Assistant Psychologist

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A health service organization in Chelmsford is seeking an Assistant Psychologist to support their Offender Personality Disorder service. This role involves working with professionals in health and probation to contribute to interventions and research. Candidates should possess a psychology degree and relevant training, with flexible working from day one. The expected salary ranges from £27,485 to £30,162 per annum.

Benefits

27 days holiday plus bank holidays

Excellent pension scheme

Staff discounts and benefits

Relocation package up to £8k

Season ticket loans are interest-free

Qualifications

• Degree in psychology and GBR membership required.
• Additional training in personality disorder preferred.
• Experience using electronic information systems is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Support the OPD service and contribute to interventions.
• Facilitate direct interventions for clients.
• Input into Core and IIRMS services.

Skills

Knowledge of mental health and psychological ways of understanding people

Experience with offenders

Understanding of personality disorder

Ability to apply psychological knowledge

Knowledge of CBT application

Education

Upper second-class honours degree or higher in psychology

Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Training relevant to working with personality disorder

Job description

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant Psychologist

The closing date is 04 December 2025

An exciting opportunity for a new Assistant Psychologist has arisen to support the Essex Offender Personality Disorder (Essex OPD) service.

Essex OPD is a jointly commissioned service with HMPPS which offers consultation, training and support to Probation Practitioners working with people on probation who have a likely or diagnosed personality disorder. The post holder would work alongside qualified psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Probation Officers and other professionals in health and probation settings to support service objectives. This would include supporting the recommendations from formulations, supporting group and individual interventions in addition to contributing to research and service evaluation. The role is largely remote with a nominal base in Chelmsford. It would involve some travel across Essex, particularly to the local Approved Premises (AP) in Basildon and the local probation office there also.

This advert will close early due to a high number of applications, please ensure your applications are submitted as soon as possible as late submissions will not be accepted.

Main duties of the job

The post holder would have input into both the Core and Intensive Integrated Risk Management Service (IIRMS), locally called RAISE. This would include input into the running of a local hub where face‑to‑face interventions are implemented and helping to facilitate other direct interventions for those who meet service inclusion criteria.

About us

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest‑free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for a detailed list of responsibilities.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

• An upper second-class honours degree or higher in psychology
• Entitlement to graduate membership and the Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) of the British Psychological Society
• Additional training relevant to working with personality disorder and or working in a criminal justice setting

Knowledge

• Knowledge of mental health and psychological ways of understanding people with mental health problems or other disabilities
• Knowledge of some of the challenges posed when working with offenders
• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context
• Experience or understanding of using an electronic information system
• Understanding of personality disorder
• Knowledge of a psychological model such as CBT and its application in clinical settings

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.

£27,485 to £30,162 a yearper annum pro rata