*MPFT Applicants Only* Assistant Psychologist - Intensive Life Skills

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Stafford; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional mental health trust is seeking an Assistant Psychologist for the Intensive Life Skills Pathway. Responsibilities include supporting psychological care, conducting assessments, and working with individuals facing emotional challenges. The ideal candidate will have a relevant psychology degree and experience in mental health services. This role requires travel across multiple sites in Staffordshire.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Ongoing training and support

Working within a multi-disciplinary team

Qualifications

• A First or Upper Second honours degree in psychology or a lower class with a postgraduate qualification.
• Experience working in inpatient or community mental health settings.
• Further training in psychological practice or research.

Responsibilities

• Support and enhance professional psychological care for service users.
• Assist in conducting psychological assessments and interventions.
• Work collaboratively with pathway colleagues.

Skills

Communication skills

Experience in mental health

Ability to work under pressure

Education

First or Upper Second honours degree in psychology

Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Job description

Go back Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

*MPFT Applicants Only* Assistant Psychologist - Intensive Life Skills

The closing date is 25 September 2025

Open to internal MPFT applicants only - Applicants must be working within a MH service with experience of using DBT, SCM or MBT

Assistant Psychologist Band 4

The Intensive Life Skills Pathway is a multi-disciplinary mental health team providing assessment and intervention for adults predominantly with complex emotional needs across South Staffordshire as part of the Adult Mental Health Service. Services are provided across multi-sites throughout South Staffordshire and therefore the successful candidate will be expected to travel to and work from multiple sites.

The team works in a highly psychologically minded way and is passionate about working with service-users who present with high levels of emotional distress, high risk to self and others, and who often have histories of complex trauma and/or adverse experiences. Applicants should have an interest in working with this client group, and an awareness of relevant evidence-based interventions

Main duties of the job

• To support and enhance the professional psychological care of service users by assisting qualified practitioners in the delivery and evaluation of cost-effective services that meet Trust and Directorate objectives.
• To support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the service, providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions, individual and group based, under the close supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with the Clinical Psychologist and within the overall framework of the service's policies and procedures.
• To work collaboratively with all pathway colleagues.
• To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, and development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.
• The post-holder could be working in/across Staffordshire with a base to be confirmed either in East or West Staffordshire.

About us

Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.

We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.

We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications

Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.

Job responsibilities

Check out the videos below showcasing why you should grow your career here with us at MPFT:

Why Work for Mental Health Services at MPFT - YouTube

Development and Progression Within Mental Health Services at MPFT - YouTube

The pathway utilises Structured Clinical Management (SCM) as a core therapeutic model, combining individual and workshop based interventions. A range of additional therapeutic models are utilised including attachment theory, behavioural theory, Compassion-Focussed Therapy, Trauma-Focussed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mentalisation-Based Treatment, and DBT informed interventions. Therefore a range of experience will be available.

The successful candidate will support the running of Structured Clinical Management (SCM) educational skills workshops. These are an evidence-based group intervention for clients who struggle with emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, and managing relationships, and workshops are currently delivered remotely. The successful candidate will therefore have strong ICT skills and be able to communicate effectively with others through technology.

The role will also involve supporting the team with service evaluation and audit. There will also be opportunity to work alongside psychology colleagues, and other team members, in the delivery of individual and group based interventions.

Regular clinical supervision will be offered by a qualified Clinical Psychologist, along with a range of supervisory and developmental opportunities.

For further information please contact Kate Stapleton, Consultant Clinical Psychologist [e-mail]. Alternatively you can contact Yasmine Girling - Operational Lead - [e-mail]

Person Specification

Qualifications

• A First or Upper Second honours degree in psychology OR a lower class with a post-graduate qualification e.g.: Masters degree.
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
• Experience of working in an inpatient or community mental health setting
• Further training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, autism, personality disorder and/or research design and analysis.

Experience

• Significant experience of face-to-face work with, mental health and/or offender clients
• Has experience of working within a team setting
• Internal MPFT employee working as an Assistant Psychologist
• Working within a MH service with experience of using DBT, SCM or MBT
• Experience of working with people with emotional dysregulation, poor impulse control, and self harm
• Experience of involvement in the delivery of group-based treatment
• Experience of working within multi-disciplinary settings and multi-agency settings.

Skills & Knowledge

• High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive, clients may show hostile or severely challenging behaviour and may be verbally abusive or physically violent.
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to an acute or community mental health context

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.

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Georges Hospital - Foundation House (Stafford)

St Georges Hospital - Foundation House (Stafford)