Assistant Psychologist
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Job summary
We are recruiting to an Assistant Psychology post to join the psychology & psychotherapy forensic mental health team at River House, Medium Secure Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital. We have one vacancy for a permanent Band 4 post, based on Norbury Ward.
Norbury is the acute male admissions ward in the forensic inpatient service. It has a dual function as both a Clinical Decisions Unit (CDU) that provides comprehensive forensic assessment of those going through criminal proceedings and/or presenting a risk of violence, and as the intensive care environment for the wider River House population. The team specialises in offering a 12-week assessment of clinical and risk-related need to inform clinical pathways across South London.
The post is an excellent opportunity to develop assessment and engagement skills with a complex forensic client group. There will be opportunity to conduct a range of clinical and risk-related assessments and interventions across the service, and participate in wider activities including service evaluation and research. The postholder will join a growing team of senior psychologists and psychotherapists, Assistants and Trainee psychologists, under the leadership of an MSU inpatient lead psychologist and a Consultant Psychologist.
Main duties of the job
The role plays a key part in supporting the psychology provision across the medium secure forensic services, and specifically within Norbury Ward. Responsibilities include:
o To assist practitioner psychologists in the delivery of a specialist applied psychology service across medium secure settings, including clinical assessments, risk assessment, and the delivery of group and individual interventions in an intensive care setting.
o To provide clinical work as required by the service, under the direct guidance, close clinical and professional supervision of a practitioner psychologist. Clinical work may include engagement, clinical and risk assessment/formulation, direct intervention with service users, and consultative interventions within teams
o The delivery of group programmes focussed on psychoeducation, offending behaviour, substance misuse, and mental distress.
o To audit and manage the dataset of risk assessments integral to the care of patients detained in River House.
o To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.
o To work following clinical guidelines and the policies and procedures of the service, while closely supervised and regularly seeking help from clinical/professional supervisor or manager.
About us
The inpatient provision is part of the South London & Maudsley Forensic & Offender Health Pathway within the Croydon and Behavioural & Developmental Psychiatry Operational Directorate.
The male mental health wards include two admission wards and two wards for service users who have achieved some stability and who are making greater use of therapeutic and recovery-oriented activities. There are also two low-secure wards associated with the main provision at River House.
Each ward has a multi-professional team that includes dedicated qualified and assistant psychology provision, and some trainee time. Postholders are aligned for direct clinical service provision to one or two ward teams, and join a forensic clinical psychology & psychotherapy team that also provides inpatient and community-based interventions.
The male mental health medium secure inpatient provision at River House is an integral part of the South London Partnership (SLP) acute pathway and rehabilitation pathways. There are close links with other forensic and general adult mental health services, prisons and criminal justice agencies.
Details
Date posted
02 September 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 4
Salary
£32,199 to £34,876 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
334-CLI-7386430
Job locations
River House, Bethlem Royal Hospital
West Wickham
BR3 3BX
Employer details
Employer name
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address
River House, Bethlem Royal Hospital
West Wickham
BR3 3BX
Employer's website
https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Supporting documents
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