Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant Psychologist

The closing date is 28 October 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work in the Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) and the At Risk Mental State (ARMS) teams in North East Essex (Colchester and Tendring).

The successful candidate will work in the EIP team, a multi-disciplinary team who work with people experiencing a first episode of psychosis. Under the EIP umbrella sits a smaller ARMSteam. This team offers psychological interventions to young people (14-35) with early experiences such as voice-hearing, seeing visions, or paranoia and aims to prevent transition topsychosis. It is an exciting time as the ARMS service launched in 2024 and is still in its infancy. Being a small developing team, there is opportunity to develop and shape the service.

As an Assistant Psychologist, you would work to support and enhance the clinical and psychological care of clients within the EIP/ARMS service, across all sectors of care. There will be the opportunity for assisting in and conducting individual, family and group interventions, consultation, and training for internal and external staff (e.g. education, health and charity organisations). This will be under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist.

You will also play a key role in clinically related administration, conduct of audits and service evaluations, collection of team outcome measures. There is also scope for development of clinicalresearch projects, teaching and project work.

This is a Fixed Term Contract (12 months)

Main duties of the job

The role of the Assistant Psychologist is to assist with a varied range of tasks.

You will support and enhance the professional psychological care of adults and young people who are experiencing, or at risk of psychosis. This includes supporting psychological assessment andinterventions under the supervision of a Clinical psychologist, according to a plan within the framework of the Trust's policies and procedures. This will be through both direct and indirectwork.

Depending on experience, the responsibilities of the job will involve assisting in completing complex assessments, (including structured interviews and psychometrics) and communicatingthe outcome of these to clients, team colleagues and other professionals. It will involve delivering individual or group interventions for clients and/or their loved ones, and supporting service-user involvement or carer groups. It will involve supporting a range of wider projects in collaboration with community organisations, education providers and mental health colleagues across a range of services. You will offer support to the wider psychological team in organisational tasks, audits and service evaluation.

There will be opportunities for continuing professional development, including attendance at training events and team case discussions.

About us

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

  • Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
  • Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
  • If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
  • We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits

  • 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
  • Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
  • Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
  • £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
  • Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

  • Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
  • Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Details

Date posted

14 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

364-A-9444

Job locations

Holmer Court, Colchester

Colchester

CO3 3BT


Job description

Job responsibilities

Our EIP teams across the trust provide specialist services for people aged 14 65 years old who are experiencing psychosis for the first time. We support people and their families through whatcan be a difficult and confusing time; helping them to make sense of what is happening, feel more in control, and work towards their goals.

The ARMS team is under the umbrella of the existing Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) Service.We support young people aged 14- 35 who are at risk of developing psychosis and may present with other associated mental health difficulties.

The post holder will be required to work across the North Essex locality including the Colchester, Clacton and Harwich areas.

For additional information please view the job description and person specification for this advert

This advert may close early if sufficient number of applications are received.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Our EIP teams across the trust provide specialist services for people aged 14 65 years old who are experiencing psychosis for the first time. We support people and their families through whatcan be a difficult and confusing time; helping them to make sense of what is happening, feel more in control, and work towards their goals.

The ARMS team is under the umbrella of the existing Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) Service.We support young people aged 14- 35 who are at risk of developing psychosis and may present with other associated mental health difficulties.

The post holder will be required to work across the North Essex locality including the Colchester, Clacton and Harwich areas.

For additional information please view the job description and person specification for this advert

This advert may close early if sufficient number of applications are received.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

  • An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
  • Entitlement to graduate membership and the Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) of the British Psychological Society

Desirable

  • Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis

Skills / Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working within a team environment
  • Experience of working with people with mental health issues and vulnerable service users
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, internally and externally
  • Ability to communicate sensitive information to service users, their families and members of the multidisciplinary team

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in the NHS or health care sector
  • Experience of working in a Mental Health environment
  • Experience working with patients with psychosis or young people at risk of psychosis
Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

  • An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
  • Entitlement to graduate membership and the Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) of the British Psychological Society

Desirable

  • Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis

Skills / Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working within a team environment
  • Experience of working with people with mental health issues and vulnerable service users
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, internally and externally
  • Ability to communicate sensitive information to service users, their families and members of the multidisciplinary team

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in the NHS or health care sector
  • Experience of working in a Mental Health environment
  • Experience working with patients with psychosis or young people at risk of psychosis

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

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Holmer Court, Colchester

Colchester

CO3 3BT


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Holmer Court, Colchester

Colchester

CO3 3BT


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Clinical Psychologist

Dr Jenny Wardman-Browne

Jennifer.wardman-browne@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

14 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

364-A-9444

Job locations

Holmer Court, Colchester

Colchester

CO3 3BT


Supporting documents

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