Job summary
We are delighted to be able to bring to advert the role of a Clinical Associate Psychologist in our West Suffolk Dementia Intensive Support Team (DIST).
We are inviting applicants both from qualified Band 6 CAPS, and also those who would like to train to qualify as a CAP. We are able to offer the apprenticeship pathway in conjunction with EPUT-University of Essex providing the academic training on their Health, Ageing and Disability CAP pathway.
In the case of a Trainee CAP, the successful candidate will initially start in a Band 5 CAP apprentice role at the start of the apprenticeship programme in November 2025. The CAP Apprenticeship is an eighteen-month full-time training divided between work-based experience (up to 4 days per week) and academic teaching and study, which leads to a Masters level qualification. If successful in training, on qualification, the post will be converted to a Band 6 CAP role.
CAPs are trained to work with a particular service user group and in this case with Older adults, some of whom are living with complex mental health problems, and the majority will be living with dementia, as well carers for these people.
Main duties of the job
The CAP role in DIST is fully integrated within an extremely responsive and compassionate multi-disciplinary team, and you will be supervised by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Clinical Neuropsychologist throughout your training. The focus of DIST is to support people who are living with a diagnosis of dementia, or suspected dementia, whether in their own home, or a care home, at times of increased distress. Their role is to identify the stressors both within and around the person with dementia, develop individualised intervention plans to reduce the stress and distress, as well as support the family or paid carers. The aim is to improve people's quality of life, re-connect them with their personhood and values, extend their time living in their home, and reduce the likelihood of them having to leave their home or be admitted to hospital.
The CAP role will provide assessments, formulations and interventions for adults living with dementia, with some work with carers and family members alongside this or individually. DIST benefits from having close relationships with its sister teams within the wider West Suffolk Older People's services, and the CAP will be part of the Older People's psychology group; benefitting from monthly peer supervision, access to neuropsychology supervision groups and monthly CPD training.
About us
Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.
Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.
Why Norfolk and Suffolk? The people here are warm and welcoming, you'll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We're an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The DIST team covers the West Suffolk geographical area, with the team base in Bury St Edmunds. We have additional clinical bases in Newmarket, Sudbury, Thetford and Haverhill; although most clinical work is delivered to people in their home. Access to a vehicle and a full driving licence is therefore essential for this role.
We are particularly keen to hear from applicants with a Psychology degree who have a commitment to working in the local region, from those with diverse backgrounds and from people who bring lived experience relevant to dementia care work. Ideally we would wish to recruit someone with familiarity in working with Older People, and a passion for specialising their career with Older People. The CAP role is a new psychology career path in its own right, and is not intended as a stepping stone to another post. The selection process will aim to recruit those suitable for and committed to training for this role who are not currently enrolled on another publicly funded training that will not be complete by the time of commencement in post. Please be aware that Health Education England introduced limitations that restrict access to publicly funded training courses until two years post qualification in another publicly funded programme. This affects programmes such as PWP, High Intensity CBT training, CAPs and Clinical Psychology.
Please see the attached Job Description and Eligibility Criteria for full details.
Please do make contact if you would like an informal discussion, with Dr Rebecca Poz,
Job description
Job responsibilities
The DIST team covers the West Suffolk geographical area, with the team base in Bury St Edmunds. We have additional clinical bases in Newmarket, Sudbury, Thetford and Haverhill; although most clinical work is delivered to people in their home. Access to a vehicle and a full driving licence is therefore essential for this role.
We are particularly keen to hear from applicants with a Psychology degree who have a commitment to working in the local region, from those with diverse backgrounds and from people who bring lived experience relevant to dementia care work. Ideally we would wish to recruit someone with familiarity in working with Older People, and a passion for specialising their career with Older People. The CAP role is a new psychology career path in its own right, and is not intended as a stepping stone to another post. The selection process will aim to recruit those suitable for and committed to training for this role who are not currently enrolled on another publicly funded training that will not be complete by the time of commencement in post. Please be aware that Health Education England introduced limitations that restrict access to publicly funded training courses until two years post qualification in another publicly funded programme. This affects programmes such as PWP, High Intensity CBT training, CAPs and Clinical Psychology.
Please see the attached Job Description and Eligibility Criteria for full details.
Please do make contact if you would like an informal discussion, with Dr Rebecca Poz,
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Bachelors degree in Psychology accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as conferring Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBS), or Bachelors degree plus master degree, or PGDip in Psychology accredited by the BPS as conferring GBC (minimum 2:2)
Desirable
- Demonstrate ability to study at masters level
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrate the ability to reflect, review and discuss personal and professional responses to work
Desirable
- Demonstrate experience of managing conflicting information or emotive and challenging situations in a healthcare setting
Skills
Essential
- Communicate effectively, share information and check understanding using clear language and appropriate, written materials, making reasonable adjustments where appropriate in order to optimise people's understanding
Other
Essential
- Dedicated in treating patients with dignity, respecting individuals' diversity, beliefs, culture, needs, values, privacy and preferences
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Bachelors degree in Psychology accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) as conferring Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBS), or Bachelors degree plus master degree, or PGDip in Psychology accredited by the BPS as conferring GBC (minimum 2:2)
Desirable
- Demonstrate ability to study at masters level
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrate the ability to reflect, review and discuss personal and professional responses to work
Desirable
- Demonstrate experience of managing conflicting information or emotive and challenging situations in a healthcare setting
Skills
Essential
- Communicate effectively, share information and check understanding using clear language and appropriate, written materials, making reasonable adjustments where appropriate in order to optimise people's understanding
Other
Essential
- Dedicated in treating patients with dignity, respecting individuals' diversity, beliefs, culture, needs, values, privacy and preferences
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).
