Job summary
- Main area
- Children's Mental Health
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- 22 months (22 month Fixed term)
- Hours
- Part time - 18.75 hours per week
- Job ref
- 310-CYPF-7391112
- Employer
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Newtown Centre
- Town
- Huntingdon
- Salary
- £27,485 - £30,162 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 15/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Assistant Psychologist
Band 4
Job overview
This is a Fixed Term Contract for 22 Months.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Assistant Psychologist for a part-time, time-limited appointment to support delivery of an NIHR funded clinical trial. The study is evaluating a trauma focused CBT intervention for young children aged 3-8 years with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), in comparison to care as usual.
The post holder will assist with the day-to-day running of the trial, including coordinating participant activity, supporting clinical and research staff, maintaining accurate data records, and liaising with the NHS. This is an excellent opportunity for a psychology graduate with a keen interest in trauma, early intervention, and clinical research.
Main duties of the job
To support a NIHR funded clinical trial designed to assess a Trauma-Focused CBT Intervention for young children aged 3-8 years with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The post holder will also be involved in other trial related activities and assist the Programme Leader and Clinical Trial Lead as needed.
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
Review referral information and clinical case files to support the identification of eligible participants for the clinical trial.
Assist with participant communication, recruitment, engagement, and retention by helping families feel comfortable and supported throughout their involvement in the study, providing information, and scheduling appointments.
Prepare and organise treatment materials, including assessments, session notes and activities, and resources for therapists, families, and children.
Maintain accurate and timely records of clinical care for trial participants and their carers, including consent forms, assessment measures, sessions notes, and communications under the guidance of the Clinical Trial Lead.
Conduct post-treatment and follow up assessments of clinical trial participants and their carers (i.e. structured interviews for PTSD).
Communicate effectively with NHS services through team meetings, minute taking and written reports, and ensure clinical care teams receive important information regarding patient care.
Work in collaboration with others to achieve joint research projects.
Attend and actively contribute to meetings with the clinical and research team.
Liaise with NHS clinicians and referrers to support participant identification, initial engagement, and scheduling of trial procedures.
Contribute to the creation of accessible resources and communication materials for families participating in the study.
Work to ensure the accurate collection of data and the maintenance of multiple data sets.
Develop skills and competencies related to child and family trauma, CBT interventions, and clinical research practices.
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, child development, trauma informed care, or research methods
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
- Experience with administrative tasks such as scheduling, data entry, or records management
Desirable criteria
- High standard of written communication, including experience preparing clinical or research reports
- Data-analysis experience (e.g., using SPSS, R, Excel, or similar)
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
- Awareness of trauma informed care principles or early years psychological interventions
- An interest in working with young children and their parents affected by trauma
Physical Requirements
Essential criteria
- The nature of the working environment requires occasional travel from base to other research and recruitment sites.
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.
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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