Assistant Psychologist (Cancer)

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced and enthusiastic assistant psychologist to join the Cancer team. The post involves working under supervision to provide a specialist psychology service for cancer and palliative patients across University Hospitals Tees.

You will support multidisciplinary assessment and intervention, conduct screening and triage in inpatient and outpatient settings, and contribute to a compassionate, evidence-based care pathway.

Qualifications

• Understanding the needs of people with physical health difficulties
• Knowledge of the BPS Code of Conduct
• High-level communication skills (written and verbal)
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues

Responsibilities

• Provide a specialist medical psychology service under supervision
• Support in delivering psychologically informed services to cancer and palliative patients
• Undertake screening, triage and neuropsychological assessments under supervision
• Deliver psychological interventions in line with protocols for medical patients
• Attend clinics, conduct home visits, lead group sessions within the MDT

Skills

Communication skills

Confidentiality awareness

Cancer care awareness

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor-level psychology degree

Graduate membership of British Psychological Society

Postgraduate training/experience in psychology

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic assistant psychologist to join our Cancer team . The team works across Group Hospitals of Tees.

To provide, under supervision, a specialist medical psychology service, ensuring effective, caring and compassionate services to patients.

To support in providing a psychologically informed service to patients in the Cancer and Palliative service.

To aid in the provision of specialist, multi-disciplinary assessments and interventions as part of a muti-disciplinary team, under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist.

To undertake psychological screening and triage of medical patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

To undertake, under supervision, psychological / neuropsychological assessments.

To deliver, under supervision, psychological interventions in line with agreed protocols for medical patients

Main duties of the job

The post w ill include working with patients to support their psychological well-being during their time in the Service. The role involves attending clinics, conducting home visits, delivering group sessions and assessing patients with cancer. The post-holder would also be a key worker within the Multi-Disciplinary Team ( MDT).

Enthusiasm and passion for joining all relevant aspects of the service and working with others embedded in the team will be essential .

The post-holder will also be a member of the Medical Psychology team with access to suppo rt, trai ning and supervision as well as networking with other assistant psychologist s and clinicians.

Working for our organisation

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have come together to form University Hospitals Tees. As a result, post holders may be required to work across sites within both organisations.

Across University Hospitals Tees, our ambition is to be the best place to work, ensuring we have the right staff in the right roles at the right time to deliver outstanding patient care and experience.

We are committed to supporting our staff through an inclusive and supportive working environment, offering health and wellbeing initiatives, staff benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional development.

We support the 'Making Every Contact Count' approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) attached for main responsibilities of the role.

Person specification

Qualifications & Training

• Upper 2nd class honours degree, or higher, in psychology.
• Eligibility for graduate membership of British Psychological Society.
• Further postgraduate training or experience in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.

Experience

• Experience of working within public health.
• Experience of data analysis and recording.
• Knowledge of evidence-based practice.
• Experience of conducting literature searches and reviews.
• Experience of working in cancer.
• Experience of providing individual or group interventions.
• Experience of psychometric test administration and interpretation.
• Experience of working alongside a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed.
• An ability to work as part of a team and maintain good relationships with colleagues.
• Ability to meet travel requirements for the post.
• An ability to show initiative when required and a willingness to share ideas with others.
• Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a physical health context.
• Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
• An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
• Able to manage own stress in difficult conditions and to identify when additional personal support may be necessary.
• Ability to meet travel requirements for the post.
• Aptitude for developing creative and adaptive ways of engaging service users.
• A high standard of report writing.
• A desire to explore a career in professional psychology.

Knowledge and Skills

• An understanding of the needs of people with physical health difficulties and/or other disabilities.
• Knowledge of the British Psychological Society Code of Conduct.
• High-level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
• Demonstrates understanding of issues relating to confidentiality.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues.
• An understanding of the needs of people undergoing cancer care.

Important - Once sufficient applications have been received this vacancy may close early.

Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS) It is the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month’s pay.

Qualifications Please note the essential qualifications required for the post are outlined within the Person Specification. You are required to provide original evidence of the necessary qualifications for the post at interview should you be shortlisted. You will also be required to provide original copies as part of the pre-employment check screening.

New Starters – Probationary Period

For any new employees commencing employment with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, you will be subject to satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period. Please note that internal applications and individuals that are appointed to fixed term appointments of less than 6 months duration are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or a bank member of staff).

Employment References

As part of our pre-employment screening process, all applicants are required to provide references covering their last three years employment history including any gaps. Applicants are requested to ensure e‑mail addresses for all referees are included on their application form. Personal references are not acceptable.

Working Hours

If the hours advertised for the post are up to full time (37.5 hours per week), applications are still welcomed from individuals who may be seeking to work less than full‑time hours and all requests will be considered in line with the post being appointed to the successful applicant.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Everything we do is shaped by our values: Respect, Support, and Collaborate.

At University Hospitals Tees we want our workspaces to be places where everyone feels welcome, valued and safe. We treat people with respect, and we celebrate the differences that make each of us unique.

We welcome applications from everyone, no matter your age, background, race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family circumstances or beliefs.

We are here to supportyou throughout your application and at every stage of your career with us. We believe we work best when we collaborate, learn from each other and build teams that reflect the communities we serve.

Supporting disabled people and people with long‑term conditions

We are a Disability Confident committed employer aspiring to become a lead employer in 2026.

This means we give fair and full consideration to applicants and will offer reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process.

Right to Work in the UK

The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self‑assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship hereWork in the UK - GOV.UK ( www.gov.uk ).

Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.

Please note that not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.

Further Important Information

Please check your email on a regular basis for updates on your application. If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be invited to email via this method.

Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants.

Please ensure you read the ‘Guidance Notes for Applicants’ document attached to this advert before completing and submitting your application.

Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to all applicants and those who are not contacted within six weeks of the closing date should assume that their application has been unsuccessful.

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 note that this vacancy will close when we receive sufficient completed applications.