Assistant Psychologist

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne And Wear Nhs Foundation Trust; Horsham; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Part time

Job summary

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust in Northumberland invites applications for an Assistant Psychologist in the Early Intervention in Psychosis Team. The role is a 12-month fixed-term, part-time position within the NHS framework, offering opportunities to engage with first episode psychosis care.

You will work in a multidisciplinary team, deliver CBT-based interventions, and gain experience in early psychosis, treatment approaches and research-enabled service

Qualifications

• Must hold an honours degree in psychology (2:1 or higher) and be eligible for BPS Graduate Membership.
• Experience or understanding of evidence-based practice in mental health settings is expected.
• Desirable: further postgraduate training in psychology, mental health practice or research design and analysis.

Responsibilities

• Provide support within the Early Intervention in Psychosis Team and assist weekly MDT and audits.
• Deliver psychosocial interventions (CBT-based) and behavioural activation or graded exposure principles.
• Support service development initiatives to increase access and reduce health inequalities.
• Receive supervision from the team and a Clinical Psychologist and contribute to research-related activities.

Skills

High-level communication

Sensitive information handling

Mental health needs understanding

Apply psychology knowledge

Report writing

Education

Upper 2nd class honours in psychology

Eligibility for graduate membership of British Psychological Society

Postgraduate training in psychology/mental health/research (desirable)

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a 12 month fixed term appointment for an Assistant Psychologist within the Northumberland Early Intervention in Psychosis Team.
We are looking for individuals with enthusiasm and an interest in the area of first episode psychosis. Applicants must be able to work in a multi-disciplinary team. This would be an excellent opportunity for anyone who is keen to gain experience of working with people who experience psychosis.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide a role within the service in supporting the weekly MDT, service evaluation activity and audit and the delivery of psychosocial interventions (CBT-based). You will deliver interventions to suitable clients to support them to work towards their goals, often using behavioural activation or graded exposure principles.
This is a varied role, you will receive support and supervision from the whole team, and supervision from a Clinical Psychologist.
The post holder will gain experience in early psychosis, treatment approaches and the importance of reducing stigma and promoting well-being. The service and the psychosis pathway have a strong relationship with research and supporting research may form part of the role. You will also support service development, including initiatives to increase access and reduce health inequalities.

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.
This post covers Northumberland and the post holder will need to travel across the whole locality. The selection process involves formal interview and you will require Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced clearance before commencement of duties.

Details

Date posted: 27 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 4
Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year pro rata per annum
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 263-CCG26-413-AB
Closing date: 10 November 2026

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

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

Knowledge and Experience

• Essential: Paid or unpaid work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
• Essential: Knowledge of evidence based practice
• Desirable: Experience of paid work in direct care provision.
• Desirable: Experience with client group relevant to post.
• Desirable: Experience of psychometric test administration and interpretation.
• Desirable: Experience of providing individual or group interventions.

Skills and Competencies

• Essential: High level of communication skills (written and oral), including an ability to communicate and work in highly emotive circumstances.
• Essential: Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues.
• Essential: An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and other disabilities.
• Essential: Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health / cognitive impairment / disability context.
• Desirable: 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.

Employer details

Employer name: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Greenacres, Green Lane, Ashington, NE63 8BL, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/careers/

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact: Principal Psychologist Helen Bolas [e-mail]