Higher Assistant Psychologist

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

1 x Band 5 Higher Assistant Psychologist

Fixed Term Contract - 8 months to cover maternity leave

Rehabilitation and Recovery Inpatient Services

We are delighted to invite applications for an 8-month fixed-term contract B5 Higher Assistant Psychologist post in the rehabilitation and recovery inpatient services in the South Locality of CNTW NHS Foundation Trust. This is to provide maternity leave cover. The successful post-holder will be based at Hopewood Park in Ryhope, Sunderland where there is dedicated shared office space.

The broad remit of the role involves working as part of multidisciplinary ward-based teams using a biopsychosocial model supporting the formulation process and providing specialist psychologically informed assessments and interventions. The post holder will receive weekly clinical supervision from a qualified member of the psychology team.

Main duties of the job

The post holder's main duties are to assist the qualified members of the psychology team in the delivery of psychological services in the rehabilitation and recovery inpatient pathway. Responsibilities include:

1. Providing specialist psychologically informed assessments and interventions.
2. Producing professional reports.
3. Supporting the service in the delivery of training initiatives.
4. Utilising research skills for audit, literature reviews, service development, and other research initiatives within the pathway or the wider service.
5. Working independently to an appropriate level.
6. Providing compassionate care based on empathy, kindness, respect, and dignity.

About us

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented, and committed workforce who are caring and compassionate and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return, we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

We believe in the development of our staff and the post holder will be encouraged to engage in continued professional development opportunities.

Job responsibilities

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date: 13th February 2025

Closing date: 27th February 2025

We welcome your application.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Upper 2nd class honours degree, or higher, in Psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
• Further postgraduate training in relevant areas of psychology; mental health practice; and/or research design and analysis.

Knowledge and Experience

• Paid or unpaid work with people with mental health problems and/or disabilities. Experience as an assistant/research psychologist. Knowledge of evidence-based practice.
• Experience of paid work in direct care provision. Experience with client group(s) relevant to the post. Experience of psychometric test administration and interpretation. Experience of providing individual or group interventions.

Skills and Competencies

• High level of communication skills (written and oral), including an ability to communicate and work in highly emotive circumstances. Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers, and colleagues. An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems. Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health/cognitive impairment/disability context.
• Computer literate, including use of databases & data analysis, e.g. SPSS for Windows. Demonstrates graduate level knowledge and experience of research and research methodology. An understanding of psychology as applied to healthcare.
• A 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.