An exploration of London-based paid assistant psychologist roles in community learning disability teams

Abstract

A survey exploring the role and remits of assistant psychologists (APs) in community learning disability teams (CLDTs) across London. The survey explored which duties APs employed in CLDTs are typically involved in as stipulated by previous guidelines for the employment of assistant psychologists from the British Psychology Society (BPS) published in 2011. It also explored how the psychology teams perceived the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) to understand this role. Results provided preliminary findings into the duties carried out by APs in CLDTs and suggested that other members of the MDT were perceived to have a limited understanding into the remit of the role of APs. There were some recommendations that could be adopted for service improvements.