Job summary
- Main area
- 317 Neuropsychology
- Grade
- Band 5
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (from date of appointment)
- Hours
- Full time
- Job share
- Job ref
- 317-2025-40-038-VA1
- Employer
- The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Victoria Infirmary
- Town
- 317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary
- Salary
- £31,049 - £37,796 pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 03/11/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 17/11/2025
Employer heading
Assistant Psychologist
Band 5
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 15,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.6 billion.
We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country, supporting people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts each day, delivering high standards of healthcare.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.
Job overview
We are seeking to appoint an Assistant Psychologist to join the Neuropsychological evaluation and rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis (NEuRoMS) project (www.neuroms.org). This is an NIHR-funded project that aims to develop and evaluate a cognitive screening pathway for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and a neuropsychological rehabilitation programme for people with MS with mild or moderate cognitive problems. The successful applicant will be based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and will join an established multi-disciplinary team of clinical researchers.
The post will be offered on a fixed-term contract for 12 months and will be available immediately. Job share arrangements may be considered.
- Interview Date Monday 17 November 2025
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Main duties of the job
This is an exciting opportunity for candidates who wish to learn about clinical research and deliver clinical services as part of the project. The post holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary MS team. They will be responsible for supporting people with MS to complete cognitive screening online or on a tablet and producing a report. They will also be required to deliver a manualised cognitive rehabilitation intervention for people with MS with mild or moderate cognitive problems. The rehabilitation will be provided face-to-face, over MS Teams/Zoom or telephone. The post holder will be required to collect data from the screening and rehabilitation sessions, complete data entry, and maintain clinical notes. They will also be required to undertake research-specific training and Trust-specific mandatory training. The post-holder will receive regular supervision from the research team. The post holder is also expected to support participant recruitment for the project.
Candidates must have a good BA or BSc degree in psychology (minimum 2.1), should have experience working with vulnerable adults, and have excellent interpersonal skills. The ability to work well and communicate within a team are essential. Broader experience of working with people living with multiple sclerosis will be an advantage. We are looking for someone who can demonstrate personal enthusiasm and commitment to the subject area.
Working for our organisation
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
• Freeman Hospital
• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service
• Cramlington Manor Walks
These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Research and clinical responsibilities
- To undertake supervised research, which may include managing, planning and conducting research activity using recognised approaches, methodologies and techniques within the research area.
- To analyse data, interpret reports, conduct critical evaluations using specified and agreed techniques, approaches and/or models and document findings
- To work in conjunction with others in the research team to achieve the research project objectives within the required timeline
- To support people with multiple sclerosis (MS) to complete cognitive screening
- To complete all administrative tasks associated with the cognitive screening
- To provide brief, manualised cognitive rehabilitation to people with MS and mild cognitive problems
- To complete reports and all administrative tasks associated with providing the cognitive rehabilitation
- Ensure that delivery of the study complies with the relevant regulations and the specific trial standard operation procedures
- To resolve problems, in meeting research objectives and deadlines in collaboration with others
- To carry out analyses and/or tests and/or critical evaluations using specified and agreed techniques, approaches and/or models and document findings
- To carry out any other project-related duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as requested by the Chief Investigator, Site Principal Investigator or NEuRoMS Programme Manager
Engagement and Communication
- To contribute to the production of research reports and publications and prepare and present papers on research progress and outcomes to relevant groups including external bodies
- To build relationships with internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding and form relationships for future collaborations
- To attend regular clinical and research supervision to support the delivery of the cognitive screening and rehabilitation, and research objectives
- To communicate information and ideas to research team and advise and assist other staff within area of expertise
- To carry out any other project-related duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as requested by the Programme Manager or Chief Investigator
- To support and enhance the professional psychological care of patients (in the specialist service)
- Providing neuropsychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist
- To assist in clinical related administration, conduct of audits, teaching and project work
- This post involves working independently according to a work plan agreed with line manager and within the overall framework of the team’s policies and procedures
Person specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential criteria
- • Completed a single honours degree in psychology
Desirable criteria
- • Further post graduate training or experience in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- • Experience of conducting literature searches and reviews
- • Experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities as an assistant psychologist
- • An understanding of the needs of children, adults and families with physical health problems and/or other disabilities
- • Demonstrates understanding of issues relating to confidentiality and adheres to Trust policy
- • An understanding of psychology applied to health care
- • Evidence of continued professional development
Desirable criteria
- • High level of report writing
- • Work with children and/or adults with physical health problems, particularly in hospital-based settings
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
- • High standard of computer skills including email, excel and SPSS and the ability to utilise a patient information system to manage diary commitments and electronic patient records
- • High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive
- • An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a physical and mental health context
- • An ability to interact professionally with staff from all disciplines
- • Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively
- • Ability to cope with and maintain professionalism in potentially upsetting circumstances around serious illness
- • Ability to meet the travel requirements of the post
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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
- Catherine Hankinson
- Job title
- Consultant Paediatric Neuropsychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0191 2824081
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