Clinical Associate in Psychology

NHS; Radlett; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Radlett is seeking a Clinical Associate in Psychology to enhance their mental health inpatient services. The role involves supporting trauma-informed approaches, coordinating therapeutic interventions, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team. Candidates should have an honours degree in Psychology and the MSc for Clinical Associate qualification. This position offers a salary range of £40,617 to £48,000 per annum.

Qualifications

• An honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology at 2.1 or better or completion of a BPS accredited postgraduate programme.
• MSc for Clinical Associate in Psychology qualification or nearing qualification.
• Eligibility for registration on the British Psychological Society Wider Psychological Workforce register.

Responsibilities

• Support the embedding of trauma-informed approaches across the ward.
• Assist in the formulation and delivery of intervention plans.
• Coordinate and deliver therapeutic groups.

Skills

High level communication skills

Experience interacting with mental health problems

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and SPSS

Ability to work independently

Education

Honours degree in Psychology

MSc for Clinical Associate in Psychology

Further postgraduate training in relevant psychology areas

Job description

Clinical Associate in Psychology

The closing date is 12 December 2025

Here at HPFT we have a long history of delivering outstanding care, and we are taking our Acute Psychology Inpatient Services to the next level. We have expanded our psychological provision on all HPFT adult mental health inpatient wards and are establishing Trauma Informed Approaches.

Part of the expansion has been the embedding of Clinical Associates in Psychology (CAP) roles within the service. We currently have two CAPs who are an established and valued part of the diverse workforce and we wish to expand this provision.

We are looking for a caring and compassionate CAP to work alongside the multi-disciplinary team under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist on Dove Ward, a 16‑bedded female acute assessment and brief treatment unit.

Main duties of the job

• Support the embedding of trauma‑informed approaches across the ward, including team formulations, delivering training and ensuring good data collection at all times.
• Assist in the formulation and delivery of intervention plans involving the psychological treatment of service users, under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist.
• Co‑ordinate and deliver therapeutic groups, and lead on the roll‑out of a new group programme.
• Integrate within the multi‑disciplinary team and promote psychological thinking to support holistic ways of working across the MDT.
• Support the management of Assistant Psychologists.
• Lead on robust outcome evaluation, service development and research.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ from the Care Quality Commission.

Our family of over 4,000 staff members provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professionalb>

Job responsibilities

• Work with other staff to assess service users in preparation for multidisciplinary reviews.
• Attend and contribute to appropriate team and multi‑disciplinary meetings.
• Maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties, appropriate to their grade, that may be required from time to time by the supervising Clinical Psychologist.
• Work flexibly, in response to service user needs as agreed with the Unit.

For a more detailed description of the role, please see attached the JD and PS.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING

• An honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology at 2.1 or better OR
• Successful completion of a BPS accredited postgraduate Psychology conversion programme with 2.1 equivalent or above OR
• A 2.2 honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology with appropriate additional experience (or contextual information) demonstrating academic potential.
• MSc for Clinical Associate in Psychology qualification OR nearing qualification for same.
• Eligibility for registration on the British Psychological Society Wider Psychological Workforce register.
• Satisfactory Enhanced check with the Disclosure and Barring Service.
• Ability to work independently, reliably, and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
• Further postgraduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, therapeutic approaches and/or research design and analysis.
• Experience of undertaking a research project.
• Experience of working within acute adult mental health.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

• High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to service users, carers, and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
• An ability to interact with people with mental health problems.
• An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
• Experience using computers for databases or data analysis, especially Microsoft Excel and SPSS for Windows.
• High standard of report writing.
• Competence using IT and media equipment.

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.

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

£40,617 to £48, a year Per annum, Pro rata (5% HCAS Included)