Clinical Psychology Assistant Practitioner

Cheswold Park Hospital; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust is seeking a Clinical Psychology Assistant Practitioner for Manygates Clinic, Wakefield. The role supports neurodevelopmental assessments and adult ADHD/Autism pathways within a forward-thinking NHS service across Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.

The position offers continued professional development, supervision by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, and opportunities to engage in research while working within a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Essential: Honours degree in Psychology (2:1).
• Essential: Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
• Desirable: Experience with clinical psychology methods and research.
• Desirable: Driving licence and ability to travel across catchment area.

Responsibilities

• Undertake protocol-based psychological assessments using neuropsychological tests and rating scales.
• Assist in formulation and delivery of care plans under supervision of a HCPC-registered psychologist.
• Coordinate and run therapeutic groups or clinical projects.
• Attend multidisciplinary meetings and contribute to service development and audit.

Skills

Communication skills

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Honours degree in Psychology (2:1)

Graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Job description

Fixed term -12 months

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Clinical Psychology Assistant Practitioner to join our welcoming team based Manygates Clinic in Wakefield. We are a forward-thinking Service covering Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, and Wakefield localities offering a diagnostic and intervention pathway for adults with ADHD and Autism.

Job Summary

Full time - 37.5 hours per week

Fixed term -12 months

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Clinical Psychology Assistant Practitioner to join our welcoming team based Manygates Clinic in Wakefield. We are a forward-thinking Service covering Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, and Wakefield localities offering a diagnostic and intervention pathway for adults with ADHD and Autism.

These posts provide a unique opportunity for practitioners with an interest in neurodevelopmental conditions. A willingness to undergo additional training and a genuine interest in delivering a high-quality Service to adults with Autism is essential. In addition, it is anticipated the successful candidate will have an interest in supporting research activities and will be motivated to apply for the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

In return for your experience and commitment, we can offer you a friendly working environment with continuous professional development opportunities, research opportunities alongside supervision by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, a peer group of three other Clinical Psychology Assistants and support by an experienced Multidisciplinary Team.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking practitioners who can work autonomously whilst under the supervision of an experienced Consultant Clinical Psychologist and within a specialist multidisciplinary team. Integral to the role will be to conduct specialist assessments such as the ADOS-2 observational assessment for which training will be provided. The successful candidates will also be responsible for assisting in the assessment of specific learning difficulties such as Dyslexia.

The position is 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday.

For Further Information Please Contact:

Rebecca Crisp, Operations Manager or Dr Tim Fullen, Consultant Clinical Psychologist on 01924 316494.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, we are unable to sponsor anyone for a skilled worker visa for this role.

We are happy to accept applications from candidates who can prove their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes. Such applications will be considered alongside all other applications.

About Us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Details

Date posted

21 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£28,392 to £31,157 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9378-W1541

Job locations

Adult ADHD and Autism Service, Manygates Clinic

Belle Isle Health Park, Portobello Road

Wakefield

WF1 5PN

United Kingdom

Job Description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

To support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the service, across all sectors of care; providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with a HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist and within the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures. To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, and development of audit and / or research projects, teaching and project work.

ORGANISATIONAL CHART

Clinical:

KEY RESULT AREAS:

• To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients applying psychological theory, including neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care.
• To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and / or management of a clients problems, under the supervision of a HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist.
• To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups or clinical projects.
• To work with other staff to assess community patients and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.
• To assist in the development of a psychological based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place.
• To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.
• To respect diversity. To treat everyone with dignity and respect and act in ways that acknowledge and recognise peoples expressed beliefs, preferences and choices.

IT Responsibilities (clinical)

• To use highly developed IT skills.
• To access knowledge through Internet searches (e.g. Psych.Lit, Medline) to keep up to date with clinical and professional development
• For the preparation and presentation of materials of effective teaching and training (e.g. power point, graphic representations) to record and analyse data for research and audit (e.g. databases, spreadsheets, statistical analysis packages e.g. SPPS).
• To create graphs or charts to collate or summarise data on individual interventions or treatment programmes.
• To assist in producing visual or material or user friendly information for interventions with clients.

Teaching, training and supervision

• In common with all HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
• To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS over and above that provided within the principal service area where the post holder is employed.
• To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.
• To contribute to the training and support of other staff, working within the Service in psychological care.

Management, recruitment and service development

• To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects with the service as required.
• To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.

Research and service evaluation

• To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.
• To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
• To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologists in evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

For Full Job Description, Please See Attached Supporting Documents.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• An Honours degree in Psychology (2:1)
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Physical Attributes

Essential

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Experience

Essential

• Practical experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities and/or psychological/behavioural/ neurological problems

Desirable

• Experience of paid work in direct care provision, particularly in the care group of the specialty of this post.
• Experience of administering and scoring neuropsychological assessments.

Special Knowledge/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.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
• Ability to communicate information which may be perceived as contentious to patients, carers and colleagues in a manner that promotes understanding and acceptance
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or other disabilities.
• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to health and social service contexts.
• An understanding of psychology applied to health care.

Desirable

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

Training

Desirable

• Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis

Personal Attributes

Essential

• An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
• An ability to interact effectively with people with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
• Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
• Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
• Able to travel throughout the catchment area, without unnecessary delays.
• A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability)

Desirable

• An interest in working with people with mental health problems.
• A desire to explore a career in Professional 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 details

Employer name

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Adult ADHD and Autism Service, Manygates Clinic

Belle Isle Health Park, Portobello Road

Wakefield

WF1 5PN

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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