Job summary
- Main area
- Assistant Psychologist
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- 22 months (22 fixed term contract)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 310-CYPF-7872515
- Employer
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Newtown Centre
- Town
- Huntingdon
- Salary
- £27,485 - £30,162 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 13/04/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Assistant Psychologist
Band 4
Job overview
22 Month Fixed Term Contract.
We are seeking an enthusiastic Assistant Psychologist for a fixed-term appointment to support the delivery of an NIHR-funded clinical trial focused on adolescent mental health.
The study is evaluating the efficacy of a low-intensity, early-stage digital psychological intervention for adolescents at elevated long-term risk of depression.
The post holder will support the day-to-day running of the trial, including coordinating participant activities across multiple time points, supporting clinical and research staff, maintaining accurate and secure data records, and liaising with schools, NHS services, Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) partners, and other stakeholders. The post holder will play an important role in ensuring the smooth delivery of study.
This is an excellent opportunity for a psychology graduate with a strong interest in development, digital mental health interventions, and applied clinical research. The role offers hands-on experience within a clinical trials team of clinical psychologists, cognitive neuroscientists, educators, and specialists in child development and research methods. Regular supervision will be provided, and the post holder will gain valuable experience working on a large-scale NIHR-funded study, with opportunities to contribute to conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications.
Main duties of the job
To support an NIHR-funded clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of a low-intensity, early-stage digital psychological intervention for adolescents at elevated risk of depression and anxiety. The post holder will also be involved in a range of trial-related activities and will assist the Principal Investigators and broader clinical-research team.
The post is available from 1 April 2026, is full-time (Monday to Friday), and is offered on a fixed-term basis for approximately 30 months, pending on the trial timelines.
Working for our organisation
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high-quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting and empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.
Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children's, adult and older people's mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development.
To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high-calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.
Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications.
Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process.
For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at www.cpft.nhs.uk
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities
1. Assist with participant communication, recruitment, engagement, and data collection by working with a network of schools and adolescent participants.
2. Support the preparation and organisation of study materials, including assessment measures and participant-facing resources, and facilitate participant access to the digitally delivered psychological intervention.
3. Maintain accurate, timely, and secure trial records, including participant contacts, consent documentation, assessment data, and study-related communications, under the supervision of the Clinical Trial Lead.
4. Conduct study assessments at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up timepoints, including screening for eligibility, monitoring participant engagement and adherence, and collecting qualitative feedback on participant experiences of the intervention.
5. Support Programme Leads with the logistical aspects of trial delivery, including assisting with the organisation of trial management meetings and related administrative tasks.
6. Communicate effectively with members of the clinical trial team across NHS and university settings through team meetings, minute-taking, and written documentation, ensuring that relevant information is shared appropriately and in line with governance procedures.
7. Contribute as an active member of the research team to the achievement of project goals, including assisting with data preparation and analysis, and contributing to conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications, as appropriate
8. Attend and actively contribute to meetings with the clinical and research team.
9. Liaise with schools, educators, researchers, and NHS clinicians to support participant identification, initial engagement, and the scheduling of trial procedures.
10. Contribute to developing clear, accessible resources and communication materials for adolescents and families participating in the study.
11. Support the accurate collection, organisation, and maintenance of study data across multiple datasets, in line with trial protocols and governance requirements.
12. Develop knowledge, skills, and competencies related to adolescent depression, cognitive behavioural approaches, and applied clinical psychology and research practice through supervised involvement in the trial.
Person specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential criteria
- An upper second-class honours degree or higher in psychology
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable criteria
- Further postgraduate training in relevant areas such as clinical psychology, adolescence and development, digital mental health, or research
Experience
Essential criteria
- Research experience (e.g. undergraduate project, assistant roles, or academic volunteering)
Desirable criteria
- Experience working with individuals with mental health difficulties
- Experience working in clinical environments (e.g., NHS, CAMHS, or community mental health settings)
- Experience supporting families or children in distress
- Experience administering or scoring standardised clinical measures or structured interviews (e.g., for PTSD)
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive or involve distressed individuals
- Good oral and written skills to provide trial participants with the relevant information in a sensitive and developmentally appropriate manner
- Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing demands while maintaining attention to detail
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context
Desirable criteria
- High standard of written communication, including experience preparing clinical or research reports
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential criteria
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from a range of disciplines and backgrounds
- An ability to build rapport with families, including those with young children and/or experiencing mental health difficulties
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work reviewed and managed at regular intervals
Desirable criteria
- An interest in working with young people, schools and digital mental health solutions
Other
Essential criteria
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively
- Positive approach to working with participants of all ages, including young children and families
Desirable criteria
- A desire to pursue a career as a clinician-scientist with further training in Clinical, Educational, or Counselling Psychology
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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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.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Alicja Podgorski
- Job title
- Clinical Trial Lead & Research Therapist
- Email address
- [email protected]
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