Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Band 5-Sleeping Better Assistant Psychologist-Bristol

The closing date is 23 June 2025

Job summary

AWP Trust is pleased to offer this very exciting opportunity to join a Multi-Centre research team for a trial called Sleeping Better. This is a Wellcome Trust-funded research programme with two linked randomised control trials treating sleep psychologically.

This is a part-to-full time fixed term contract (26.25 - 37.5 hours per week)for the duration of the trial starting at the beginning of August 2025).

You will be part of the Sleeping Better trial Team in AWP, supporting the delivery of the psychological intervention determining whether the sleep problems of many patients at the early stages of psychosis can be successfully treated.

You should bepassionate and committed to psychological approaches for people with early stages of psychosisthat make it hard for them to get on with their lives. This position would suite someone with an interest in cognitive therapy, treatment innovation and clinical trials.

The post would suit individuals interested in going on to pursue a career in clinical psychology or clinical research. The post holder will have a central role in the trial, being responsible for supporting the Clinical Psychologist/Psychological Therapist in the day-to-day delivery of Sleeping Better in AWP. This will include supporting to deliver Psychological Therapy and conducting assessments with participants.

Main duties of the job

This post will provide excellent experience of engaging individuals at the early stages of psychosis; delivery of a specialist CBT intervention with close supervision from a clinical psychologist/psychological therapist; working within NHS services; and clinical trials methodology.

Full training will be provided on the Sleeping Better therapy intervention. You will need to demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills and be able to conduct interviews, assessment and treatment with potentially vulnerable individuals. Most importantly, you will need to be enthusiastic about the research area and have a high level of motivation and commitment.

About us

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust) a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care. We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Details

Date posted

09 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

24 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

342-CS051-0625

Job locations

Blackberry Hill Hospital

Manor Road

Fishponds, Bristol

BS16 1ED


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To deliver the sleep intervention in line with the treatment manual and study protocol, under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist/psychological therapist, as part of the Sleeping Better trial.
  • To establish a trusting and supportive relationship with those taking part in the Sleeping Better therapy. High levels of engagement with participants will be expected from the post-holder.
  • To contribute to the screening and recruitment of patients with psychosis and young people at ultra-high risk of psychosis. This will involve speaking to referrers regularly, attending clinical team meetings, visiting community mental health teams and hospital wards. There are monthly recruitment targets.
  • To attend and contribute to study fidelity rating meetings, supervision, and regular training sessions with other study staff members.
  • You will need to regularly enter and check data in the study databases.
  • Good record-keeping will be needed, including updating medical records with trial progress and completing the recruitment database.
  • To produce brief clinical reports based on the treatment delivery as part of the trial.
  • You will need to follow standard operational procedures for the trial and NHS Trust policy regarding safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children.
  • To ensure high quality record keeping on the electronic patient record system and study specific session records.
  • You will need to regularly enter and check data in the study databases.
  • Participants will be seen in clinic settings or at home across a large geographical area. This means there will be extensive travel which would be facilitated by having valid driving licence, and access to own or other independent means of transport.
  • Attendance at supervision will be expected, and at appropriate research team meetings, including training at the lead site, Oxford.
  • To maintain blinding and ensure research assistants working on the trial are able to conduct the research assessments blinded to treatment allocation.
  • Administrative duties related to the project.
  • Other duties appropriate to the grade as directed by the grant-holders.
  • Work within the guidelines set out by the Data Protection Act, the Code of Ethics, and with full understanding of confidentiality issues.
  • Contribute towards consistent and safe practices by being aware of and adhering to all the relevant Trust policies and procedures.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To deliver the sleep intervention in line with the treatment manual and study protocol, under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist/psychological therapist, as part of the Sleeping Better trial.
  • To establish a trusting and supportive relationship with those taking part in the Sleeping Better therapy. High levels of engagement with participants will be expected from the post-holder.
  • To contribute to the screening and recruitment of patients with psychosis and young people at ultra-high risk of psychosis. This will involve speaking to referrers regularly, attending clinical team meetings, visiting community mental health teams and hospital wards. There are monthly recruitment targets.
  • To attend and contribute to study fidelity rating meetings, supervision, and regular training sessions with other study staff members.
  • You will need to regularly enter and check data in the study databases.
  • Good record-keeping will be needed, including updating medical records with trial progress and completing the recruitment database.
  • To produce brief clinical reports based on the treatment delivery as part of the trial.
  • You will need to follow standard operational procedures for the trial and NHS Trust policy regarding safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children.
  • To ensure high quality record keeping on the electronic patient record system and study specific session records.
  • You will need to regularly enter and check data in the study databases.
  • Participants will be seen in clinic settings or at home across a large geographical area. This means there will be extensive travel which would be facilitated by having valid driving licence, and access to own or other independent means of transport.
  • Attendance at supervision will be expected, and at appropriate research team meetings, including training at the lead site, Oxford.
  • To maintain blinding and ensure research assistants working on the trial are able to conduct the research assessments blinded to treatment allocation.
  • Administrative duties related to the project.
  • Other duties appropriate to the grade as directed by the grant-holders.
  • Work within the guidelines set out by the Data Protection Act, the Code of Ethics, and with full understanding of confidentiality issues.
  • Contribute towards consistent and safe practices by being aware of and adhering to all the relevant Trust policies and procedures.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BPS Recognised Psychology degree

Desirable

  • Further training in psychological therapy

Experience

Essential

  • Worked as Assistant Psychologist or equivalent

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of safeguarding

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of Audit or research

Experience

Essential

  • Ability to work collaboratively with other staff

Experience

Essential

  • Ability to use own initiative and work independently
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BPS Recognised Psychology degree

Desirable

  • Further training in psychological therapy

Experience

Essential

  • Worked as Assistant Psychologist or equivalent

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of safeguarding

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of Audit or research

Experience

Essential

  • Ability to work collaboratively with other staff

Experience

Essential

  • Ability to use own initiative and work independently

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Blackberry Hill Hospital

Manor Road

Fishponds, Bristol

BS16 1ED


Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Blackberry Hill Hospital

Manor Road

Fishponds, Bristol

BS16 1ED


Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Research & Development

Dr Krist Noonan

krist.noonan@nhs.net

01174506341

Details

Date posted

09 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

24 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

342-CS051-0625

Job locations

Blackberry Hill Hospital

Manor Road

Fishponds, Bristol

BS16 1ED


Supporting documents

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