Higher Assistant Psychologist

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking passionate Assistant Psychologists to contribute to groundbreaking studies on psychological therapies for individuals with psychosis. This role involves working closely with a dedicated research team, conducting assessments, and supporting trial processes across various locations. Ideal candidates will possess strong communication skills, a solid foundation in psychological principles, and a commitment to improving mental health outcomes. Join a dynamic environment that values diversity and innovation, where your contributions will help shape the future of mental health care.

Qualifications

• Experience in research and clinical settings, especially with mental health.
• Ability to manage multiple project components effectively.
• Enthusiastic about psychological research and trials.

Responsibilities

• Screening, recruitment, and assessment of trial participants.
• Maintaining accurate records and updating databases.
• Producing reports on recruitment and assessments.

Skills

Communication Skills

Research Methodology

Data Analysis (SPSS)

Interpersonal Skills

Report Writing

Education

Upper 2nd Class Honours Degree in Psychology

Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS

Postgraduate Training in Psychology

Tools

SPSS

Job description

Go back Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

Higher Assistant Psychologist

The closing date is 22 May 2025

We are recruiting three Assistant Psychologist posts (AP) (3.0 wte) to help evaluate the benefit of new psychological therapies for people with psychosis.

The currently advertised post is for 12 months with the likelihood it will be extended if the trials recruit successfully to target.

The Sleeping better and feeling safer trials are investigating whether a new psychological treatments help reduce distress in people with psychosis, and improves their quality of life.

We have two posts on Feeling Safer and one for Sleeping better. Both are multi-centre studies of a psychological intervention and are funded by grants led by Professor Daniel Freeman, and Dr. Felicity Waite from the University of Oxford. The post-holder will be based with Robert Dudley's research team in the Early intervention in Psychosis service and colleagues working on other psychosis research projects at St Nicholas Hospital in Newcastle, and will work in CNTW NHS Foundation Trust.

Main duties of the job

The posts will help deliver large-scale studies to evaluate the real world use and clinical effectiveness of a new psychological treatment for people with psychosis or for sleeping better also those with an ultra high risk of developing psychosis. The posts will be based in Newcastle but will involve travel across the Trust. The post holders will act as a research assistant and work with the trial therapists, trial coordinator and the site lead to help evaluate the treatment trials.

The ideal candidate will have experience in research and or clinical settings. It may help if you have experience of working with people who have experienced difficulties with paranoia and unusual experiences like hallucinations. They should have the ability to organize and manage multiple interlinked components of the project and their work. They will need to demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills and be able to conduct interviews and assessment with potentially vulnerable individuals. Most importantly, they will need to be enthusiastic about the research area and have a high level of motivation and commitment.

About us

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

Job responsibilities

The main role of the trial assistant will be as outlined below:

• Screening, recruitment, and assessment of patients for the sleeping better or feeling safer controlled trial of psychological treatment. This will involve speaking to referrers regularly, attending clinical team meetings, visiting teams. There are monthly recruitment targets.
• Participants will be seen in clinic settings or at home across a large geographical area. This means there will be extensive travel whichwould be facilitated by having valid driving licence, and access to own or other independent means of transport.
• Good record-keeping will be needed, including updating medical records with trial progress and completing the recruitment database.
• You will need to produce regular reports on the recruitment process (including managing the recruitment database) and assessments.
• You will need to regularly enter and check data in the study databases.
• Attendance at supervision will be expected, and at appropriate research team meetings, including training at the lead site, London.

Please find attached job description for full details.

Likely interview dates: 4th to 6th June 2025

We welcome your application.

Please note - this vacancy may close early if a suitable number of applications are received.

Person Specification

Skills and Competencies

• High level of communication skills (written and oral), including an ability to communicate and work in highly emotive circumstances.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues.
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and other disabilities.
• Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health / cognitive impairment / disability context.
• Computer literate, including use of databases & data analysis, e.g. SPSS for Windows.
• Demonstrates graduate level knowledge and experience of research and research methodology.
• An understanding of psychology applied to healthcare.
• A high standard of report writing.

Education and Qualification

• Upper 2nd class honours degree, or higher, in psychology.
• Eligibility for graduate membership of British Psychological Society.
• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.

Knowledge and Experience

• Paid or unpaid work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
• Experience as an assistant/research psychologist.
• Knowledge of evidence based practice
• Experience of paid work in direct care provision.
• Experience with client group relevant to post.
• Experience of psychometric test administration and interpretation.
• Experience of providing individual or group interventions.

Research experience

• Relevant research experience at undergrad or masters
• Experience of recruitment for trials, or worked in a clinical setting doing assessments

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 name

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust