Job summary
We are delighted to invite applications for two full-time 12-month fixed term Higher Assistant Psychologist posts in acute inpatient services in the North Locality of CNTW NHS Foundation Trust. One post will be split across the two male acute wards and one post on the female acute ward. The post holders are required to work on site.
Adult Mental Health Inpatient Service provides provides short term care and treatment for service users with complex mental health needs, at a time of acute crisis. Care is provided by a multi-disciplinary team using a biopsychosocial model of understanding, with service users over the age of 18. Service users have often experienced trauma in their lives, and have a range of difficulties including psychosis, personality difficulties, neurodiversity and learning disabilities, risk to self and others, forensic issues and behaviours that can be challenging for teams.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will work within a multidisciplinary context to help the psychology team undertake specialised psychological assessments, treatments, and other types of clinical intervention appropriate to this level of training with individual clients/ groups of clients, and families. They will have weekly supervision from an experienced Clinical Psychologist and an experienced Psychological Therapist.
The successful applicant will manage a caseload and be responsible for providing effective evidence-based care in line with national and local guidelines. They will support the service in the delivery of training and service development initiatives.
The post holder will show initiative to work independently to an appropriate level.
The post-holder will provide compassionate care that is based on empathy,kindness, respect, and dignity.
About us
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
The post holder will be part of a supportive psychology team which provides Acute, Rehabilitation, and Older Adult inpatient services for Northumberland. The team is part of a valued trust wide psychological service which has a range of regular meetings and support activities to ensure professional governance and to promote evidence based and innovative psychologically informed care.
Working in inpatient services offers excellent opportunities to develop a range of skills. These include skills in both direct clinical work, as well as clinical leadership, service development, staff support, and training. We welcome contact from interested candidates to further discuss the role and to visit our service.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post involves providing specialist psychological assessment, including neuropsychological assessment with service users. The post holder will support the development of collaborative psychological formulations and deliver psychological interventions with service users and families, working as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team. The post holder will help to provide support to multidisciplinary staff working with service users through supervision, team formulation, and contribute towards complex risk assessment and care planning, the development of positive behaviour support plans and provision of reflective practice sessions and training.
The post holder will contribute to the development and undertaking of service evaluation, enhancing the quality of care. We are looking for applicants who are able to work as part of a team, and also independently, with a high level of research and report writing skills. The post holder will be supported to develop their skills in the required areas of work, and provided with appropriate supervision from our experienced clinical psychologists and psychological therapists.
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 12th August 2025
Closing date : 19th August 2025
We welcome your application.
Please note - this vacancy may close early once a suitable number of applications are received.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post involves providing specialist psychological assessment, including neuropsychological assessment with service users. The post holder will support the development of collaborative psychological formulations and deliver psychological interventions with service users and families, working as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team. The post holder will help to provide support to multidisciplinary staff working with service users through supervision, team formulation, and contribute towards complex risk assessment and care planning, the development of positive behaviour support plans and provision of reflective practice sessions and training.
The post holder will contribute to the development and undertaking of service evaluation, enhancing the quality of care. We are looking for applicants who are able to work as part of a team, and also independently, with a high level of research and report writing skills. The post holder will be supported to develop their skills in the required areas of work, and provided with appropriate supervision from our experienced clinical psychologists and psychological therapists.
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 12th August 2025
Closing date : 19th August 2025
We welcome your application.
Please note - this vacancy may close early once a suitable number of applications are received.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Upper 2nd class honours degree, or higher, in psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of British Psychological Society.
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Paid or unpaid work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities. Experience as an assistant/research psychologist. Knowledge of evidence based practice
Desirable
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision. Experience with client group relevant to post. Experience of psychometric test administration and interpretation. Experience of providing individual or group interventions.
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- High level of communication skills (written and oral), including an ability to communicate and work in highly emotive circumstances. Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues. An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and other disabilities. Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health / cognitive impairment / disability context. Computer literate, including use of databases & data analysis, e.g. SPSS for Windows. Demonstrates graduate level knowledge and experience of research and research methodology. An understanding of psychology applied to healthcare.
Desirable
- A high standard of report writing.
Personal Characteristics
Essential
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines. An ability to interact appropriately with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities. Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals by supervisor.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Upper 2nd class honours degree, or higher, in psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of British Psychological Society.
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Paid or unpaid work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities. Experience as an assistant/research psychologist. Knowledge of evidence based practice
Desirable
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision. Experience with client group relevant to post. Experience of psychometric test administration and interpretation. Experience of providing individual or group interventions.
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- High level of communication skills (written and oral), including an ability to communicate and work in highly emotive circumstances. Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues. An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and other disabilities. Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health / cognitive impairment / disability context. Computer literate, including use of databases & data analysis, e.g. SPSS for Windows. Demonstrates graduate level knowledge and experience of research and research methodology. An understanding of psychology applied to healthcare.
Desirable
- A high standard of report writing.
Personal Characteristics
Essential
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines. An ability to interact appropriately with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities. Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals by supervisor.
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.
