Senior Assistant Psychologist

NHS; Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health organization in Eastbourne is looking for an Assistant Psychologist to provide psychological assessments for children and young people within the SWIFT Specialist Family Services. The role involves conducting complex assessments, participating in therapeutic interventions, and working within a multi-disciplinary team. Candidates should hold an honours degree in Psychology at 2:1 or above and have experience with complex needs. This is a permanent, full-time role offering a salary of £31,049 to £37,796 per annum.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with people with complex needs.
• Relevant clinical and research skills.
• Basic knowledge of databases and research methodology.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to psychological assessments under supervision.
• Conduct specialist complex neurodevelopmental assessments.
• Participate in direct and indirect interventions.

Skills

Working with people with complex needs

Working with people with disabilities

Clinical and research skills

Group work

Individual therapeutic contact

Education

Honours degree in Psychology at 2:1 or above

Tools

Basic knowledge of databases

Job description

Job summary

The SWIFT Specialist Family Service have an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Psychologist to join them.

This East Sussex wide service is an innovative collaboration between Health and Social Care and delivers safe, effective and caring services to those children and young people/families and carers with child protection and risk concerns within the county.

Main duties

SWIFT Specialist Family Services is jointly commissioned by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and East Sussex County Council. This role is divided across two services, the SWIFT Child Assessment and Treatment Team (SWIFT CAT) and Youth Justice Service.

The SWIFT CAT Team is a multi-disciplinary team comprised of child psychiatrists, psychologists, a systemic family therapist, clinical nurse specialist, social workers and specialist intervention workers. The team provide specialist assessments and interventions to children, young people and their families, who are open to Children's Services. These families and children have frequently experienced a significant number of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and are at significant risk of emotional, physical, sexual harm, and neglect because of complex difficulties.

The SWIFT CAT team has bases in both Eastbourne and Hastings. However, travel across the whole of East Sussex will be required.

About us

At Sussex Partnership we are committed to providing opportunities for flexible working. If you would like to work differently or different hours to as advertised, please get in touch to discuss this in more detail.

Both teams are part of East Sussex Children's Services, one of only five Local Authorities in the country to have an outstanding Ofsted rating.

Location

Swift Specialist Family Services
102 Holly Place
Eastbourne
BN22 0UT

Job details

Posted date: 19 December 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: 5

Salary: £31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 354-CS-21833

Job responsibilities

• Contribute to and support the provision of psychological assessments of children, young people and their families, including clinical assessments, cognitive assessments and assessments of risk, under the supervision of qualified clinical psychologists in teams focusing on adopted children and young people.
• Conduct specialist complex neurodevelopmental assessments (e.g., Autism Spectrum Condition, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder & Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) for children and young people, including observations, interviews and administering and scoring psychometrics; experience with WAIS, WISC and ABAS desirable.
• Participate in direct and indirect interventions, such as brief, time-limited interventions with children, young people and families (e.g., emotional regulation, distress tolerance skills, parenting work) under supervision.
• Support service development, evaluation and research, including collection, collation and maintenance of data related to existing interventions and service provision; experience with psychometric outcome measures desirable.
• Attend team and service‑wide meetings and professional development sessions and receive independent study time; be supervised by qualified clinical psychologists.

Person Specification

Qualifications Essential

• Honours degree at 2:1 or above in Psychology, or equivalent. Eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartership with the BPS.

Knowledge / Experience Essential

• Experience of working with people with complex needs.
• Experience of working with people with disabilities, in a health or mental health setting and/or with complex needs.
• Relevant clinical and research skills.
• Experience working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Basic knowledge of databases, research skills and methodology.
• Experience of group work and individual therapeutic contact.
• Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a health context.
• Understanding of psychology applied to health care.

Disclosures & Checks

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) is required to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years; adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Swift Specialist Family Services
102 Holly Place
Eastbourne
BN22 0UT

Employer website

https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/

Living in East Sussex

• Journey from the coast to the countryside in minutes.
• Enjoy a lifestyle with renowned cycle routes and picturesque walks, including the famous South Downs Way in the South Downs National Park.
• Explore miles of scenic coastline.
• Easy access to airports—Gatwick and Heathrow are both within 90 minutes, providing links to Europe and beyond.
• London is also within easy reach via local and national bus routes and national mainline stations.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, religion or belief, age, gender, sex, sexual orientation, disability or marital status.