Assistant Psychologist

Job responsibilities

The post starts in April 2026. The successful applicant, following training and with ongoing supervision, will lead on delivery of the Link Worker intervention and support efforts to recruit participants to the trial. This will include engaging with participants and liaising with different clinical teams and professionals based within and external to the Trust.

Key responsibilities:

To lead on delivery of the Mouth Matters protocol-based Link Worker intervention for participants randomised to the treatment arm of the trial.

To assist in the London implementation of the Mouth Matters research trial, including recruitment efforts, preparation of study materials, and conducting literature searches.

To undertake all aspects of their role in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trial) Regulations 2004 and Amended Regulations 2006 and embed the safeguard of patient wellbeing

To attend and contribute to meetings with clinical teams, professionals and relevant networks to talk about the research and facilitate effective participant recruitment processes.

To complete research assessments of study participants

To produce recruitment reports and data summaries, using IT and statistical programmes

To attend meetings, supervision and relevant trial training with site lead and wider Mouth Matters Trial team

To assist in clinically related administration (e.g., meeting minutes; arranging contacts with families and professionals)

To maintain Trust records and any relevant trial databases and, ensuring entries are complete, accurate and up-to-date in accordance with the Trust policies, the protocol and Good Clinical Practice guidelines

To perform other duties of a similar kind appropriate to the grade, which may be required from time to time

GENERAL

To understand the Trusts Strategic Goals and how you can support them and comply with all Trust policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines

To understand the need to safeguard children and vulnerable adults and adhere to all principles in effective safeguarding.

To carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with Equal Opportunities, Equality and Diversity and dignity in care/work policies and principles

To avoid unlawful discriminatory behaviour and actions when dealing with the colleagues, services users, members of the public and all stakeholders.

To undertake administrative duties required (e.g., meeting minutes, arranging contact with professionals).

To access only information, where paper, electronic, or, in another media, which is authorised to you as part of the duties of your role.

Not to communicate to anyone or inside or outside the NHS, information relating to patients, services users, staff, contractors or any information of a commercially sensitive nature, unless done in the normal course of carrying out the duties of the post and with appropriate permission.

To maintain high standards of quality in corporate and clinical record keeping ensuring information is always recorded accurately, appropriately and kept up to date.

Take reasonable care of the health and safety of yourself and other persons

To contribute to the control of risk and to report any incident, accident or near miss

To take responsibility for decision making and prioritise own workload within a team and individual context

CLINICAL

To deliver the Link Worker intervention in accordance with study protocol and manual

To complete required training to enable effective delivery of link worker intervention in accordance with study protocol and manual

Carry out planned care required by the clinical trials protocol for patients and volunteers

Contribute to screening potential participants and receiving participant informed consent

To support patients to make informed choices concerning their involvement in research.

Ensure that written informed consent from a participant has always been obtained for any research taking place within the Trust.

Maintain all data and case report forms relating to clinical trials in accordance with the regulatory and governance environment for NHS research.

Report any deviation on research protocols to senior staff and implement agreed changes in care programme.

COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH

Mouth Matters Trial sites (e.g. Lancaster University)

R&D departments, SLaM, Kings College London

NHS Trust clinical, administrative and clerical support staff across SLaM, Kings Health Partners

Patient and lived experience groups

Research Delivery Managers and other research delivery staff

South London RDN clinical divisions

Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Complete ongoing programme of training to deliver the Link Worker intervention

Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of relevant resources and research related topics related to the Link Worker intervention and clinical trials.

Assess the needs of participants, relatives and carers and provide them with information as requested.

Assist wider trial team and local Trust in stakeholder engagement and information sharing events

INFORMATION AND CLINICAL GOVERNANCE

• To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded accurately and in a timely manner, to a high standard and in accordance with all relevant protocols, guidance, and statutory requirements
• To attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings, steering groups and other forums, as appropriate.
• Set up systems to ensure efficient management of own workload, under the guidance of Site Lead
• Set up and manage databases where required
• Utilise IT to support report writing, data input and analysis,
• Demonstrate compliance with local policies on data usage and storage, including Health & Safety at Work
• To maintain databases through the regular entry of data, as well as performing appropriate data analysis and producing reports as required.
• To support the team to maintain good clinical governance across their work (e.g., notifying and supporting in the completion of risk assessments)

The post-holder will receive clinical supervision and training from experienced clinical academics working in the field of mental health research. The position is 1.FTE for 36 months.

Qualifications

Essential

• First-class or Upper-second-class (2:1) Bachelors degree with Honours in Psychology that is accredited by the British Psychological Society and confers the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable

• oA Masters degree in a relevant area of psychology (e.g. clinical) or Masters in Research which is accredited by the British Psychological Society.
• oEligibility for membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS) or relevant professional body
• oCompletion of Good Clinical Practice training in the last 2 years

Experience

Essential

• oExperience of conducting research projects
• oExperience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. This may have been gained through lived experience, work, research, and/or volunteering.
• oSufficient experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities in a relevant clinical setting

Desirable

• oHave experience as an assistant psychology, therapy assistant, support worker
• oExperience in Patient & Public Engagement Involvement (PPIE) in a research setting
• oExperience of working with people living with a severe mental health condition
• oExperience of conducting cognitive and/or other relevant assessments

Knowledge/ Skills

Essential

• oGraduate level knowledge of psychological research design, methodology, data collection and statistical analysis
• oGood theoretical knowledge of the problems experienced by and needs of people living with severe mental health conditions
• oAwareness of key issues faced by minoritized groups in severe mental ill ess through attendance of relevant training
• oWell-developed verbal and written communication skills including communicating information to services users, carers/families and colleagues
• oWell-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data

Desirable

• oKnowledge regarding psychological approaches to severe mental illness
• oKnowledge of research ethics and governance procedures
• oKnowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics
• oProven skills in research methodology and statistical analysis

Abilities

Essential

• oExcellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage with people drawn from a variety of social and demographic backgrounds and communities, and who are living with a severe mental health condition
• oAbility to identify and follow relevant clinical governance procedures and professional and research guidelines
• oAbility to work effectively within a team
• oAbility to work independently on a day-to-day basis and use own initiative
• oExcellent keyboard skills and skills in using word-processing, e-mail, internet software, spreadsheets, and databases

Desirable

• oAwareness of relevant clinical governance procedures in NHS settings

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).