Job responsibilities
Assistant Psychologist
About the Role
Location: Hollyhurst -Darlington
Contract: Full Time, 1 year fixed term contract
Salary:£27,825 p/a
Closing Date: 22nd July 2025 (please note, this vacancy will close earlier if a high volume of applications are recieved)
We have an exciting opportunity for anAssistant Psychologistto join our Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT). We are primarily based at Hollyhurst (Darlington, County Durham) but work into other residential settings across the region on a referral basis.
About Hollyhurt
Hollyhurst is a specialist residential service supporting individuals with a primary diagnosis of learning disability or autism, accompanied with behaviours that challenge. Residents may also have additional communication and mental health needs, such as a personality disorder or forensic history. Our MDT includes: Nursing, OT, SALT, Psychiatry, Activity Co-ordinator, a Trainee Psychologist and a Consultant Clinical Psychologist.
Your Day-to-Day
- We are seeking a compassionate candidate with a relentlessly positive approach to support and enhance the psychological care of our residents by:
- Working alongside residents, families, support workers and professionals to enhance understanding of any difficulties with mental health or behaviours that challenge.
- Providing a range of assessments and interventions for people with learning disabilities. Including the administration, scoring and reporting of psychological tests and assessments.
- Developing and updating risk assessments within the multi-disciplinary team and contributing to MDT meetings.
- Undertaking observations in settings where behaviours that challenge may be present.
- Assisting with the data collection and analysis of our current research study and to support evaluations of the local service.
- Delivering relevant training to increase the knowledge and skills of the appropriate stakeholders.
- Managing a defined caseload, evidencing problem solving and clinical reasoning skills in line with evidence-based and client-centred principles.
We are looking for someone who is
- Degree qualified in Psychology (2:1 or above) or equivalent, from a course accredited by the British Psychological Society; (eligible for GMBPsS).
- Previous experience working as an Assistant Psychologist in a related clinical setting.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health and learning disabilities or those requiring the intervention of Psychological Services.
- Ability to travel to other Cygnet sites such as Oaklands (Hexham) and Thornfield Grange (Bishop Aukland) when required.
- Must be able to work remotely through various platforms such as video calling and telephone.
- Good verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to tailor these to varying contexts.
- Passionate about learning and working as part of an interdisciplinary team.
- Experienced in data analysis with good IT skills.
Preferable
- Qualified to Masters degree level or higher in Psychology (preferable).
- Previous experience of working with adults with learning disabilities and complex additional needs.
- Experience of specialist assessments for intellectual disabilities and/or autism for psychological needs
Why Cygnet? Well offer you
- Salary: £27,825 p/a
- Company pension scheme
- A comprehensive employee assistance programme and discount centre e.g. NHS card
- Free meals on shift
- Internal and external CPD opportunities, including DBT training and Cygnet Assistant Psychologist development programme
- Opportunities to become involved in research
- Clinical supervision, reflective practice and peer support
At Cygnet, our perks go way beyond pension schemes and excellent professional development. Youll also enjoy shopping, travel and leisure discounts as well as a range of healthcare and financial benefits to support you to be happy both in and out of work
Requirements
Contracted hours:40 per week
Please note: successful candidates will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check.
Closing date:22nd July 2025
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications