Assistant Psychologist

Integrated Care System; Weymouth; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is seeking an Assistant Psychologist to join the Dorset Pain Management Service. The role involves conducting psychological assessments, contributing to care plans, and working in a hybrid setting across North and West Dorset. Candidates should have a relevant degree and experience with long-term health conditions. This position offers a chance to work within a supportive team dedicated to enhancing patient care.

Qualifications

• Experience working with people with long term conditions.
• Understanding of needs and difficulties of patients with long term health conditions.
• Further post-graduate training in relevant psychology areas.

Responsibilities

• Conduct protocol-based psychological assessments under supervision.
• Contribute to care plans involving psychological treatment.
• Assist in developing and coordinating multidisciplinary therapeutic groups.

Skills

High level written communication skills

Ability to communicate sensitive information

Evidence of high standard report writing

Education

Upper second class honours degree in Psychology

Eligibility for British Psychological Society membership

Tools

IT systems and databases

Job description

Go back Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant Psychologist

The closing date is 21 August 2025

We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced Assistant Psychologist to join the Dorset Pain Management Service. The successful candidate will ideally have experience of working with patients with long term conditions.

The post is to cover North and West Dorset and the team base will be Littlemoor Health Centre with hybrid working and face to face clinics in locations across the patch.

The Dorset Pain Management Service is a vibrant service, consisting of an inter-professional team. We employ modernised clinical practice to help people coping with chronic, non-malignant pain lead meaningful lives.

Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder operates within a setting for the provision of mental and physical healthcare and clinical practice.

Involved in assessment, care planning and interventions supporting physical and mentalwell being on an individual and group basis.

Routine involvement in the use and management of information systems for audit andresearch.

To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients applying psychological approaches, including neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirectstructured observations with clients, family members and others involved in the client'scare, under the supervision of a clinical psychologist.

To contribute to the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychologicaltreatment and/or management of a client's problems, under the supervision of a clinicalpsychologist, in community, out-patient settings.

To assist in the development, coordination and running of multi-disciplinary therapeuticgroups as required.

About us

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do

Job responsibilities

Our pan-Dorset service offers individual interventions and group programmes in various locations county wide; these are delivered by two teams across the county. The staff mix includes pain consultants, psychologists, specialist physiotherapists, pain and mental health nurses, occupational therapists, therapy assistants, trainees from various departments and our hardworking admin support team.

In addition to the clinical element, there is a strong educational component, and our staff are involved in local training initiatives within primary and secondary care; we also present our work and our model at national and international platforms. The strongest element of our service is our fantastic service user movement, for more information visit our website: www.dorsetpain.org.uk

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact [e-mail]

Person Specification

Qualifications

• An upper second class honours degree or higher in Psychology
• Eligibility to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.

Experience

• Work with people with long term conditions (mental or physical health)
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with long term health conditions
• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a long term conditions context
• An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
• Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
• Experience of using a variety of IT systems and data bases

Skills

• High level written communication skills
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
• Evidence of high standard report writing

Personal Qualities

• An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines. An ability to interact warmly with people with mental health problems or long term conditions.
• An ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals
• Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively
• An interest in working with people with persistent pain
• A full, current driving licence and a car for use of which travel expenses will be paid
• An intention to pursue a career in clinical psychology.

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

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust