Job summary
The Kolvin Service is a specialist regional community adolescent forensic service for young people under the age of 18 years who have been assessed as an identified risk of causing significant harm to others or themselves.
The service operates across multiple clinical sites within the North East and North Cumbria, including community settings, outpatient provision and Secure Children's Homes at Aycliffe Secure Centre and Kyloe House. Our team consists of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, speech and language, occupational therapists and other allied professionals.
The Kolvin Service collaboratively leads on the implementation of the SECURE STAIRS framework at Aycliffe (Newton Aycliffe) and Kyloe House (Morpeth) SCHs. The SECURE STAIRS framework represents a shift in focus within the secure estate from interventions focussed solely for young people, to interventions focussed on the whole system.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to support qualified psychologists in the delivery of adolescent forensic and mental health services. The post holder will contribute to clinical work, service development, audit, and research activity to support high-quality, psychologically-informed care.
The successful candidate will demonstrate motivation for supporting young people, alongside the flexibility and adaptability to the changing demands of the service and our young people.
Main duties (under supervision) will include but are not limited to:
- Supporting assessment and intervention with young people
- Audit, service evaluation and research activity service
- Data collection and analysis
- Indirect patient care
- Assisting in formulation and consultation
While it is anticipated that this role will be based at Kyloe House, due to the nature of our service, applicants could be moved to a different service base and it is essential that applicants can travel independently with access to suitable transport.
Reasonable adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
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.
NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 5th March 2026
Closing date : 19th March 2026
We welcome your application.
Please note - this vacancy may close early once a suitable number of applications are received.
Interviews are provisionally scheduled for 1st and 2nd April 2026.
We welcome your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 5th March 2026
Closing date : 19th March 2026
We welcome your application.
Please note - this vacancy may close early once a suitable number of applications are received.
Interviews are provisionally scheduled for 1st and 2nd April 2026.
We welcome your application.
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.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
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.
