Higher Assistant Psychologist

NHS; North Shields; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

The NHS is seeking a Higher Assistant Psychologist to join a newly developed service focused on delivering primary care assessments and interventions in the Criminal Justice System. This role involves working closely with the Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Team, providing psychological interventions, and contributing to service development. Candidates should have a degree in psychology and relevant experience in mental health settings. Opportunities for career development and CPD are available.

Benefits

Access to CPD opportunities

Support for future career planning

Qualifications

• Experience as an assistant/research psychologist (minimum 2 years).
• Experience providing individual or group interventions.
• Experience with mental health problems and disabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessments within the court environment.
• Deliver primary care interventions alongside Probation colleagues.
• Conduct assessments and develop care plans.

Skills

Communication

Evidence-based practice

Report writing

Data analysis

Education

Upper 2nd class honours degree in psychology

Eligibility for graduate membership of British Psychological Society

Further postgraduate training in psychology

Tools

SPSS for Windows

Job description

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

Higher Assistant Psychologist

The closing date is 29 May 2025

This post offer a unique opportunity to be part of a newly developed service to deliver Primary Care assessments and interventions as part of Mental Health Treatment Requirements (MHTR) in the Criminal Justice System, as directed by courts in the North East.

This service works alongside CNTW's well-established Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Team (CJLD), which has an excellent reputation with courts, police and probation partners in identifying those with such needs and signposting to relevant services.

The MHTR service provides direct treatment intervention for those requiring primary care interventions with the aim of improving access to mental health support and reducing further offending behaviours.

The post will be of interest to those with experience in delivering psychological treatment under supervision including B5 Higher Assistant Psychologist posts and Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners who have completed the initial training qualification. Mental Health professionals eligible for a B5 job and with a qualification in an accredited therapy might also find this development of interest.

There is access to support to assist with future career planning and the successful applicant will access CPD opportunities within the CJLD, wider secure care services and across CNTW.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will provide assessments within the court environment and deliver primary care interventions alongside Probation colleagues as directed by care plans agreed by the Principal Psychologist/Clinical Lead who will provide clinical supervision and day to day management.

We are looking to recruit a practitioner with experience of providing psychological interventions to cover the North East court footprints in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear. The Practitioner will conduct assessments, develop care plans and deliver primary care interventions.

There is also opportunity to be involved with research and contribute to service development.

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.

MHTR offers up to 12 sessions of primary care, psychological, talking therapy that are tailored to the individual's needs. We offer neurodiverse friendly, trauma informed care to support mental health difficulties the client has that often links with their offending behaviour. We work closely with our colleagues in probation; we have an initial meeting with the client, probation practitioner and other CSTR providers then begin the therapy interventions in probation offices, or remotely, depending on the preference of the client.

What is our impact? Although we are still an evolving service, the data shows how MHTR interventions are having a statistically significant benefit in terms of psychological distress, anxiety and depression. From those who have completed the intervention 65% experienced a positive reliable change in at least one of the areas measured.

Job responsibilities

Please find attached job description for full details.

We welcome your application.

Advert may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Interviews to be held 17th-19th June 2025

Person Specification

Qualifications

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

Knowledge and Expereince

• oPaid or unpaid work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities. Experience as an assistant/research psychologist (2 year minimum). Knowledge of evidence-based practice.
• oExperience of providing individual or group interventions.
• oExperience of paid work in direct care provision. Experience with client group relevant to post i.e. Experience within forensic and/or community environments
• oExperience of psychometric test administration and interpretation

Skills

• oHigh 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. A high standard of report writing
• oAn 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 / ND context
• oComputer literate, including use of databases & data analysis, e.g. SPSS for Windows. Demonstrates graduate level knowledge and experience of research and research methodology
• oAn understanding of psychology applied to healthcare
• oAbility to meet travel requirements of the post

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

Address

Liaison and Diverison, Forensic Outpatients

Liaison and Diverison, Forensic Outpatients