Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant Psychologist

The closing date is 29 July 2025

Job summary

To support and enhance the psychological care of service users with learning disabilities receiving support from the HPFT LD Community Service. This includes service users whose behaviour challenges others, and those in contact with the Criminal Justice System. It includes people living in community based options and the Trust's in-patient services. The post holder will work under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist.

All staff should comply with the Trust's Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and diversity.

Main duties of the job

Clinical Duties - To undertake psychological assessments and interventions under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist.

Teaching and Training Supervision - To provide training to direct care staff, according to a plan agreed with the supervising Clinical Psychologist and the Team/ Unit or Home Managers within the overall framework of the team's policies and procedures.

Research and Service Evaluation - To assist in clinical related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, and development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.

The Assistant Psychologist works closely with other members of the Community Assessment and Treatment Service and other agencies involved in the service user's care. In addition, the Assistant Psychologist will also need to liaise with other health, social care, or voluntary sector teams responsible for providing services or input to the service users.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

Our family of over 4000 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.

The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Our Trust values are:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!

Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?

Details

Date posted

15 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£32,602 to £39,689 a year per annum pro rata (inclusive of 5% HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

367-LD&F-9544

Job locations

Welwyn Civic Centre

Prospect Place

Welwyn, Hertfordshire

AL6 9ER


Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Duties To undertake psychological assessments and interventions under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist:

  • To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of service users applying psychological measures, including neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, family member and others involved in the service users care.

  • To assist in the formulation and delivery of intervention plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a service users problems, under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist.

  • To assist in the co-ordination and running of therapeutic groups, activities, social skills groups, and to be an integrated member of the multi-disciplinary team.

  • To work with other staff to assess service users in preparation for multidisciplinary reviews.

  • To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all service users of the service, across all settings where care takes place.

  • To attend and contribute to appropriate team and multi-disciplinary meetings.

  • To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.

  • To maintain contemporaneous HPFT psychological records using CareNotes.

  • To prepare test materials and visual aids, as required.

  • To perform other duties, appropriate to their grade, that may be required from time to time by the supervising Clinical Psychologist

  • To work flexibly, in response to service user needs as agreed with the Unit Manager/ Team Managers or supervising Clinical Psychologists.

Teaching and Training Supervision To provide training to direct care staff, according to a plan agreed with the supervising Clinical Psychologist and the Team/ Unit or Home Managers within the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures:

  • To assist the supervising clinical psychologist and the managers to identify the training needs of the direct care staff.

  • To contribute to the training and support of other staff within Psychological Therapies / Adult Care Services

  • To participate in clinical and line management supervision with the supervising Clinical Psychologist, in accordance with professional practice guidelines.

  • To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS over and above that provided within the principal service area where the post holder is employed.

  • To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.

  • To attend induction at HPFT so as to become familiar with the policies, guidelines, and culture of the organisation.

  • To contribute to the development and maintenance of professional standards through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes in consultation with the supervising Clinical Psychologist.

Research and Service Evaluation To assist in clinical related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, and development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.

  • To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.

  • To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries.

  • To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist clinical psychologists in evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

  • To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.

  • To attend and contribute to meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Duties To undertake psychological assessments and interventions under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist:

  • To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of service users applying psychological measures, including neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, family member and others involved in the service users care.

  • To assist in the formulation and delivery of intervention plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a service users problems, under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist.

  • To assist in the co-ordination and running of therapeutic groups, activities, social skills groups, and to be an integrated member of the multi-disciplinary team.

  • To work with other staff to assess service users in preparation for multidisciplinary reviews.

  • To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all service users of the service, across all settings where care takes place.

  • To attend and contribute to appropriate team and multi-disciplinary meetings.

  • To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.

  • To maintain contemporaneous HPFT psychological records using CareNotes.

  • To prepare test materials and visual aids, as required.

  • To perform other duties, appropriate to their grade, that may be required from time to time by the supervising Clinical Psychologist

  • To work flexibly, in response to service user needs as agreed with the Unit Manager/ Team Managers or supervising Clinical Psychologists.

Teaching and Training Supervision To provide training to direct care staff, according to a plan agreed with the supervising Clinical Psychologist and the Team/ Unit or Home Managers within the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures:

  • To assist the supervising clinical psychologist and the managers to identify the training needs of the direct care staff.

  • To contribute to the training and support of other staff within Psychological Therapies / Adult Care Services

  • To participate in clinical and line management supervision with the supervising Clinical Psychologist, in accordance with professional practice guidelines.

  • To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS over and above that provided within the principal service area where the post holder is employed.

  • To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.

  • To attend induction at HPFT so as to become familiar with the policies, guidelines, and culture of the organisation.

  • To contribute to the development and maintenance of professional standards through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes in consultation with the supervising Clinical Psychologist.

Research and Service Evaluation To assist in clinical related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, and development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.

  • To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.

  • To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries.

  • To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist clinical psychologists in evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

  • To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.

  • To attend and contribute to meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATION & TRAINING

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.

EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

  • Experience of work with people with learning disability or mental health and/or other disabilities
  • An understanding of psychology applied to a learning disability context.
  • An interest in working with people with learning disability, mental health problems or other disabilities.

Desirable

  • A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology
  • Experience and competence in using positive behaviour support, cognitive-behavioural or other relevant approaches.
Person Specification

QUALIFICATION & TRAINING

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.

EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

  • Experience of work with people with learning disability or mental health and/or other disabilities
  • An understanding of psychology applied to a learning disability context.
  • An interest in working with people with learning disability, mental health problems or other disabilities.

Desirable

  • A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology
  • Experience and competence in using positive behaviour support, cognitive-behavioural or other relevant approaches.

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

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Welwyn Civic Centre

Prospect Place

Welwyn, Hertfordshire

AL6 9ER


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Welwyn Civic Centre

Prospect Place

Welwyn, Hertfordshire

AL6 9ER


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Psychologist

Bina Sharma

bina.sharma@nhs.net

07747776484

Details

Date posted

15 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£32,602 to £39,689 a year per annum pro rata (inclusive of 5% HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

367-LD&F-9544

Job locations

Welwyn Civic Centre

Prospect Place

Welwyn, Hertfordshire

AL6 9ER


Supporting documents

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