Assistant Psychologist | West London NHS Trust

West London Mental Health Trust; Southall; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health provider in the UK is seeking an Assistant Psychologist to join their Women's Service. You will support clinical care under supervision in a secure environment, and handle psychological assessments and treatment programs. Strong communication and teamwork skills are essential. This is a unique opportunity for individuals passionate about working with women in mental health.

Benefits

Supportive work environment

Opportunities for skill development

Qualifications

• Interest or experience of working with women.
• Eligible for a psychology-related degree and able to operate under clinical supervision in a forensic setting.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care for all users of the service.
• Support and enhance the professional psychological care of service users under clinical supervision.
• Conduct audits, develop audit and/or research projects, teaching, and project work.

Skills

Communication skills

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

Psychology-related degree

Job description

Overview

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Psychologist to join the Women’s Service within the West London Forensic Service. West London NHS Trust provides a wide range of forensic mental health care across high/medium/low security and community settings. The Orchard Unit, the country’s largest NHS provider of women’s secure services, is a purpose built women-only medium/low secure unit, with an emphasis on relational security. You will work across the Orchard with a dedicated psychology service undertaking psychological assessments and supporting evidence based individual and group treatment programmes using frameworks including DBT and CBT. The work here is challenging and rewarding. This is a unique and exciting opportunity and we welcome applications from enthusiastic and flexible individuals with an interest / experience of working with women. In return we can offer a stimulating and supportive work environment with many opportunities for the development of your skills.

The Trust reserves the right to close this post at 50 applications and no other applications will be accepted after this time.

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse providers of mental health, community and social care in the UK. Our 3,982 staff care for people in hospital and in the community, helping them to recover and go on to lead full and productive lives. We aim to be the best organisation of our kind in the country. We provide care and treatment for more than 800,000 people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow, delivering services in the community (at home, in GP surgeries and care homes), hospital, specialist clinics and forensic (secure) units. We’re rated Good overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), whilst West London Forensic Service has been rated Outstanding. Together, we’re committed to promoting hope and wellbeing, working with patients, service users, carers, families and partners across the communities we serve. We are keen to ensure that our workforce reflects the community it serves, particularly in terms of ethnicity, gender, disability, LGBTQ+ and experience of mental illness.

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached. The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care for all users of the service.
• Support and enhance the professional psychological care of service users under the clinical supervision of a qualified psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with a qualified psychologist and within the overall framework of the department’s policies and procedures.
• Assist in clinical work and related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.
• Clinical work will include assessment and psychological treatment both individually and co-facilitating groups and the development of care plans and formulations with service users.
• Other duties include service evaluation, development and implementation of audits.
• High standards of communication both verbally and in writing are essential to this role as it requires a high degree of multidisciplinary working.
• The role requires a degree of autonomy but also the ability to utilise and respond to regular supervision. All tasks will be carried out under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.

Qualifications and requirements

• Interest or experience of working with women.
• Ability to work within the Orchard Unit’s women-only environment and contribute to relational security.
• Eligible for a psychology-related degree and able to operate under clinical supervision in a forensic setting.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Closing date

This advert closes on Monday 15 Sep 2025.