CYP Assistant Psychologist

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Chester; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A health and care service provider in England is seeking an Assistant Psychologist to join their Learning Disability Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. The role involves supporting children with severe learning disabilities through assessments, interventions, and group work under clinical supervision. Applicants should possess a good honours degree in Psychology and have experience with children and young people. This role offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the well-being of the community while enhancing professional skills.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Inclusive recruitment practices

Supportive working environment

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate complex or sensitive information effectively.
• Experience working with children and young people with learning disabilities.
• Desire to progress to Clinical Training.

Responsibilities

• Assist with psychological assessments using various tools.
• Develop care plans and interventions under supervision.
• Coordinate therapeutic groups for children and parents.

Skills

Communication

Empathy

Analysis

Organizational skills

Computer literacy

Education

Good honours degree in Psychology (2.i or above)

Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS

Other related academic qualifications to Masters or Doctorate level

Tools

Excel

Access

Job description

Go back Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

CYP Assistant Psychologist

The closing date is 23 January 2026

Join Our Compassionate LD CAMHS Team - Make a Real Difference!

We are seeking a dedicated Assistant Psychologist to join our Learning Disability Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (LD CAMHS) in Cheshire (Ellesmere Port & Chester). This rewarding role supports children and young people with severe learning disabilities and their families.

Working under the supervision of experienced Clinical Psychologists, you will contribute to psychological assessments, behavioural interventions, and the development of Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) plans and sleep strategies. You will also co‑facilitate group work, attend multi‑professional meetings, and contribute to Annual Reviews and safeguarding processes (TAF, CIN, CP).

You will work flexibly across service bases to support supervision, professional development, and compliance with 2024 Assistant Psychologist standards. This includes at least one day per week at the West base; regular co‑location at Crewe and/or Macclesfield, with flexibility to use central facilities such as Winsford; joint supervision every other week; and participation in in‑person clinical activity for real‑time observation, feedback, and reflective practice.

These arrangements ensure governance, professional protection, and alignment with 2024 standards.

Shortlist Monday 26th January and Interview Monday 9th February 2026

Main duties of the job

Main Duties and Responsibilities - Make a Real Impact!

• Assist with psychological assessments using standardised tools, observations, and interviews.
• Support development of individual care plans and interventions under supervision.
• Help coordinate and deliver therapeutic groups for children, young people, and parents.
• Work with education, health, and social care teams to provide integrated care.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary meetings and case discussions.
• Liaise effectively with internal and external agencies involved in patient care.

Safeguarding & Compliance

• Follow Trust policies, safeguarding, and data protection procedures.
• Uphold professional standards per BPS Code of Conduct and NHS guidance.
• Maintain accurate clinical records, data management, and admin tasks.
• Participate in supervision, audits, research, and service evaluations.
• Stay current with psychological theory, therapy models, and best practice.
• Engage in CPD and contribute to staff training as appropriate.

Effective Communication & Advocacy

• Communicate complex or sensitive information with empathy and professionalism.
• Prepare clear clinical reports and maintain accurate documentation.
• Advocate for children and families, signposting to additional support services.

About us

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all‑age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person‑centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.

All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Job responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in everyday life and we use a values‑based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: [e-mail] or by calling 01244 393100.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Good honours degree in Psychology (2.i or above). Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS
• To undertake breakaway training or equivalent following appointment.
• Advanced keyboard skills
• Other related academic qualifications to Masters or Doctorate level.

Knowledge and Expertise

• The ability to communicate complex/ sensitive information where barriers to understanding exist. For example, instances requiring empathy and reassurance.
• The ability to make judgements involving a range of facts or situations requiring analysis or comparison of a range of options. Also skills for assessing children/young people in one‑to‑one sessions, group dynamics or who are participating in research.
• The ability to organise straightforward tasks, activities or programmes, some of which may be ongoing. Also, the ability to plan and prioritises own workload, research programme activities; group sessions, etc.
• Working to Professional Guidelines.
• Must be capable of working within guidelines; receives regular supervision/ direction
• Ability to use routinely available spreadsheet/database software (Excel, Access, etc.)
• Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books

Experience

• Demonstrable relevant work experience or knowledge of working with children young people or adults with learning disabilities and/or autism.
• Relevant work experience of adolescents with learning disabilities/ mental health problems
• Desire to progress to Clinical Training (DClinPsy)

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.

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust