Assistant Psychologist - Enhanced Support Team

NHS; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS is seeking Assistant Psychologists in Liverpool and Sefton to support young individuals facing mental health challenges. This role involves conducting assessments and delivering therapeutic interventions, alongside a dynamic team dedicated to providing integrated care for children and young people. Applicants are required to have a degree in psychology and relevant experience working in mental health settings.

Qualifications

• Experience working with individuals with mental health problems.
• Research and audit experience.
• Graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.

Responsibilities

• Conduct protocol based psychological assessments.
• Assist in delivering therapeutic interventions under supervision.
• Coordinate and run therapeutic groups.

Skills

High level communication skills

Understanding of mental health issues

Ability to apply psychological knowledge

Education

Upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology

Job description

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for Assistant Psychologists who have an interest and/or experience in working with young people experiencing mental health difficulties to join the Enhanced Support Team working across Liverpool and Sefton. The post will be split across two teams one based in Liverpool and one based in Sefton.

The Enhanced Support Team works with children and young people with complex needs who present with high risk, high harm behaviours and high vulnerability. They are likely to have difficulties in multiple domains which are persistent, severe and are framed by family and social contexts (family disruption, loss, ACEs). This may include for example, children and young people who are involved in youth justice services, not in education employment or training, who engage in substance misuse, have multiple adverse childhood experiences, who are neurodiverse or have speech language and communication difficulties etc. These children and young people are likely to have been referred to multiple services, but there are significant barriers to engagement

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will contribute to the clinical work of the team by providing support and guidance for young people, parents and professionals as part of the integrated working relationships.

In addition:

• Following appropriate induction and under direction and supervision, to undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients including standard psychometric tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client's care.
• To assist in the delivery of therapeutic interventions which are underpinned by trauma informed and trauma recovery models, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist. The post holder can be required to work in highly emotive atmosphere and must maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times.
• To assist in the co-ordination and running of therapeutic groups.
• To work with other staff across safeguarding, Youth Offending Team and Third sector services.
• To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all care settings.
• To assist in audit of the EST Project

About us

Liverpool and Sefton Enhanced Support Teams are part of the North-Mersey Vanguard, funded via NHS England Health and Justice to implement Framework for Integrated Care (Community) which was developed in response to the commitment set out in the NHS Long Term Plan to further invest in services for children and young people with complex needs.

The service is comprised of experienced staff from varied backgrounds, including nursing, psychology and social work working closely with Alder Hey services and external partner agencies to provide responsive care and intervention care to children and young people. In addition, our team members are trained in a wealth of different therapeutic interventions and approaches, making the team truly multi-disciplinary

Details Date posted

18 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

411-COM-25-7257752

Job locations

Alder Hey

Liverpool, L12 2AP

L12 2AP

Job description Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information

Job description Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information

Person Specification Qualifications, Experience and Training Essential

• An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology. A lower second class honours degree supplemented by post graduate qualification may be considered. Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
• Work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities on a paid or voluntary basis.
• Research and Audit Experience

Desirable

• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
• Experience of paid work in direct care provision
• Experience of working on a mental health telephone line

Knowledge and Skills Essential

• High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
• An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues.
• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context.

Desirable

• Experience using microcomputers for databases or data-analysis, especially SPSS for Windows.
• High standard of report writing.

Personal Attributes Essential

• An ability to interact sensitively and effectively with staff from all disciplines.
• An ability to interact with people with mental health problems or other disabilities and their families.

Desirable

• An interest in working with people with mental health problems or other disabilities.

Person Specification Qualifications, Experience and Training Essential

• An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology. A lower second class honours degree supplemented by post graduate qualification may be considered. Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
• Work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities on a paid or voluntary basis.
• Research and Audit Experience

Desirable

• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
• Experience of paid work in direct care provision
• Experience of working on a mental health telephone line

Knowledge and Skills Essential

• High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
• An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues.
• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context.

Desirable

• Experience using microcomputers for databases or data-analysis, especially SPSS for Windows.
• High standard of report writing.

Personal Attributes Essential

• An ability to interact sensitively and effectively with staff from all disciplines.
• An ability to interact with people with mental health problems or other disabilities and their families.

Desirable

• An interest in working with people with mental health problems or other disabilities.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details Employer name

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Alder Hey

Liverpool, L12 2AP

L12 2AP

Employer's website

https://alderhey.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Alder Hey

Liverpool, L12 2AP

L12 2AP

Employer's website

https://alderhey.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)