Assistant Psychologist

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust; Seaham; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an Assistant Psychologist to join the Adult Learning Disabilities East Durham Integrated Community Team. You will work under supervision to assess and formulate care for adults with learning disabilities and related health needs.

The role involves collaboration within a multidisciplinary team, delivering individual and group psychological interventions, and supporting families and carers.

Qualifications

• A degree in psychology and eligibility for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society.
• Postgraduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice or research design and analysis.
• Experience or willingness to travel across the locality and work under supervision.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to assessment and formulation of adults with learning disabilities and co-occurring health needs.
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver high standards of psychological care.
• Provide specialist assessment to individuals and their networks and help plan interventions.
• Manage a caseload and deliver group and individual psychological interventions.
• Support professional development and training opportunities.

Skills

Psychology knowledge

Graduate membership eligibility

Clinical psychology basics

Interpersonal communication

Time management

Learning disability knowledge

Clinical supervision

Education

Degree in psychology

Graduate membership eligibility

Postgraduate training in relevant areas

Job description

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant Psychologist

The closing date is 29 October 2026

This vacancy is for an Assistant Psychologist working in our Adult Learning Disability East Durham Integrated Community Team

You will be working in a friendly and supportive MDT environment. The service user group we support is adults with a learning disability residing within the Durham service area.

The successful candidate will be enthusiastic, motivated and able to manage their time effectively. They will demonstrate a commitment to delivering excellent psychological care and evidence-based practice, under the supervision of Applied Psychologists. They will work in a range of settings, including hospital environments, contributing to assessment and intervention for adults presenting with a range of health needs and with learning disabilities.

Due to the nature of the role it is essential that applicants are able to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

You must have the Right to Work in the UK in order to be successfully appointed to this role. Please note, this role does not meet the required eligibility criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa and therefore the Trust is unable to offer sponsorship for this particular role.

Main duties of the job

We believe in working with our local communities and building strong links with families, and provider agencies to achieve positive outcomes for the person at the centre of our care. We are seeking an Assistant Psychologist who can work as an integral part of the Psychologyteam and wider multi-disciplinary team.

We are looking for an Assistant Psychologist who is passionate about working with people with learning disabilities, who is enthusiastic and creative in their working. We require Assistant Psychologists who believe in working alongside individuals and their networks to strengthen the individuals preferred identifies and values to enable new possibilities. You will learn to provide specialist assessment to individuals with learning disabilities and their families or carers. You will learn to formulate and plan interventions for people with learning disabilities and the network around them.

Psychologists & Psychological Therapists provide key leadership roles within the Trust. To support this we have developed leadership profiles for each psychology band and the profile card associated with this post is attached on NHS Jobs. You can find more information about the NHS Leadership Academy's Healthcare Leadership Model and the profiles at their website. We encourage you to look at these resources as they will play a part in the interview process.

About us

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care --our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won't rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will work under the supervision of a Qualified Clinical Psychologist, contributing to the assessment and formulation of adults with a learning disability with a range of co-occurring health needs such as behavioural difficulties, anxiety, depression, trauma and autism.

All necessary training will be provided. We welcome applicants from a motivated individual, who would like to work within the Adult Learning Disabilities field.

As an Assistant Psychologist you will be part of a multi-disciplinary team working together to deliver a high level of care and support for people with learning disabilities. The day-to-day duties will vary but will mainly consist of managing a caseload of patients and delivering both group and individual psychological interventions. Whilst the posts are primarily based within the team specified flexibility will be expected if required to work into other community or inpatient settings within Learning Disability services in the Durham area.

You will be supported by a senior clinical team and wider professionals in managing patient care.

This rewarding post will offer opportunities for continued professional development and training in mental health practice. With the strong links we have with our local universities post-grad qualifications can be supported throughout your career pathway.

The post is across the Durham area. Due to the nature of the role, it is essential applicants are able to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree in psychology
• Eligible for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
• Post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.

Experience

• Some experience of people using services in psychological, mental health and/or social care settings. This may include, for example, personal experience or supporting a family member to access services.
• Experience in discussing and responding to issues related to cultural diversity, intersectionality and inclusivity, including working with vulnerable groups (e.g. those for whom English is not their first language).

Knowledge/Experience

• Experience of communicating sensitive information
• Experience of work interacting with the public
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental ill health or learning disabilities
• An awareness of the application of psychology to health care
• Demonstrate an awareness of confidentiality within healthcare
• Awareness of the British Psychological Society Code of Conduct
• Awareness of systemic barriers to accessing psychological services/healthcare for minoritised communities
• Experience as a psychology assistant (paid or voluntary)
• Experience working with people with mental health distress, learning disabilities or neurodiversity (paid or voluntary)
• Experience of clinical audit, research or service evaluation
• Experience using statistical software packages e.g. R Studio
• Experience of using psychometric assessments
• Awareness of increasing access to psychological services/healthcare for minoritised communities
• An ability to apply psychological knowledge to the population described in the job advert

Skills

• Ability to communicate information (verbal and written) effectively in a manner appropriate to the individual and situation
• Record Keeping (within agreed timescale)
• Methodical and accurate approach to data collection and analysis
• Competence in using psychometric assessment tools (within agreed timescale)
• Breakaway techniques (within agreed timescale)
• Awareness of the need to learn and develop through a variety of methods and experiences
• Experience of clinical report writing

Other Reqirements

• Ability to travel independently in accordance with Trust policies and service need.
• This post is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check

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.

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust