Assistant Psychologist-gameChange VR project,Psychological Professions
Job summary
We are recruiting an Assistant Psychologist to work across two innovative projects within Oxford Health.
The role is split equally between supporting the Psychological Professions Workforce Lead on workforce development projects and contributing to a pilot programme delivering Virtual Reality (VR) interventions for people experiencing psychosis across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
This role is ideal for someone interested in psychological approaches to psychosis, workforce development, and the use of digital technologies in mental health care. You will work closely with psychological professionals, multidisciplinary teams, and research colleagues while gaining experience across a range of clinical and strategic projects.
This is an opportunity to develop your skills while supporting the future of the psychological workforce and digitally enabled mental health services.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will support the Psychological Professions Workforce Lead, contributing to workforce development projects, communications, data collection and analysis, and the delivery of continuing professional development and training initiatives across the Trust.
Working alongside the Oxford Adult Mental Health team, the postholder will support the delivery of an innovative Virtual Reality (VR) programme for people experiencing psychosis. Responsibilities will include managing and triaging referrals, assessing suitability for VR interventions, undertaking clinical and research assessments, supporting training and intervention delivery, and contributing to the monitoring and evaluation of outcomes.
The postholder will also contribute to the local delivery of a multi-site implementation study of gameChange VR, an evidence-based VR therapy designed to reduce anxiety and avoidance in everyday situations for people experiencing psychosis.
About us
Please note that this role will require us to undertake a DBS check as a part of your onboarding.
Give yourself the best chance of success by reviewing our Applicant Guide before applying. Your supporting statement should clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria for the role.
Oxford Health delivers physical, mental health and social care services across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset. Our vision is "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team", and our values are Caring, Safe and Excellent.
We are proud to offer a supportive working environment with opportunities for career progression, learning and development, generous annual leave, pension benefits, wellbeing initiatives and staff networks
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the detailed job description and guidance attached for further information on this role.
Main job description and responsibilities include:
- Under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist, to form excellent relationships with adult mental health teams across the counties of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, to help clients access the game Change virtual reality (VR) intervention.
- To assist the project lead in the day-to-day running of the pilot implementation programme of virtual reality approaches.
- To screen and recruit clients into the game Change VR trial. This will involve: speaking to referrers regularly, including clinical team members and Oxford Health R&D; checking whether potential participants meet the trial eligibility criteria; and explaining the trial to potential participants.
- To have a high level of communication and organisational skills when working with patients, carers and colleagues.
- Being able to use databases in order to gather and analyse information.
- Interact effectively with staff from a range of disciplines.
Person Specification
Question 1: Experience with Service Users
- Please describe a specific occasion when you worked with an individual experiencing a mental health difficulty and/or disability. What was your role, what challenges arose, and what did you learn from the experience
Question 2: Interest in Psychosis and Virtual Reality
- What has specifically attracted you to the study and treatment of psychosis? Please include any books, research papers, training, placements, lectures, or personal experiences that have influenced your interest in psychological approaches and the use of virtual reality within mental health services.
Question 3: Communication in Emotive Situations
- Describe a time when you had to communicate effectively in a highly emotive or challenging situation. What was the situation, how did you adapt your communication style, and what was the outcome?
Question 4: Academic and Professional Readiness
- How has your Psychology degree and/or eligibility for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society prepared you for this role? Please provide examples of specific modules, projects, dissertations, placements, or research experiences that you believe are particularly relevant.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This 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.
Employer details
Employer name
Oxford Health NHS Trust
Address
Warneford Hospital
Oxford
OX3 7JX
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk