East London NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant Psychologist

The closing date is 03 August 2025

Job summary

We are looking to recruit a highly motivated, innovative and flexible assistant psychologist who is keen to progress onto clinical training, to work in a friendly, vibrant and welcoming community learning disability team based across the county of Bedfordshire.

The post includes working with adults with learning disabilities, and with their support networks (families and carers). The focus of the work is supporting and enhancing understanding of any difficulties with mental health or behaviours that challenge.The post is embedded within a strong multidisciplinary team with opportunities for professional and personal development.

As the post is county wide having access to a vehicle and the ability to drive is essential.

Main duties of the job

JOB SUMMARY

Under the supervision of qualified clinical psychologists, to contribute to the provision of psychology services to clients who present with learning disabilities and complex/challenging behaviour, their family and paid carers. The post holder will also hold service audit, research and clinical, responsibilities and will contribute to service evaluation under the supervision of qualified psychologists. The post holder will assist with the provision of psychological assessment and interventions in both group and individual formats.

The post holder will be skilled in the use of Microsoft Office, specifically excel databases.

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Date posted

18 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£25,147 to £27,596 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

363-BED7286935

Job locations

CRC twinwoods

Milton Road

Bedford

MK41 6AT

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

To provide a range of assessments and interventions for people with learning disabilities and their families/carers.
To work alongside clients, families, support workers and professionals to enhance understanding of any difficulties with mental health or behaviours that challenge.
To help families and carers to respond to behaviours that are challenging in line with PBS principles, Positive & Proactive Care: reducing the need for restrictive interventions (2014) and NICE Guidance (including NG11 & NG93).
To assist in the set up and running of the Positive Behaviour Support pathway program that involves training for families and paid carers, as well as follow-up sessions
To undertake observations in settings where behaviours that challenge may be present.
Interventions will include working across a variety of settings, including residential and day services and this will involve working with the multi-disciplinary team.
To assist with research and evaluation of the local service and in delivering relevant training to increase the knowledge and skills of the appropriate stakeholders.
To manage a defined caseload, evidencing problem solving and clinical reasoning skills in line with evidence-based and client-centred principles.
To work closely with the multi-disciplinary team and wider stakeholders to deliver on the Transforming Care Agenda and local delivery plan for clients supported by the service. .

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical

To assist with triaging and risk assessing new referrals and those waiting for our service

To contribute to the assessment and provision of interventions to meet client needs, with a senior member of staff, if appropriate.

Co-facilitating group training sessions, opportunities to participate in assessments and individual therapy under supervision.

To contribute to the psychological understanding and expertise of the MDT through individual and group meetings (e.g. team meetings and training).

Administration

To manage and maintain relevant databases

To keep a record of work undertaken.

To keep an accurate record of all contacts with the service users in case notes.

To report to relevant professionals regarding individual clients.

Human Resources

To attend service meetings on a regular basis.

To liaise with other organisations and attend meetings as required by the post.

To be aware of, and follow, the Trust and Psychological Services policies and procedures.

To work within the code of conduct of the BPS and local policies.

To attend regular supervision and obtain supervision from other members of the team, as appropriate.

To attend individual performance appraisals with the line manager and the supervisor.

Performance and Quality

To participate in collecting data for the purpose of research, audit or evaluation of the services work.

To monitor and maintain the services clinical outcome and evaluation data.

To monitor, advise on and develop the services information systems, as appropriate.

To participate in producing regular audit, clinical activity and outcome reports.

To assist and participate in presenting results of audits to the service in team meetings.

To participate in service development projects as a member of a project team.

Job Description Agreement

This job description is intended as a guide to the main duties of the post and is not intended to be a prescriptive document. Duties and base of work may change to meet the needs of the service or because of the introduction of new technology. This job description may be reviewed from time to time and changed, after consultation with the postholder.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

To provide a range of assessments and interventions for people with learning disabilities and their families/carers.
To work alongside clients, families, support workers and professionals to enhance understanding of any difficulties with mental health or behaviours that challenge.
To help families and carers to respond to behaviours that are challenging in line with PBS principles, Positive & Proactive Care: reducing the need for restrictive interventions (2014) and NICE Guidance (including NG11 & NG93).
To assist in the set up and running of the Positive Behaviour Support pathway program that involves training for families and paid carers, as well as follow-up sessions
To undertake observations in settings where behaviours that challenge may be present.
Interventions will include working across a variety of settings, including residential and day services and this will involve working with the multi-disciplinary team.
To assist with research and evaluation of the local service and in delivering relevant training to increase the knowledge and skills of the appropriate stakeholders.
To manage a defined caseload, evidencing problem solving and clinical reasoning skills in line with evidence-based and client-centred principles.
To work closely with the multi-disciplinary team and wider stakeholders to deliver on the Transforming Care Agenda and local delivery plan for clients supported by the service. .

