Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant Psychologist

The closing date is 16 October 2025

Job summary

Please note that this post may close early if sufficient applications have been received. To avoid disappointment please submit an early application.

NHS Talking Therapies in Herts are seeking a motivated and creative Assistant Psychologist (AP) to join our well-established service and contribute to the delivery of psychological therapies in a primary care setting with a particular focus on Long Term Health conditions (LTC). We are a dynamic and supportive service, and were one of the first Talking Therapies services in the UK to receive APPTS accreditation.

We recognise the AP role as being an important step towards entering clinical psychology training and have a successful record of our APs going onto clinical training having worked in the role. We attribute this to the blend of clinical and research/audit experience that the role combines as well as a firm grounding in understanding primary care within the NHS.

We are seeking an Assistant Psychologist who will work under supervision to provide psychological assessment and treatment to service users with depression and anxiety in the context of an LTC, and will contribute to the development of the service through audits, data collection, research and innovation projects. Service user experience, innovation and development are key focuses within the Hertfordshire Talking Therapies service and you will be supported and encouraged to attend CPD and training to help you develop in your role.

Main duties of the job

Applicants must be a psychology graduates with at least a 2:1 degree and be eligible for graduate basis for registration with the British Psychological Society. This role is also open to qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWP)

You will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, good organisational skills, and the ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team.

You will have excellent data analysis skills and be competent in using Excel and SPSS. We are particularly interested in individuals who can demonstrate research skills, as a significant proportion of the role involves analysing outcome data and carrying out audits to help with service improvement and delivery.

If you are invited to interview, you must bring with you any academic qualification certificates and evidence you hold, as applicable. Offers cannot be made without this information.Please refer to the job description and person specification for further details of the role/responsibilities and requirements for this post.

Please state in your supporting statement which team you would prefer to be based in if you are successful with your application.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from theCare Quality Commission

Our family of over 4,000 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Date posted

02 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year Per annum, Pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

367-ACMS-9740

Job locations

Saffron Ground, Ditchmore Lane, Stevenage, SG1 3LJ

Ditchmore Lane

Stevenage

SG1 3LJ

Job description

Job responsibilities

To support the work of staff in the Primary Care Service, including providing psychological assessment and interventions under the supervision of a qualified Psychologist.

To assist in audit and data collection and the development of researchand innovation projects.

To work independently according to a plan agreed with the Long-Term Conditions Deputy Clinical Lead (Qualified Psychologist) and within theoverall framework of HPFTs policies and procedures.

For staff working in the Talking Therapies service, there is an expectation that you will come into your office base at least two days a week. There may be circumstances where you are required to travel to other bases or attend the office on additional days due to service need or demand.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To support the work of staff in the Primary Care Service, including providing psychological assessment and interventions under the supervision of a qualified Psychologist.

To assist in audit and data collection and the development of researchand innovation projects.

To work independently according to a plan agreed with the Long-Term Conditions Deputy Clinical Lead (Qualified Psychologist) and within theoverall framework of HPFTs policies and procedures.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Honours degree of higher in Psychology
Entitlement to graduate membership of BPS

Desirable

Further post grad training in relevant areas of psychology, mental health practice or research, design and analysis

Experience

Essential

Worked with people with MH problems
Understanding of and compliance with relevant professional standards and practice
Use of computers for data analysis (excel and SPSS)

Desirable

Working in primary care services
Has undertaken audit in clinical services

Skills

Essential

High standard of report writing
Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues
Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a primary care context
Can communicate effectively within MDT
Able to interact with service users in a respectful and empathic manner
Team working
Interest in working with people with MH problems
High level communication skills to manage sensitive conversations, and ability to work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive
Ability to assess common mental health problems
Understanding of importance of using evidence based psychological interventions in primary care
Car driver
Ability to work under pressure
Able to manage own workload
Self-reflective
Ability to develop good therapeutic relationships with service users and carers

Desirable

Fluent in languages other than english

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Honours degree of higher in Psychology
Entitlement to graduate membership of BPS

Desirable

Further post grad training in relevant areas of psychology, mental health practice or research, design and analysis

Experience

Essential

Worked with people with MH problems
Understanding of and compliance with relevant professional standards and practice
Use of computers for data analysis (excel and SPSS)

Desirable

Working in primary care services
Has undertaken audit in clinical services

Skills

Essential

High standard of report writing
Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues
Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a primary care context
Can communicate effectively within MDT
Able to interact with service users in a respectful and empathic manner
Team working
Interest in working with people with MH problems
High level communication skills to manage sensitive conversations, and ability to work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive
Ability to assess common mental health problems
Understanding of importance of using evidence based psychological interventions in primary care
Car driver
Ability to work under pressure
Able to manage own workload
Self-reflective
Ability to develop good therapeutic relationships with service users and carers

Desirable

Fluent in languages other than english

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

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Saffron Ground, Ditchmore Lane, Stevenage, SG1 3LJ

Ditchmore Lane

Stevenage

SG1 3LJ

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

Saffron Ground, Ditchmore Lane, Stevenage, SG1 3LJ

Ditchmore Lane

Stevenage

SG1 3LJ

Employer's website

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