Assistant Psychologist

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust; Stockport; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust in Stockport is advertising two full-time Assistant Psychologist positions in the adult acute inpatient setting. Band 4, NHS AfC, contract permanent, 37.5 hours per week, with evening and weekend work to meet service needs.

The role involves supporting psychological care on the female acute ward for adults, with supervision from a Practitioner Psychologist and collaboration within a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• A first or upper second class honours degree in psychology.
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and / or research design and analysis.

Responsibilities

• Support and enhance psychological care on adults within acute wards.
• Provide assessments and interventions under supervision (1:1 and/or group).
• Carry out structured assessments, observations and outcome measures.
• Support development of care plans and ward-based formulations.
• Assist with audits, projects, evaluation and service improvement.

Skills

Communication skills

Research design

Psychology knowledge

Education

Honours degree in psychology (first or upper second)

Graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Postgraduate training in psychology/mental health/research design

Tools

Neuropsychological tests

Psychometric assessments

Job description

All our live jobs are listed here. If you can't find the job or role you're looking for, please do check back or register your interest for jobs so we can keep you posted.

Main area Assistant Psychologist - Adult Acute Inpatient Grade NHS AfC: Band 4 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (will include evening and weekend hours to meet service needs) Job ref 311-S726-26-B

Site Norbury Ward, Stepping Hill Hospital Town Stockport Salary £28,392 - £31,157 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 21/09/2026 23:59

If you are Kind, Fair, Ingenious and Determined then we want you to come and join our#PennineCarePeople

We are delighted to advertise two exciting opportunities for Assistant Psychologists to join the expanding psychology provision within our female adult acute inpatient ward in Stockport.

These full-time Band 4 permanent positions forms part of significant new investment in our service and form a key part of developing, supporting and strengthening our female model of care. As part of our improvement journey, our female acute wards strive to create a safe, respectful and trauma and gender-informed environment where women and staff feel valued, heard and supported. Care is shaped by dignity, choice and collaboration, with clarity around individual needs. We want each admission to be both purposeful and therapeutic.

The successful candidates will join qualified practitioner psychologists and the wider multidisciplinary team to support the delivery of high-quality, compassionate, psychologically informed care for women experiencing a distressing mental health crisis.

The postholders will be required to work flexibly, which will include evening and weekend hours to meet service needs.

Main duties of the job

As outlined in the job description, the main duties include:

• To support and enhance the psychological care of adults within acute mental health wards setting. This includes supporting the delivery of the female model of care, ensuring the ward environment and daily interactions reflect psychological and gender- and trauma-informed and recovery focused principles
• Providing psychological assessments and interventions under clinical supervision. This may be through 1:1 and/or group sessions, to adults with complex mental health needs.
• Carrying out structured assessments, observations and outcome measures
• Supporting the development of care plans and ward-based formulations
• Assisting with audits and projects, evaluation, and service improvement activity
• Helping to maintain high-quality clinical documentation and data collection
• Attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings, reflective spaces, staff support, and the wider ward culture

You will receive clinical supervision from a Practitioner Psychologist and join peer supervision with other Assistant Psychologists in the acute pathway.

Working for our organisation

Our acute and crisis pathway provides an evidence-based, high quality service across psychiatric intensive care units, adult acute wards, Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Teams and Mental Health Liaison Teams covering half of Greater Manchester.

The Trustwide acute and crisis psychology team meets regularly for team meetings, CPD and a facilitated reflective group and has leadership from a Clinical Lead for the adult acute pathway.

We are passionate about staff well-being and compassionate leadership. Our staff survey results support this. In the latest national NHS Staff Survey (2024) Pennine Care was ranked as the best mental health and learning disability trust in the North .

We support staff to work flexibly and recognise and respect the roles our colleagues hold outside of working hours. This focus helps us to retain staff and ensure people are happy in their place of work.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the top of our agenda. We know a diverse, inclusive and engaged culture is vital; that everyone's value should be recognised and respected.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a more detailed overview of the roles job description and main responsibilities, please see the attached job description and personal specification.

Please refer to the essential criteria in the person specification which will highlight the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to demonstrate in your application, by way of example, to give yourself the best opportunity to be shortlisted.

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

• A first or upper second class honours degree in psychology
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and / or research design and analysis

Experience

• Experience of working with people with mental health problems
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Previous experience as an Assistant Psychologist
• Previous experience of paid or voluntary work in an acute mental health setting
• Experience of working with complex mental health difficulties including psychosis
• Experience of adapting materials to make them accessible for people with cognitive difficulties.
• Experience of using neuropsychological and psychometric assessments.
• Experience of service evaluation.
• Experience using word processing tools, spread sheets and statistical

Knowledge

• Have an understanding of psychological approaches to understanding complex mental health difficulties
• Have a good knowledge of psychological theories.
• High standard of report writing

Skills and Abilities

• High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive and challenging.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in way that enhances psychological mindedness.
• Ability to design and evaluate research projects relevant to Applied Psychology.

Work Related Circumstances

• Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the Trust footprint in line with service needs
• Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust’s Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies
• Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.
• Be able to work flexibly in accordance with service need (e.g. evenings, weekends)

Application support - We recommend tailoring your application to each role you apply for, particularly your supporting information. This gives you the best chance of success. Your supporting information should clearly explain, with examples, how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role.

We are aware of the increase in AI being used for job applications. AI can be a useful tool to assist in writing your application, but these tools may not understand the context or requirements of the job you are applying for and using for all your application will not be a true reflection of your skills and experience. Relying on AI for your whole application can negatively impact on your chances of success throughout the recruitment process as you will be asked to provide evidence to support what you have written. Take the time to proofread your application to ensure you can evidence what you have submitted, whether this is by your experience or certificates

After You Apply - Once your application is submitted, you’ll receive updates via email. Shortlisting is based on how well you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview, and invitations will be sent by email.

If You're Offered the Role -

If successful, the hiring manager will contact you directly with a verbal offer. They will then notify the Recruitment Team and submit the necessary paperwork. You’ll receive a formal conditional offer via email

Pre-Employment Checks -

To confirm your suitability for the role, we will carry out pre-employment checks in line with NHS Employment Check Standards . These include:

• Identity verification
• Right to work check
• Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role)
• Professional registration and/or qualification check
• Occupational health assessment
• Employment history and reference validation

All applicants external to Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their HMRC employment history to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history andreferences.If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current government guidance. If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.

Once Checks Are Complete -

The Recruitment Team will coordinate with you and the hiring manager to confirm a start date. You’ll be booked onto a Trust Welcome Session and receive your Pennine Care NHS Terms and Conditions.

Pennine Care are committed to the 'Pledge to Flex' initiative as flexible working is a day one right for all colleagues. "We can work flexibly, doing whatever work pattern fits our needs, regardless of the type of role we’re in. As a modern and model employer, flexible and less than full-time working isn’t a barrier to progress in the NHS - it is commonplace" This policy brings this part of the People Promise to life. It will provide you with the information you need, support you to have conversations and take steps towards working in a way that suits you best.

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds to help us grow, innovate, and improve.

If you wish to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.

If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us on 0161 716 3181 as early as possible so we can support you.

Please note:

• We do not accept unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies. Hiring managers should not be contacted directly.

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. If you have a disability or long-term health condition and need extra time or adjustments to complete your application, please contact us as soon as possible. We will ensure you are not disadvantaged where a reasonable adjustment is appropriate.

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

We may close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. To ensure your application is considered, please apply as soon as possible.