Assistant Psychologist

Cumbria,-Northumberland,-Tyne-and-Wear-Nhs-Foundation-Trust; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) advertises an Assistant Psychologist (Band 4, full time, 24-month fixed term) to support the North At Risk Mental State (ARMS) service. The role includes evaluating the service, data collection, and interviewing service users under supervision.

You will work with colleagues in the ARMS and Early Intervention in Psychosis teams, based at Benton View/Greenacre Centre, with DBS clearance required before duties commence.

Qualifications

• Degree in psychology with eligibility for BPS
• Postgraduate training in psychology/mental health is desirable
• Experience with research design, data analysis or evaluation projects
• Experience with psychometric instruments and interview techniques
• Knowledge of evidence based practice in mental health care
• Awareness of NHS safeguarding and DBS requirements

Responsibilities

• Evaluate the impact of the ARMS service through data collection and analysis
• Interview service users and assist in assessments under supervision
• Monitor service users and alert clinicians if deterioration occurs
• Support limited direct clinical work and group activities under supervision
• Contribute to multidisciplinary care and evidence-based practice

Skills

Communication skills

Sensitivity

Research methods

SPSS

Healthcare psychology

Report writing

Education

Upper 2nd class honours degree in psychology

Eligibility for graduate membership of British Psychological Society

Further post graduate training in relevant areas of psychology

Job description

Employer Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Benton View Town Forest Hall Salary £28,392 - £31,157 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 09/11/2026 23:59

Assistant Psychologist

Band 4

Hello!

We are so delighted you are considering coming to work with us at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).

We know the power of looking into an organisation, one you might want to work in, or one where you are going to get help, and being able to say, ‘I’ve seen somewhere I can fit in and be myself.’ We’re on a journey to make the Trust an inclusive employer, representative of the community we serve and we want more of our community to consider applying for jobs with us.

Opportunities for you

Spanning east to west coasts from Northumberland to Cumbria and from the Scottish Borders down to Middlesbrough we’ve got exciting new opportunities available at every level and in every area.

We offer flexible working, helping work fit around family and caring responsibilities, or training and development needs and there’s lots on offer in the way of benefits, such as, lease cars, childcare schemes, staff discounts, season tickets for travel and a cycle to work scheme. All this in a vibrant workplace supported by the following staff networks.

• Cultural diversity staff network
• Disabled staff network
• LGBT+ staff network

We also have a number of staff support groups which are open to any staff to attend. These Include:

• Armed Forces and Veterans Staff Network
• Mind, Health and Wellbeing Community
• Menopause toolkit and cafes and staff carer support group

We offer fantastic personal development opportunities through our Collective Leadership Programme and other Organisational Development initiatives. Whatever you are looking for, you will be joining a supportive, friendly team, offering varied and interesting roles, with opportunities for career progression.

We’re always seeking to improve as an organisation. Do you want to be part of that?

Please note that it is a requirement of this Trust that all external applicants pay for their own DBS certification if a DBS check is required for the post. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first monthly pay

Job overview

The North At Risk Mental State (ARMS) is advertising for an assistant psychologist (full time and 24 month fixed term contract) who will support the evaluation of the service, but will also be involved in assessment, monitoring of service users and some limited clinical work. The service will offer the systematic provision of multidisciplinary, and evidence-based bio-psychosocial interventions to those people who are at risk of developing psychosis. The postholder will work with colleagues and be under the supervision of the Principal Clinical Psychologist.

Main duties of the job

The ARMS service is an exciting and important service development that aims to provide interventions as early as possible to people who are help seeking and reporting symptoms that indicate a risk of transition to psychosis. Working alongside an experienced and highly motivated early intervention in psychosis team, you will be part of a relatively newly established ARMS service delivering the best possible practice in contemporary mental health care. Your job purpose will be to evaluate the impact of the service, including data collection and inputting, and interview service users. You will support the functioning of the service, including monitoring service users and alerting qualified clinicians if you think there has been a deterioration in their mental health. Some direct clinical work is likely, with you contributing to the assessment process and possibly supporting group work and other therapeutic work under the close supervision of the Principal Clinical Psychologist.

Working for our organisation

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 the Northumberland and North Tyneside Localities and you would be based at Benton View/Greenacre Ctr, working alongside the Early Intervention in Psychosis teams. The selection process involves formal interview and you will require Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced clearance before commencement of duties.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We are seeking someone motivated, and excited by the prospect of helping set up a new service. You will be flexible to help support the service and need good skills in managing data.

Please find attached job description for full details.

We welcome your application.

Please note - this vacancy may close early once a suitable number of applications are received.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

• Upper 2nd class honours degree, or higher, in psychology
• Eligibility for graduate membership of British Psychological Society
• Further post graduate 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 other disabilities.
• Knowledge of evidence based practice
• Experience of paid work in direct care provision.
• Experience with client group relevant to 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 and other disabilities.
• 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 applied to healthcare.
• A high standard of report writing.

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.

Please ensure to check out all of the supporting documents linked to this advert, for useful information about working for us, information from our Chief Executive and much more.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

Please be aware this vacancy may close earlier than the stated closing date, should an appropriate number of applications be received.

Name Dr Claire Mason Job title Principal Clinical Psychologist Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01916400051 Additional information

Dr Claire Mason, Principal Clinical Psychologist on 0191 64005 or e‑mail, [e-mail] or Clare Houghton on 01661 886064 e‑mail [e-mail]