Job summary
We are excited to offer two full-time Band 4 Assistant Psychologist positions within our Child & Family Psychology Service, supporting children and young people with complex neurodevelopmental,neuromuscular and genetic conditions, and their families across East and West Suffolk.These roles are ideal for psychology graduates with a strong interest in pursuing a career in Clinical Psychology. You will work under the supervision of qualified Clinical Psychologists, contributing to arange of clinical activities including:
Supporting psychological assessments and interventions
Co-facilitating therapeutic groups
Conducting school-based observations and home visits
Developing psychoeducational materials and delivering workshops
Contributing to service audits, evaluations, and reflective practice.You will work flexibly across clinical, community, and home-based settings, supporting a blended model of face-to-face and telehealth delivery. Confidence and competence in using digital platformsto engage children, families, and professionals is essential.
Our service is committed to supporting children and young people who may have struggled to engage in other health service environments, offering a flexible and psychologically informed approach tailored to individual needs. We work within a neuroaffirmative framework, recognising and respecting neurodiversity, and promoting strengths-based, inclusive practices that support wellbeing and identity
Main duties of the job
We are seeking an ambitious, motivated, and compassionate individuals who:Hold a minimum 2:1 degree in Psychology with Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society.
Have experience or demonstrable interest in working with children and young people, particularly those with Autism Spectrum Conditions, neuromuscular, or genetic disorders.
Can adapt communication and intervention styles to meet individual needs.
Understand child development and are able to work confidently within safeguarding frameworkswhere necessary.
Are confident working within complex systems and multidisciplinary teams.
Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, and strong organisational abilities.
Are comfortable delivering care via telehealth platforms and supporting digital engagement.
Are committed to working in a neuroaffirmative and inclusive way.Previous NHS or clini
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the full job description for further information
What We Offer:
You will join a highly skilled, supportive, and motivated team of Clinical Psychologists and psychological therapists. We are committed to your professional development and will provide:
Regular supervision from a Clinical Psychologist to support your clinical development and reflective practice.
Access to relevant training opportunities.
Opportunities to contribute to teaching, training, and service development.
Opportunities to be involved in audit, research, and service evaluation projects.
We also have strong links with the University of East Anglias Clinical Psychology Doctorate programme, and regularly offer placements to trainee Clinical Psychologists as part of their doctoral training, offering a rich and stimulating learning environment.For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:Dr Louise Adams, Consultant Clinical Psychologist 01394 389200
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the full job description for further information
What We Offer:
You will join a highly skilled, supportive, and motivated team of Clinical Psychologists and psychological therapists. We are committed to your professional development and will provide:
Regular supervision from a Clinical Psychologist to support your clinical development and reflective practice.
Access to relevant training opportunities.
Opportunities to contribute to teaching, training, and service development.
Opportunities to be involved in audit, research, and service evaluation projects.
We also have strong links with the University of East Anglias Clinical Psychology Doctorate programme, and regularly offer placements to trainee Clinical Psychologists as part of their doctoral training, offering a rich and stimulating learning environment.For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:Dr Louise Adams, Consultant Clinical Psychologist 01394 389200
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- An upper second class honors degree or higher in Psychology.
- Eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of child development or professional psychology.
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Previous relevant work experience with children and families or with people with psychological difficulties - preferably in the health or social care setting.
- Knowledge of child development.
- Knowledge of risk and safeguarding issues
Desirable
- Experience as an Assistant Psychologist or experience in an undergraduate placement role.
- experience of supporting children and young people with complex neurodevelopmental disorder (e.g. Autism spectrum conditions).
- Knowledge of SystmOne
Skills and abilities
Essential
- The ability to apply psychological knowledge in a child well-being and mental health context.
- Ability to effectively prioritise and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.
- Competent and adaptable clinical assessment and interview skills.
- High level communication skills both verbal and written, including the ability to communicate information succinctly - to children and families and to communicate with a wide range of professionals
- Skills to use a range of IT packages (Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Excel)
- Good data analysis skills using quantitative methods and knowledge of qualitative approaches.
- Experience of using Microsoft Teams or other virtual software.
- Able to contribute to research/audit projects.
Desirable
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties experienced by children who have neurodevelopmental disorders and their families.
- To be able to understand the general communication considerations relevant to this particular clinical population and have the ability to adopt a communication style sensitive to each child's individual needs.
- Good presentation skills, both written and verbal.
Personal qualities
Essential
- Well developed time-management and self- organising skills
- A demonstrated ability to work independently and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals
- Very good interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively and empathically with service users who may be under high levels of emotional distress and to develop supportive and effective professional relationships with staff across the organisation and wider agencies.
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Able to demonstrate an understanding of issues relating to confidentiality.
- Frequent Travel Essential - You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.
- Ability to handle children and equipment, frequently exerting moderate physical effort for long periods
- Ability to cope with frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- An upper second class honors degree or higher in Psychology.
- Eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of child development or professional psychology.
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Previous relevant work experience with children and families or with people with psychological difficulties - preferably in the health or social care setting.
- Knowledge of child development.
- Knowledge of risk and safeguarding issues
Desirable
- Experience as an Assistant Psychologist or experience in an undergraduate placement role.
- experience of supporting children and young people with complex neurodevelopmental disorder (e.g. Autism spectrum conditions).
- Knowledge of SystmOne
Skills and abilities
Essential
- The ability to apply psychological knowledge in a child well-being and mental health context.
- Ability to effectively prioritise and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.
- Competent and adaptable clinical assessment and interview skills.
- High level communication skills both verbal and written, including the ability to communicate information succinctly - to children and families and to communicate with a wide range of professionals
- Skills to use a range of IT packages (Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Excel)
- Good data analysis skills using quantitative methods and knowledge of qualitative approaches.
- Experience of using Microsoft Teams or other virtual software.
- Able to contribute to research/audit projects.
Desirable
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties experienced by children who have neurodevelopmental disorders and their families.
- To be able to understand the general communication considerations relevant to this particular clinical population and have the ability to adopt a communication style sensitive to each child's individual needs.
- Good presentation skills, both written and verbal.
Personal qualities
Essential
- Well developed time-management and self- organising skills
- A demonstrated ability to work independently and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals
- Very good interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively and empathically with service users who may be under high levels of emotional distress and to develop supportive and effective professional relationships with staff across the organisation and wider agencies.
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Able to demonstrate an understanding of issues relating to confidentiality.
- Frequent Travel Essential - You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.
- Ability to handle children and equipment, frequently exerting moderate physical effort for long periods
- Ability to cope with frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Woodbridge Clinic
Child & Family Psychology Service - Woodbridge Clinic
Woodbridge
IP12 1EP
Employer's website
https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
