Job summary
- Main area
- Psychology
- Grade
- Band 5
- Contract
- 12 months (Fixed term)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (9-5)
- Job ref
- 263-SCG25-147-MG
- Employer
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- St. Nicholas Hospital
- Town
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Salary
- £31,049 - £37,796 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 04/11/2025 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 Network
- 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 North East Provider Collaborative commissions secure care services across the Cumbria, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) footprints. It has approved the development of a new Forensic Community Service (FCS) model operating equitably across the geographical areas of both Trusts for individuals with mental disorders or personality disorders as a secondary condition who have offended or are at risk of doing so. It provides additional partnership NHS and third sector staff resources to support care co-ordination and/or joint working for all service users leaving secure care hospital. Specific aims are to reduce the length of stay within secure care hospital beds by providing therapeutic continuity between hospital and community, to reduce re-admission rates and to increase community provision to support successful (re-) integration. This post is located in the CNTW (North Cumbria, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear) footprint.
The team will use the evidence-based ‘12 Components’ model of care developed by NHS England (NHSE), which is a biopsychosocial model delivered by the multi-disciplinary team that recognises the interconnection between biology, psychology, and socio-environmental factors.
Main duties of the job
The role will involve contributing to specialist assessment across a broad range of risks and clinical need. The post holder will be required to produce clear, accessible and collaborative formulations with service users, carers and staff which will guide interventions to assist the service user to adjust to situations that require social interaction with members of the family, work, community, or any other social unit.
The role involves undertaking psychological interventions with service users as informed by their formulations, under the supervision of the Senior Forensic Psychologist and may also involve contributing to the supervision of other staff, within the Multi Disciplinary Team, helping them to deliver psychological interventions to service users.
The post holder will maintain effective relationships with colleagues in in-patient secure settings and community services in order to optimise pathways for service users. Direct work with service users may involve in-reach work within secure inpatient settings prior to the individuals discharge from secure hospital, and will also involve working with service users in community settings.
The post holder will receive clinical supervision from the Senior Psychologist within the Forensic Community Service and Operational supervision from the Team Manager of the Forensic Community Service.
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 both now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
We believe in the development of our staff and the post holder will be encouraged to engage in continued professional development opportunities appropriate to their role.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Psychology Team works within multi disciplinary and multi agency teams across the secure care pathway.
The role will involve working as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team, supporting the Senior Psychologist in providing assessment, formulation and treatment to service users. You will also have the opportunity to be involved in training and research opportunities within the service.
Previous experience as an Assistant Psychologist or Research Assistant is essential for Band 5 Higher Assistant Psychologist posts.
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 21st October 2025
Closing date : 4th November 2025
We welcome your application.
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 mental health problems and/or other disabilities. Experience as an assistant/research psychologist.
- 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 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.
- Demonstrates graduate level knowledge and experience of research and research methodology.
Desirable criteria
- A high standard of report writing.
Role/Team specific requirements
Essential criteria
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines. An ability to interact appropriately with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities. Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
Personal Characteristics
Essential criteria
- Able to manage own stress in difficult conditions and to identify when additional personal support may be necessary.
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Laura Doggett
- Job title
- Senior Forensic Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0191 2467273
- Additional information
Mark Scott-Mitchell
Team Manager
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