Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant Psychologist

The closing date is 28 October 2025

Job summary

The post is based at The St Aubyn Centre (General Adolescent Unit- GAU aged 13-18) in Colchester Essex. The hospital offers short term admission to young people who are no longer safe in the community due to their complex mental health needs and high risk presentations. Poplar is a trauma, DBT and systemic informed service that works with young people and parents or carers in collaborative ways to effect change. The service offers a comprehensive range of therapeutic groups to young people and their carers, a variety of individual assessments/interventions and family therapy assessments and treatments. The psychological therapy team are extremely experienced clinicians and innovators in service improvement, recently winning a national ward for their DBT skills groups and Positive Behaviour Support Plans. The team also has a robust and comprehensive MDT of social work, nursing, OT, psychiatry and education.

Please be advised this advert will close early should we receive a high number of applications - late applications will not be accepted.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work closely with colleagues from the other CAMHS inpatient unit in Essex, Poplar Adolescent Unit.

The post will suit a candidate passionate about working with young people towards recovery, keen to lead on and contribute to service innovation and skilled at exercising clinical leadership.

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

18 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

364-A-9449

Job locations

St.Aubyn Centre

Colchester

CO4 5HG


Job description

Job responsibilities

For further main responsibilities and duties please refer to the job description and person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For further main responsibilities and duties please refer to the job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

  • An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology.
  • Entitlement to graduate membership 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.
  • Previous experience of working with children or adolescents in a care setting.

Skills/Experience

Essential

  • Literate in IT/Computer Skills
  • Experience of assisting in the provision of care to patients
  • Good oral communication skills based on fluency on the English language
  • Ability to be aware of when to request assistance from senior and other members of the team

Desirable

  • Experience of paid work in direct care provision (either inpatient or community settings)
  • Experience of administering psychometric tests.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Work with children/ young people/adults with mental health problems, neurodivergence, and/or learning disabilities. High level communication skills (written and verbal) including ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
  • Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
  • An understanding of psychology applied to health care.

Desirable

  • High standard of report writing.
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

  • An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology.
  • Entitlement to graduate membership 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.
  • Previous experience of working with children or adolescents in a care setting.

Skills/Experience

Essential

  • Literate in IT/Computer Skills
  • Experience of assisting in the provision of care to patients
  • Good oral communication skills based on fluency on the English language
  • Ability to be aware of when to request assistance from senior and other members of the team

Desirable

  • Experience of paid work in direct care provision (either inpatient or community settings)
  • Experience of administering psychometric tests.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Work with children/ young people/adults with mental health problems, neurodivergence, and/or learning disabilities. High level communication skills (written and verbal) including ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
  • Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
  • An understanding of psychology applied to health care.

Desirable

  • High standard of report writing.

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

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St.Aubyn Centre

Colchester

CO4 5HG


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St.Aubyn Centre

Colchester

CO4 5HG


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Psychological Services

Claudia Foakes

claudia.foakes@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

18 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

364-A-9449

Job locations

St.Aubyn Centre

Colchester

CO4 5HG


Supporting documents

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