry Division

Trainee Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP)

37.5 Hours per week

£25,524 - £28,420 (Depending on Experience)

We are pleased to offer this opportunity for this new type of Psychology role and training: an apprenticeship post known as a Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP).

Clinical Associates in Psychology are graduate psychologists (with a completed degree in Psychology or equivalent conversion course) who fill an identified skills gap between Assistant Psychologists and HCPC Practitioner Psychologists. This apprenticeship programme enables talented psychology graduates to access clinical roles where they can be trained ‘on-the-job’ in delivering high quality, evidence-based psychological interventions within the Neuropsychiatry Division of St Andrew’s Healthcare, Northampton.

Applications are invited for two Band 5 Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP) apprenticeship posts to work in the Neuropsychiatry Division based in Northampton. The expected start for the apprenticeship programme is October 2024 and you will join a CAP training programme at Exeter University.  The CAP Apprenticeship is paid at Band 5 equivalent and is an eighteen month full-time training divided between work-based experience (up to 4 days per week), and academic teaching and study. The apprentice will achieve a Masters level qualification. Once this qualification has been obtained, you will be eligible for transfer to a permanent Clinical Associate in Psychology role (NHS pay scale Band 6). There will be a commitment to remain in this post (CAP) for a minimum of 2 years post qualification.

The post holders will play an important role in the delivery of psychological assessment, behaviour support, and ward team training and supervision support contributing to our patients’ care journey, and in the delivery of a range of evidence- based psychological interventions.  Throughout your employment with the Charity, you will receive regular supervision from a qualified Clinical Psychologist and will work within an agreed scope of practice, although we expect this to change and develop as your skills and experience increase. 

Evidence of an existing interest, commitment to and experience of working in an area relevant to neurodisability and behaviour that challenges is required. Although we will welcome applications from all psychology graduates, please note that if you are considering applying for a Clinical Psychology or other doctoral level training course now or within the next three years, it would not be advisable to apply for the CAP Programme at this stage. This is because it involves a time commitment beyond the initial training period of the apprenticeship of a further two years before being able to access more NHS training financial support. The CAP programme can offer a career pathway to doctoral training as a Practitioner Psychologist after the first two years post CAP qualification are completed.

In the Dementia Service you could be contributing to creation of a service based around the Enhanced Model of Dementia Care, and the service model of a ‘Dementia Village’. In the Brain Injury Service you could be contributing to our neurobehavioural rehabilitation and socialising of RAID (Reinforce Appropriate Implode Disruptive) as its main vehicle.  Co-production with patients will be key to our CAP posts, as will close working with your ward teams.  

While these posts are at the forefront of change, the post holders will be a welcome member of our well established and highly respected psychological services.  

Relationships are excellent between psychologists, our multi-disciplinary colleagues, and senior management. We also have active and positive working relationships with psychology colleagues in our Research and Academic Departments.

For more information about this opportunity please contact Keith Jenkins (Lead Psychologist, Neuropsychiatry Division) on 01604 616459 or by email at kjenkins@stah.org 

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 10th July 2024

INTERVIEWS WILL BE ON: 17th July 2024 (when applying, please ensure that you can be available for interview on this date)