Assistant Psychologist

NHS; Lichfield; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is seeking an Assistant Psychologist to conduct psychological assessments and support treatment plans for young individuals in a forensic setting. Candidates should have a relevant psychology degree and experience working with people facing psychological challenges. This position is crucial for improving the psychological well-being of service users.

Qualifications

• Experience working with people in psychological distress.
• Experience with individuals who have caused harm to others.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychological assessments including neuropsychological tests.
• Assist in treatment plan formulation and delivery.
• Cooperate with clinical and operational staff.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Therapeutic group coordination

Assessment methods

Education

Upper second class honours degree in psychology

Postgraduate training in professional psychology

Job description

Assistant Psychologist

The closing date is 08 December 2025

The role is across the DEE and PIPE services at HMP/ YOI Swinfen Hall. The Delta Enabling Environment (DEE) and the Psychologically Informed Planned Environment (PIPE) are both located on D and E wing at HMP/ YOI Swinfen Hall, which is a category C prison for young men aged between 18 and 28 years of age. Both services are part of the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) pathway, a set of psychologically‑informed services operating across criminal justice and health. OPD services are formulation‑led and aim to reduce risk associated with serious re‑offending and to improve the psychological well‑being of people who have caused others harm.

The DEE Service is located on D wing and supports 30 young people who have screened onto the OPD pathway. It is an assessment and treatment service which works with service users for an average of approximately 2 years. The team is psychologically led and is made up of clinical and forensic psychologists, psychotherapists, creative therapists, occupational therapists, custodial managers and intervention prison officers. The team uses a variety of models, including compassion‑focused therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, mentalisation‑based therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and systemic models.

Main duties of the job

The PIPE Service is located on E wing and supports 60 young people who have screened onto the OPD pathway. The PIPE model has been developed as an environmental approach to enhance the delivery of core work within prisons and probation (community) settings, where additional psychological or "psychosocial" considerations are required. The PIPE Service on E wing is a Provision and Progression PIPE which works with young people who are currently engaging in offending behaviour treatment (Provision PIPE) or who have completed all or part of their offending behaviour treatment and are consolidating skills (Progression PIPE). Young people can volunteer to engage with PIPE for approximately 2 years. The service is clinically led and prison‑officer delivered. The team consists of forensic psychologists, occupational therapist technician, custodial managers and intervention prison officers. Staff members have additional training to develop increased psychological understanding of their work, enabling them to create a safer and supportive environment.

Job responsibilities

The main role of the Assistant Psychologist is to undertake protocol‑based psychological assessments of service users, including neuropsychological tests; self‑report measures; rating scales; direct and indirect structured observations; and semi‑structured interviews with service users and others involved in the service users' care. To assist in the formulation and delivery of treatment plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a service users' problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist. To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups, to work with the clinical and operational (prison) staff, to attend and contribute to appropriate multi‑disciplinary meetings, and to communicate professionally and effectively using interpersonal skills with service users and colleagues.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology with entitlement to graduate membership of BPS
• Completion of further postgraduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology (e.g., Masters)

Experience

• Experience of working with people with psychological distress
• Experience of working with people who have caused others harm

Behaviours and Values

• Interact effectively with staff from all disciplines
• Positively interact with people presenting with psychological distress
• Work compassionately with people who have caused harm to others
• Have an interest in working within a forensic setting

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust