Job summary
- Main area
- Specialist Children and Young People's Services
- Grade
- Band 5
- Contract
- 6 months (Fixed term contract until end of March 2025)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 263-SCG25-123-HN
- Employer
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Ferndene Hospital
- Town
- Prudhoe
- 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
We are delighted to be offering a full-time Band 5 Higher Assistant Psychologist post within our Children and Young People's Inpatient Service based at Ferndene Hospital.
We are looking for an enthusiastic psychology graduate, with experience in working as an Assistant Psychologist in inpatient clinical settings (paid or voluntary), to help provide specialist psychological input into the newly opening Specialist Learning Disability and Autism Unit. Previous experience of working in an inpatient setting, working with Learning Disability and Autism, and with children is essential.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will work within a multidisciplinary context to help the psychology team undertake specialised psychological assessments, treatments, and other types of clinical intervention appropriate to this level of training with individual clients / groups of clients, and families. They will have weekly supervision from an experienced Clinical Psychologist. They will support the service in the delivery of training and service development initiatives.
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.
Working in inpatient services offers excellent opportunities to develop a range of skills. These include skills in both direct clinical work, as well as clinical leadership, service development, staff support, and training.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date :9th September 2025
Closing date : 16th September 2025
We welcome your application.
Please note this vacancy may close earlier than stated above, should an appropriate number of applications be received.
Person specification
Education and Qualification
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
- Experience as an assistant psychologist (including honorary, paid or unpaid)
- Clinical experience working with children with learning disabilities and autism
- Clinical experience working into inpatient settings with children
Desirable criteria
- Experience of PBS related work
- Experience of working with families
- Experience of behavioural recording
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.
- Computer literate, including use of databases & data analysis, e.g. SPSS for Windows.
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 David O'Sullivan
- Job title
- Consultant Clinical Psychologist
- Email address
- david.o'[email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01661838415
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