Job summary
- Main area
- Psychology
- Grade
- Band 5
- Contract
- 2 years (24 month Fixed Term Contract)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 263-CCG25-314-LB
- Employer
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Bensham Hospital
- Town
- Gateshead
- Salary
- £31,049 - £37,796 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 16/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Higher Assistant Psychologist
Band 5
Hello!
We are so delighted you are considering coming to work with us at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).
We know the power of looking into an organisation, one you might want to work in, or one where you are going to get help, and being able to say, ‘I’ve seen somewhere I can fit in and be myself.’ We’re on a journey to make the Trust an inclusive employer, representative of the community we serve and we want more of our community to consider applying for jobs with us.
Opportunities for you
Spanning east to west coasts from Northumberland to Cumbria and from the Scottish Borders down to Middlesbrough we’ve got exciting new opportunities available at every level and in every area.
We offer flexible working, helping work fit around family and caring responsibilities, or training and development needs and there’s lots on offer in the way of benefits, such as, lease cars, childcare schemes, staff discounts, season tickets for travel and a cycle to work scheme. All this in a vibrant workplace supported by the following staff networks.
- Cultural diversity staff network
- Disabled staff network
- LGBT+ staff network
We also have a number of staff support groups which are open to any staff to attend. These Include:
- Armed Forces and Veterans Staff Association
- Mind, Health and Wellbeing Community
- Menopause toolkit and cafes and staff carer support group
We offer fantastic personal development opportunities through our Collective Leadership Programme and other Organisational Development initiatives. Whatever you are looking for, you will be joining a supportive, friendly team, offering varied and interesting roles, with opportunities for career progression.
Always improving
CNTW is regulated by the national healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our last two inspections have rated us as an outstanding organisation. We’re always seeking to improve as an organisation. Do you want to be part of that?
Please note that it is a requirement of this Trust that all external applicants pay for their own DBS certification if a DBS check is required for the post. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first monthly pay
Job overview
The Gateshead Learning Disability Team are pleased to be recruiting a highly motivated, well organised, and enthusiastic individual to a Band 5, Higher Assistant Psychologist post. The post is advertised as full-time and will be a fixed term contract for 2 years
The post is a result of a vacancy arising from a current Higher Assistant Psychologist moving on from their role. The post holder will be an active part of our multidisciplinary team and you will be working in an environment where there is strong emphasis on teamwork and high quality of clinical care. You will be part of the psychology team in Gateshead Learning Disability Team.
Main duties of the job
A key aspect of the role will be supporting psychological assessment, formulation and interventions with patients who have a learning disability who may be experiencing co-occurring mental health problems and behaviours that challenge.
The role will involve working collaboratively alongside multidisciplinary staff in the team, by participating in meetings and clinical discussions, supporting team supervisions and supporting indirect work with patients.
There will be opportunities to participate in the development and delivery of training.
Assistant psychologists are supported to access relevant training as part of their role.
Assistant Psychologists will be expected to participate in service development and service evaluation projects.
As a service, we value the role of robust, supportive and effective supervision and you will have access to separate clinical and management supervision. We will expect the post holder to actively pursue their own continuous professional development and will support them to identify needs and progress in a meaningful way.
Working for our organisation
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
We have good links with the clinical psychology training courses in the area.
Experience of paid or unpaid work with people who experience mental health problems and/or other disabilities is essential. Previous community experience is an advantage.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 2nd September 2025
Closing date : 16th September 2025
We welcome your application.
Please note - this vacancy will close once a suitable amount of applications is received.
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Upper 2nd class honours degree, or higher, in psychology
- Eligibility for graduate membership of British Psychological Society
Desirable criteria
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Paid or unpaid work with people with a learning disability, mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
- Experience as an assistant/research psychologist.
- Knowledge of evidence based practice
Desirable criteria
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision.
- Experience with client group relevant to post.
- Experience of psychometric test administration and interpretation.
- Experience of providing individual or group interventions
Skills and Competencies
Essential criteria
- High level of communication skills (written and oral), including an ability to communicate and work in highly emotive circumstances.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with a learning disability, mental health problems and other disabilities.
- Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health / cognitive impairment / disability context.
- Computer literate, including use of databases & data analysis, e.g. SPSS for Windows.
- Demonstrates graduate level knowledge and experience of research and research methodology.
- An understanding of psychology applied to healthcare.
Desirable criteria
- A high standard of report writing
Personal Characteristics
Essential criteria
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- An ability to interact appropriately with people with a learning disability, mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals by supervisor.
Additional Requirements
Essential criteria
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Able to manage own stress in difficult conditions and to identify when additional personal support may be necessary.
Desirable criteria
- A desire to explore a career in applied Psychology.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
- Dr Allan Skelly
- Job title
- Consultant Clinical Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01914780650
- Additional information
Davina Bruce, Team Manager
01914780650
List jobs with Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust in Allied Health Professions or all sectors