Job summary
- Main area
- Assistant Psychologist
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 812-26-KR-Step2-CYP1062
- Employer
- Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Step2 Early Intervention CAMHS
- Town
- Stevenage
- Salary
- £28,392 - £31,157 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 21/08/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 03/09/2026
Employer heading
Assistant Psychologist
NHS AfC: Band 4
Job overview
We are looking to welcome to our team an Assistant Psychologist.
Step2 is an Early Intervention Children and Young People’s Mental Health Service (CYP MHS). We are a team of dynamic professionals committed to improving child and adolescent mental health in Hertfordshire.
Step2 is committed to service development and improvement and as such, draws on community psychology frameworks and co-production principles to ensure improved accessibility and partnership working with the local community.
*Proposed interview date: 3rd September 2026*
Main duties of the job
You will be expected to work flexibly, willing to work across the County of Hertfordshire and able to adapt the way you work to best meet the needs of our most vulnerable children and families and our service.
For full details of the role please see the attached job description and person specification document.
Working for our organisation
- You’ll find the organisation is a great place to work with many benefits offered to you as a member of our staff.
- Recent NHS staff survey results reflect a positive and inclusive working culture at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, with staff highlighting supportive leadership strong teamwork and a commitment to staff well being and development.
- Our staff are proud to be Pioneering, Caring and Inclusive in their work to help achieve the Trust vision
- We put our children, Young people , their families and carers at the centre of our vision - Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities
- We welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds and ages
- We don’t want you to miss out so we’d like you to know that if we have a high level of interest in this role, the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date, so please make your application as soon as possible - Apply now
You’ve made a great decision to apply to join to HCT - we’re looking forward to taking the next steps of the journey with you.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For this role you will need to have a full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
· Please refer to the attached job description for more specific information about this role.
The use of AI is monitored and if you have used it then you are required to declare this, as well as what type of AI tools you have used and for what purpose. We reserve the right to further test your individual knowledge and skills in relation to the requirements for the post through robust and thorough interview and assessment.
Person specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential criteria
- An upper second-class honours degree or higher in psychology
- Entitled to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable criteria
- Further post graduate training or degree in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge, underpinned by theory to a mental health context.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health challenges.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working with children, young people and families who have mental health difficulties.
- Experience of working with families presenting with complex social issues.
Desirable criteria
- Experience completing risk assessments.
- Experience working in a mental health setting within the NHS. Previous experience of working as an assistant psychologist or equivalent.
- Experience assisting in the production of audits, collating data as part of routine service delivery or service evaluation projects and report writing.
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
- Ability to plan and prioritise workload. Recognise limits of competence and seek support when needed.
- Ability to prepare for and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Openness to constructive feedback and professional challenge. To willingly self-reflect to improve own personal development and practice.
- Ability to maintain a high degree of ethical and professional standards, demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision.
- Proficient communication skills, with an ability to work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and professionals.
- Ability to interpret audit and research data, understand research materials and willingness to contribute to service evaluation. Enthusiasm to develop on this area of expertise.
Desirable criteria
- Awareness of CYP IAPT principles, THRIVE and relevant evidence-based practice as detailed in NICE guidance.
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Ability to interact positively with professionals from various disciplines. Competent in working autonomously, reliably, and consistently on agreed tasks managed at regular intervals.
- Ability to recognise and manage stress and the emotional impact of the role, utilising support systems in a professional manner.
Desirable criteria
- Working towards furthering a career in professional psychology.
Additional requirements
Essential criteria
- Willingness to uphold the Trust’s values.
- Eligible to live and work in the UK.
- Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010). Ability to travel independently across the county of Hertfordshire
- Understands the impact on equality, diversity and inclusion issues in all aspects of service delivery and planning.
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
- Kirsty Robertson
- Job title
- Clinical Team Leader
- Email address
- [email protected]
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