Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- Fixed term: 8 months (Funding for various posts as detailed in vacancy document)
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 354-CO-21739(F)
- Employer
- Sussex Partnership NHS FoundationTrust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Various
- Town
- Various
- Salary
- £27,485 - £30,162 PA / pro rata for part time
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 22/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Assistant Psychologist
NHS AfC: Band 4
Come and join us
We're looking for people who share our values (compassion, accountability and optimism) to help us provide high quality care to the patients, carers, families and local communities we serve. We specialise in providing NHS mental health and learning disability services.
So what can we offer you in return?
We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.
You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.
As a Trust we are committed in making a difference. Your development is important to us, so don't forget to ask us during interview what opportunities we can offer. We can offer fully funded lifelong learning opportunities such as an apprenticeship from GCSE to Masters level.
If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.
Job overview
As part of the national strategy to increase the Psychological Professions by 100% in the next 10 years, we have been awarded funding from NHS England (formerly Health Education England) to offer paid assistant psychologist positions to aspiring clinical psychologists.
There are seven fixed-term posts available. The posts are based at the below services
1x 8month (full time)
Multiple Admissions Pathway (Working age adults)
2 x 18month (full time)
Chichester and Arun Neighbourhood Mental Health Team - Chichester
Chichester and Arun Neighbourhood Mental Health Team - Bognor
1 x 12month 3 days a week
Lewes Neighbourhood mental health team
1x 10months 3 days a week (part time)
Forensic healthcare services – Offender Personality Disorder (OPD)
2 x 6month 3 days a week
Sussex Eating Disorder Service
Crawley Neighbourhood Mental Health Team (ATS)
If you have a preference for one of the particular posts, please indicate this on your personal statement.
Detailed role descriptions are provided in the Psychological Professions Assistant Psychologist Recruitment brochure attached. Please ensure that you read this for more specific information.
We will be offering a centralised recruitment process where candidates who are successfully shortlisted will be invited to a single interview. Successful candidates will then be offered a post with considerations of their preferences.
Interviews will be held online and are planned for Thursday 20th November & Friday 21th November 2025
Main duties of the job
Assistant psychologist role descriptions are described in detail in the Psychological Professions Assistant Psychologist Recruitment brochure. If you have a preference for one of the particular posts, please indicate this on your personal statement.
Working for our organisation
We are committed to increasing diversity within clinical psychology and as such, we welcome applications from people from backgrounds that are currently under-represented in the profession—the data currently indicates those to be:
· Individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds
· Those from low socio-economic backgrounds as defined by Gov.uk
· Individuals with unpaid caring responsibilities as defined by NHSE
We are committed to supporting you on your journey to becoming a clinical psychologist. Supervision and wider professional support will be offered to all successful candidates. A specialised induction programme is also available, and successful applicants will also be able to attend training that is offered in the Trust.
Sussex Partnership is a fantastic Trust to work for and psychology is highly valued. Our teams are welcoming and enthusiastic about providing the best possible care for people who access our services. Sussex is a beautiful county with good transport links, vibrant urban communities, rural areas and tourist attractions, including the Coast and the South Downs. The Trust has recently been rated by the CQC as Good overall and Outstanding for care.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Assistant Psychologists will support and enhance professional psychological practice within the service. Providing support, co-ordination and administration to clinical, training and research functions within the scope appropriate to level of training and competence, and to undertaking related tasks to enhance assessment, intervention and evaluation within the team or care group. To work independently according to a plan agreed and reviewed through regular supervision by an HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist.
Main responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- To undertake projects relating to service development and evaluation.
- To set up databases, spreadsheets and using advanced IT skills in evaluation audit and research.
- To support assessment and treatment interventions undertaken by the service as appropriate to level of competence and training.
- To undertake direct and indirect clinical work as required under live or regular supervision from qualified applied HPC registered Psychologist.
- To plan, organise and co-teach psycho-educational courses and groups with appropriately qualified professional staff.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Honours Degree in Psychology, or Equivalent. eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartership with the BPS.
Communication
Essential criteria
- To be able to communicate effectively under pressure and maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working as a part of a team (not necessarily in NHS settings)
- Able to be flexible and cope with multiple demands (not necessarily in NHS settings)
Skills
Desirable criteria
- Ability to reflect on and apply understanding of structural inequality, underrepresentation and inclusion to professional practice
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
- Psychological Professions Team
- Job title
- Psychological Professions
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0300 304 2057
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