Higher Assistant Psychologist

Tewv; North East; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Higher Assistant Psychologist to support the Enhanced RECONNECT Team across the North East of England. The post involves mental health assessment, psychometrics, and delivering evidence-based therapies within a multi-disciplinary setting.

The role requires experience as an assistant psychologist, research involvement, and strong interpersonal skills.

Qualifications

• Degree in psychology with eligibility for graduate membership of the BPS.
• UK residency for at least 3 years is required.
• Postgraduate training in relevant areas is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assess mental health and perform psychometric scoring/interpretation.
• Provide individual interventions and contribute to audits and reports.
• Deliver evidence-based therapies (CBT/DBT) where appropriate.
• Engage in staff training and contribute to risk management in forensic settings.

Skills

Assistant psychologist experience

Clinical audit / research

SPSS

Psychometric assessments

Communication of sensitive information

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Diversity and inclusion

Education

Degree in psychology

Graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

UK residency for 3+ years

Postgraduate training in psychology/mental health/offenders

Tools

SPSS

Job description

Go back Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Higher Assistant Psychologist

The closing date is 08 November 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, enthusiastic, and highly motivated Higher Assistant Psychologist to work as part of the Enhanced RECONNECT Team across the North East of England.

Enhanced RECONNECT is a pilot scheme which builds on the RECONNECT service and is available for individuals identified as high risk of harm to the public and who have complex health needs. The pilot utilises a partnership approach working with partner organisations in supporting individuals who are high risk and have complex health needs. Enhanced RECONNECT will work with partner organisations, to improve the continuity of care of individuals with high complex health needs leaving prison.

This is a trauma informed model delivered under the Reconnected to Health partnership. In the North East it is led by Spectrum CIC with Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS, ReThink and Humankind as service delivery partners.

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will join the multi-disciplinary health team, working alongside members of prison and probation staff.

Tasks will include, although not exhaustive of, assessment of mental health, psychometric scoring and interpretation, individual intervention, audit, staff training and report writing. Experience of delivering evidenced based therapies, i.e. CBT and DBT either individually or within a group setting would be desirable. The successful post holder will have good communication and interpersonal skills and preferably will have some experience of risk management in forensic settings.

There is a commitment to providing support and supervision. The post holder will be encouraged to undertake continuing professional development.

About us

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care --our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

In order to continue to develop and maintain high quality services, ongoing opportunities will be made available to help further your own skills, knowledge and development to uphold your leadership role.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information about this post.

Psychologists & Psychological Therapists provide key leadership roles within the Trust. To support this we have developed leadership profiles for each psychology band and the profile card associated with this post is attached on NHS Jobs. You can find more information about the NHS Leadership Academys Healthcare Leadership Model and the profiles at their website. We encourage you to look at these resources as they will play a part in the interview process.

This role is subject to Prison Vetting and the successful candidate must pass this before commencing employment. This includes a thorough review of personal information, including a criminal record check (both spent and unspent), a review of financial standing, and social media checks. Please note that vetting checks may also extend to family members and associates. You must also have resided in the UK for 3 years at the point of application. This will be considered as part of the shortlisting criteria and your application may be rejected if you do not meet this criteria.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree in psychology.
• Eligible for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
• Resident of the UK for at least 3 years
• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, youth work, work with offenders and/or research design and analysis

Experience

• Experience working as an assistant psychologist (or equivalent)
• Previous involvement in clinical audit, research or service evaluation
• Experience using statistical software packages e.g. SPSS
• Experience of using psychometric assessments
• Experience working with people using services in psychological, mental health and/or social care settings. This may include, for example, personal experience or supporting a family member to access services.
• Experience of communicating sensitive information
• Experience of work interacting with the public
• Experience in discussing and responding to issues related to cultural diversity, intersectionality and inclusivity, including working with vulnerable groups (e.g. those for whom English is not their first language)
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of increasing access to psychological services/healthcare for minoritized communities

Knowledge

• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental ill health or learning disabilities
• An understanding of the application of psychology to health care.
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Knowledge of the British Psychological Society Code of Conduct.
• An ability to apply psychological knowledge to the population described in the job advert
• Knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures
• Awareness of systemic barriers to accessing psychological services/healthcare for minoritized communities.

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.

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust