Featured job May 2018

Health and Social Care Partnerships (H&SCP) employ approximately 180 staff over two services, which are nurse-led but include a multidisciplinary team with psychologists and occupational therapists.

Andrea Carruthers, Director of Operations at H&SCP, describes this role as 'a rare opportunity for a full-time psychologist who is kind, compassionate, patient, motivated and who has excellent and flexible communication skills'. She says it's a 'small, multidisciplinary team with excellent community links'. Andrea emphasises peer support systems, sensitivity to individual, social and cultural characteristics, links to clinical care and community resources, and the importance of problem-solving, decision-making, and coping skills.

The post involves working with adults with learning disabilities and complex needs. Andrea says: 'We believe that adults with a learning disability and/or autism who display behaviour that challenges – including those with a mental health condition – have the right to the same opportunities as anyone else to live rewarding and valued lives. They must be treated with the same dignity and respect. We provide individuals a home within their community, where they can develop and maintain relationships and get the support they need to live a healthy, safe and fulfilling life. We devise unique support packages built on individual choice which enables people to live as independently as possible.

'Activity programmes are highly personalised and very much led by the needs and choices made by each individual: they are "active assessors" of their own needs, planners of their own support and services, and co-producers of their own outcomes. These programmes incorporate all aspects of daily life, rehabilitation, recovery and social/leisure pursuits, supported employment, lifelong learning and independent living skills.

'Programmes will outline all agreed therapeutic activity and may include active rehabilitation and skills development, occupational therapy, recovery approaches and social and leisure activities.' Andrea concludes: 'Our intention is to ensure that appropriate and risk managed care and support are provided by our core team within a purpose-built therapeutic environment. Finally, this is a rare and exciting opportunity to work in the stunning Lake District!'

- Find out more on our Jobs in Psychology website.