Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Assistant Psychologist

The closing date is 09 October 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Psychologist to be appointed on a permanent basis to work with the Hiraeth Service.The Hiraeth Service was developed to provide an innovative, psychologically informed, approach to working with people with long-term, complex mental health difficulties, who have not been able to engage with, or benefit from intervention provided by core, Tier 2 services. The Hiraeth Service aims to offer a whole systems approach to developing a cohesive and consistent care pathway for individuals who present with complexmental health needs, ensuring the ability to engage in the delivery of shared care and promote partnership working. The service has beendeveloped to support individuals who have become 'stuck' in the cycle of increasing expression of risk behaviours, and the resulting increase incontrol measures taken by services in order to manage this risk e.g. ongoing hospital admission, increase in levels of observation, detention underthe Mental Health Act, and placements in secure settings. Hiraeth aims to work extensively with the individual, and existing teams and providers,in order to develop a thorough psychological understanding of an individual's ongoing distress, and to understand the function of risk behaviours,to implement positive risk management plans.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will support the provision and evaluation of an innovative approach to delivering mental health care for individuals with severe,enduring and complex mental health needs. This will involve conducting psychological assessments and the delivery of appropriate individual andgroup therapeutic interventions under the guidance and supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist. The post holder will need to workautonomously and use their initiative and will need to be a good representative of the profession.

Professional support and clinical supervision will be provided by the Principal Psychologist and the Clinical and Strategic Lead for Hiraeth.Opportunities for peer support are also available through the adult psychology speciality and wider psychology network.

The post holder will be responsible foro Undertaking psychological assessments and interventions as part of the multi-professional team and as delegated by the ClinicalPsychologist.o Forming and maintaining a relationship with service users with highly complex mental health needso Undertaking clinically relevant research, service evaluation and audit as guided by the Clinical Psychologist.o Supporting the Clinical Psychologist to undertake teaching and training.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to applyPlease note that we will only accept applications from staff currently employed by Aneurin Bevan University Local Health Board.

About us

English -

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is a multi-award winning NHS organisation with a passion for caring. The Health Board provides an exceptional workplace where you can feel trusted and valued. Whatever your specialty or stage in your career, we have opportunities for everyone to start, grow and build your career. The health board provides integrated acute, primary and community care serving a population of 650,000 and employing over 16,000 staff.

We offer a fantastic benefits package and extensive training and development opportunities with paid mandatory training, excellent in-house programmes, opportunities to complete recognised qualifications and professional career pathways including a range of management development programmes. We offer flexible working and promote a healthy work life balance, provide occupational health support and an ambitious plan for a Wellbeing Centre of Excellence to support you at work.

Our Clinical Futures strategy continues to enhance and promote care closer to home as well as high quality hospital care when needed. This includes the Grange University Hospital which provides specialist and critical care and is the newest addition to the clinical futures strategy opening in November 2020. Join us on our journey to pioneer new ways of working and deliver a world-class healthcare service fit for the future.

Details

Date posted

26 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,516 to £38,364 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

040-ACS275-0925

Job locations

St Cadoc's Hospital

Lodge Road

Caerleon

NP18 3XQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for:

Undertaking psychological assessments and interventions as part of the multi-professional team and as delegated by the ClinicalPsychologist. Forming and maintaining a relationship with service users with highly complex mental health needs Undertaking clinically relevant research, service evaluation and audit as guided by the Clinical Psychologist. Supporting the Clinical Psychologist to undertake teaching and training. Carry out other duties as part of the role and as delegated by the Clinical Psychologist.

Please see attached job description for full details.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for:

Undertaking psychological assessments and interventions as part of the multi-professional team and as delegated by the ClinicalPsychologist. Forming and maintaining a relationship with service users with highly complex mental health needs Undertaking clinically relevant research, service evaluation and audit as guided by the Clinical Psychologist. Supporting the Clinical Psychologist to undertake teaching and training. Carry out other duties as part of the role and as delegated by the Clinical Psychologist.

Please see attached job description for full details.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • o Undergraduate Degree (in psychology or conversion)
  • o Eligibility for Graduate Membership of the BPS

Desirable

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

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of providing psychological interventions on an individual and group basis

Desirable

  • Experiences of working with people with complex mental health difficulties
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • o Undergraduate Degree (in psychology or conversion)
  • o Eligibility for Graduate Membership of the BPS

Desirable

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

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of providing psychological interventions on an individual and group basis

Desirable

  • Experiences of working with people with complex mental health difficulties

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

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Address

St Cadoc's Hospital

Lodge Road

Caerleon

NP18 3XQ


Employer's website

https://abuhb.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Address

St Cadoc's Hospital

Lodge Road

Caerleon

NP18 3XQ


Employer's website

https://abuhb.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Dr Clare Sandford

clare.sandford@wales.nhs.uk

01633436738

Details

Date posted

26 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,516 to £38,364 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

040-ACS275-0925

Job locations

St Cadoc's Hospital

Lodge Road

Caerleon

NP18 3XQ


Supporting documents

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