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Job summary

Main area
Assistant Psychologist
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 4
Contract
Fixed term: 12 months (from start date)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
311-F974-26
Employer
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Tatton Unit
Town
Ashton-under-Lyne
Salary
£28,392 - £31,157 per annum, pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
02/08/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust logo

Assistant Psychologist

NHS AfC: Band 4

 

If you are Kind, Fair, Ingenious and Determined then we want you to come and join our #PennineCarePeople

https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk/values

 

Job overview

We are recruiting an enthusiastic and compassionate Assistant Psychologist to join us within the Rehabilitation and High Support (RHS) Care hub. The post will suit a motivated candidate who wishes to gain experience of promoting psychological perspectives within inpatient services. 

The postholder will input into Tatton Unit (Tameside Hospital), a male low secure unit, and Stansfield Place (Rochdale), a male Level 1 rehabilitation unit.  Both units provide inpatient support to men with severe and enduring mental health needs, with the aim of moving towards more independent living. Men have a primary diagnosis of a psychotic illness, but may have additional difficulties with trauma, emotional regulation, substance use, forensic history, or cognitive skills. The rehabilitation services aim to support re-integration into the community, and work closely with the Community Rehabilitation Team.

This is is a 12-month fixed term full time role.

Main duties of the job

You will support the qualified psychologists to promote psychological perspectives on the wards. You will be expected to offer assessment, formulation and interventions to the men. You will also facilitate skills-based groups, such as mindfulness. You will also support the wider MDT with care planning with service users. 

You will support the implementation of a trauma-informed approach on the ward by supporting Team Formulation meetings and Reflective Practice sessions. You will also be responsible for administrative tasks such as preparing notes on individuals backgrounds, data input and spreadsheet management. 

You will receive clinical and line management supervision from a Practitioner Psychologist and join peer supervision with other Assistant Psychologists. 

Working for our organisation

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the top of our agenda. We believe that a diverse, inclusive and engaged culture is vital; that everyone’s value should be recognised and respected.

We proactively challenge injustices, and are the only Trust in the North West to publicly recognise our commitment to becoming anti-racist and supporting our transgender and non-binary colleagues. We also have thriving staff networks to make sure everyone has a voice.

Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.

We are committed to staff development through shared learning, training and peer supervision. We are working hard to reduce restrictive practices, and to provide trauma-informed care.

Our trust values are:

Kindness

Fairness

Ingenuity

Determination

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification to support your application for this post. Please refer to the essential criteria in the person specification which will highlight the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to demonstrate in your application, by way of example, to give yourself the best opportunity to be shortlisted.

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • A first or upper second class honours degree in psychology
  • Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable criteria
  • Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and / or research design and analysis

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working clinically in mental health settings.
  • Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team.
Desirable criteria
  • Previous experience working as an Assistant Psychologist.
  • Experience of working with complex mental health difficulties
  • Experience of working with behaviour that challenges
  • Experience using word processing tools, spread sheets and statistical packages for data analysis.
  • Experience of service evaluation.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Have an understanding of psychological approaches to understanding complex mental health difficulties
  • Have an understanding of the principles of a trauma-informed approach

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria
  • High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive and challenging.
  • Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in way that enhances psychological mindedness.
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to design and evaluate research projects relevant to Applied Psychology.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareNo smoking policyDisability confident employerNorth West BAME

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

We may close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. To ensure your application is considered, please apply as soon as possible.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Dr Louisa McNair
Job title
Consultant Clinical Psychologist- Clinical Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07917 503634
Additional information

For information about Tatton Unit, please contact Dr Louisa McNair, [email protected]

For information about Stansfield Place, please contact Dr Josh Thompson [email protected]

If you have problems applying, contact

Address
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
225 Old Street
225 Old Street
OL6 7SR
Telephone
01617163181
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