Assistant Psychologist

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in Portsmouth is recruiting an Assistant Psychologist to join the CAMHS-LD team. The role focuses on assessment of children with complex needs and working within a multidisciplinary team to support care planning.

You will receive regular supervision, opportunities to develop expertise in parent interviews, structured observations, PBS and cognitive assessments, and contribute to MDT assessments while engaging with children and families.

Qualifications

• Hold an upper second or higher BSc/BA Hons degree in Psychology or equivalent.
• Be eligible for graduate registration with the BPS.

Responsibilities

• Work as part of a CAMHS Learning Disability MDT to assess children with complex needs.
• Undertake direct observations and support data collection for assessments.
• Assist in implementing behaviour support plans and parent interviews under supervision.
• Contribute to care plans through multidisciplinary input and professional development.

Skills

Communication skills

Education

BSc/BA Hons in Psychology or equivalent

Job description

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant Psychologist

The closing date is 15 November 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen in Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, working within the City of Portsmouth. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Learning Disabilities (CAMHS-LD) team are recruiting an Assistant Psychologist to work in their team. This post should appeal to enthusiastic and highly motivated candidates who are interested in developing skills in assessment of children with complex needs.

The post holder will have excellent communication skills and ability to engage children and young people in structured activities.

You will be working as part of a well-established multidisciplinary teams of friendly and highly experienced practitioners. You will have opportunities to develop specialist clinical skills in parent interviews, structured observations and group interventions for PBS and Cognitive Assessment. You will contribute to multi-disciplinary assessments and care plans. You will receive regular supervision from qualified practitioners, where indicated, and will be strongly encouraged to develop professionally.

Main duties of the job

As a CAMHS Learning Disability Assistant Psychologist you will work as a member of an established multi-disciplinary team which provides care to children and young people who have significant Learning Disabilities and are experiences mental health and/or challenging behaviour difficulties.

The post holder with have specific responsibilities to undertake a range of delegated clinical duties in a community setting under the supervision of the case holder. The post holder will contribute to the growth and maintenance of key functions of the clinical area / Team by carrying out assigned tasks such as direct observations, implementing Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) plans and supporting young person's drop-in service. The role will involve direct and indirect care to patients under minimal supervision and as directed by the case holder. The post holder will be expected to support the whole MDT under guidance in delivering care and this includes Occupational Therapy.

Following personal development planning and targeted training you will be in a position to work more autonomously in supporting young people and their families. And you will develop a broad underpinning knowledge base at intermediate level and have the ability to evaluate information and communicate with a range of professionals.

About us

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides joined-up mental and physical healthcare for around two million people across our communities. With over 13,000 staff working in the community and local hospitals, we deliver care at every stage of life, helping people live their best and healthiest lives.

Our mental health services include community-based support and early intervention in psychosis (EIP) for both adults and young people, alongside a network of specialist inpatient wards covering forensic, learning disability, eating disorder and older person's care.

We deliver extensive physical health services too, from urgent community response teams helping frail and older patients remain safely at home, to hospitals at home teams providing acute-level care in familiar surroundings. Our neurological services offer rehabilitation and treatment for conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Head Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Stroke. Across Hampshire, our community hospitals provide inpatient rehabilitation as a step down from acute care, and our dedicated teams also staff Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Portsmouth, offering expert, compassionate support.

Everything we do is underpinned by our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect and excellence

Job responsibilities

Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.

We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Hold an upper second or higher BSc/BA Hons degree in Psychology or equivalent.
• Be eligible for graduate registration with the BPS.

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 name

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St.Mary's Community Health Campus (Portsmouth)

St.Mary's Community Health Campus (Portsmouth)