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Job summary

Main area
Psychology
Grade
Band 4
Contract
12 months (Fixed term end date 30/09/2026)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
351-FYL617-MF
Employer
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
The Harbour - Shakespeare Ward
Town
Blackpool
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
10/09/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust logo

Assistant Psychologist

Band 4

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism and community based services for the populations we serve.

As an integrated mental health, learning disability and community Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including:

•    Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, forensic services including low and medium secure care.
•    Specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
•    Community physical health and well-being services for children and adults.

The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,000 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health and general nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers.

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust supports flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, home/remote working, and flexi-time.

For more information visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Please note that further communication from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCft) will normally be to the email address given on the application form. You should also ensure that email addresses and telephone numbers are provided for your referees, to enable LSCft to contact them.

Job overview

We require 2 motivated and enthusiastic Assistant Psychologists to join our growing team of Clinical Psychologists offering input to female adult mental health inpatient facilities within Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust.  These posts would join the clinical team at the newly built Harbour acute inpatient unit.  This unit opened March 2015 and will be a purpose built state of the art facility equipped to the highest standards.

The post holders will have graduated with at least a 2:1 BSc and have experience of working in an inpatient environment and/or a specialist interest in experience working with adult females with complex emotional and relational needs. The post holders would be supported for a period of 12 months to work onto Stevenson and Shakespeare ward based at the Harbour, to develop their experience and skills in working with females who self-harm.  The expectation would be the successful applicant is able to start in post as soon as possible and would remain in post until September 2026. The expectation would be for the post holder to fully progress via a process of supported development and evaluation to be able to provide direct clinical interventions to women who self-harm under supervision and support multidisciplinary teams as appropriate using the clinical application of psychological theory.  The post holders would be supported by access to clinical supervision with locality consultant clinical psychologist lead. 

Main duties of the job

We are committed to providing the best development opportunities for our staff and the post holder would have the option to pursue a career in Clinical Psychology. The organisation also has very good links with the Lancaster, Manchester and Leeds University based Clinical Psychology Doctorate Courses and trainee clinical psychologists are supervised on both core and elective placements.

LSCft is an organisation that recognises and values the contribution of clinical psychology in the provision of high-quality services as evidenced by the expansion of the profession within adult mental health services.

The Fylde coast area that the job is situated is itself is dynamic and stimulating place to be.  The locality has good transport links being situated adjacent to the M55 with quick access to the M6.  The area also enjoys very reasonable housing costs. Members of staff also have access to the gym at the Harbour free of charge.  Flexible and/or condensed working hours will be considered. Please note the advert may be closed as soon as enough applications have been received.

Enquiries about the post can be made via Dr Rachel Wade (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) via email on [email protected]   

Working for our organisation

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area. 

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • A 2:1 BSc honours degree in psychology.
  • Eligibility for graduate membership of BPS.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Awareness of the clinical needs and strengths of service users with complex mental health needs.
  • Knowledge of the principles of psychometric assessment.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively in both oral and written formats, and in environments which are highly emotive and stressful.
  • Commitment and ability to work with service users where there may be significant clinical, service, and system barriers to engagement.
  • Ability to work independently and using own initiative on a day-to-day basis, using problem solving skills.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStep into healthDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Dr Rachel Wade
Job title
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Email address
[email protected]
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