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical

To assist with triaging and risk assessing new referrals and those waiting for our service

To contribute to the assessment and provision of interventions to meet client needs, with a senior member of staff, if appropriate.

Co-facilitating group training sessions, opportunities to participate in assessments and individual therapy under supervision.

To contribute to the psychological understanding and expertise of the MDT through individual and group meetings (e.g. team meetings and training).

Administration

To manage and maintain relevant databases

To keep a record of work undertaken.

To keep an accurate record of all contacts with the service users in case notes.

To report to relevant professionals regarding individual clients.

Human Resources

To attend service meetings on a regular basis.

To liaise with other organisations and attend meetings as required by the post.

To be aware of, and follow, the Trust and Psychological Services policies and procedures.

To work within the code of conduct of the BPS and local policies.

To attend regular supervision and obtain supervision from other members of the team, as appropriate.

To attend individual performance appraisals with the line manager and the supervisor.

Performance and Quality

To participate in collecting data for the purpose of research, audit or evaluation of the services work.

To monitor and maintain the services clinical outcome and evaluation data.

To monitor, advise on and develop the services information systems, as appropriate.

To participate in producing regular audit, clinical activity and outcome reports.

To assist and participate in presenting results of audits to the service in team meetings.

To participate in service development projects as a member of a project team.

Job Description Agreement

Person Specification

Training Qualification

Essential

First degree in Psychology (2i or above), conferring graduate basis for registration as accredited by the BPS.

Desirable

Attendance at specialist short courses (e.g. CBT ) or other substantial clinically focussed training course. Relevant Masters level qualification

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with people with learning disabilities and autism
Experience of using excel database

Desirable

Experience of working with behaviours of distress
Experience of conducting service related research Work in a multi-cultural setting, including working with interpreters.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

Skills in implementing appropriate psychological assessment and interventions relevant to the client group.
Communication & Relationship skills: Able to provide & receive sensitive or contentious information in a highly emotive and sometimes hostile atmosphere, in a defined setting. Able to use skills of empathy to overcome barriers to understanding and acceptance
Analytical & judgemental skills: Able to draw upon a specific theoretical knowledge base in the analysis of facts or situations to arrive at appropriate formulations, under clinical supervision.
Planning and organisational skills: Able to plan, organise and prioritise own workload
Physical skills: Basic keyboard skills
Information resources: Able to record and report on as required clinical information. Competent in use of IT packages - word processing, e-mail and internet, SPSS, Excel and Access

Person Specification

Training Qualification

Essential

First degree in Psychology (2i or above), conferring graduate basis for registration as accredited by the BPS.

Desirable

Attendance at specialist short courses (e.g. CBT ) or other substantial clinically focussed training course. Relevant Masters level qualification

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with people with learning disabilities and autism
Experience of using excel database

Desirable

Experience of working with behaviours of distress
Experience of conducting service related research Work in a multi-cultural setting, including working with interpreters.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

Skills in implementing appropriate psychological assessment and interventions relevant to the client group.
Communication & Relationship skills: Able to provide & receive sensitive or contentious information in a highly emotive and sometimes hostile atmosphere, in a defined setting. Able to use skills of empathy to overcome barriers to understanding and acceptance
Analytical & judgemental skills: Able to draw upon a specific theoretical knowledge base in the analysis of facts or situations to arrive at appropriate formulations, under clinical supervision.
Planning and organisational skills: Able to plan, organise and prioritise own workload
Physical skills: Basic keyboard skills
Information resources: Able to record and report on as required clinical information. Competent in use of IT packages - word processing, e-mail and internet, SPSS, Excel and Access

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).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

CRC twinwoods

Milton Road

Bedford

MK41 6AT

Employer's website

https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

CRC twinwoods

Milton Road

Bedford

MK41 6AT

Employer's website

https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)