Assistant Psychologist: Sponsorship Available

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Job Summary

We are looking to recruit a full-time Assistant Psychologist to join the Mental Health Support Team (MHST) in Kent. MHSTs are a new service designed to support children and young people with mild to moderate mental health in education settings.

MHSTs aim to:

support children and YP with mental health problems through evidence-based interventions support schools in developing their whole school approach to mental health provide timely advice to school staff and to liaise with other services to help children and young people get the right help and stay in education.

We are asking candidates to utilise the person specification to outline: What experience you have working with children in a community setting.

 

One trust, one mental health service for Kent and Medway – Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

 

This is an exceptional opportunity within the NHS to gain essential clinical experience and develop specialist skills in CBT, psychoeducation, initial interventions, complex trauma and personality-related needs, working within a structured, relational environment.

The role requires a combination of advanced data management skills for service evaluation and a passion for group process and clinical support. You will receive supervision from a qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist. The AP will fulfil a crucial dual role, supporting both the clinical delivery and the service’s robust data, audit, and research agenda.

 

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a committed, capable, resilient, and enthusiastic team player to join us at the Mental Health Support Team (MHST) to work with clients with low to moderate mental health needs.

We are looking for an Assistant Psychologist with a genuine interest and experience in working with people who have complex emotional needs and personality disorders. We are a supportive team with a commitment to reflective practice, formulation and co-production. We offer a group-based programme, so we are looking for someone who can co-facilitate groups, particularly CBT psychoeducation, and take a key role in evaluating the programme.

This is a varied role that also involves clinical work, audit & evaluation, administration, consultation, reflective practice and training other agencies to work with personality disorder. You will be well supported in individual supervision and team reflective practice sessions to take up this role.

Person Specification

Training Qualification

Essential

  • Psychology Qualification – An upper second class honours degree or higher
  • Entitlement to Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society.

Desirable

  • Paid or voluntary work with people with mental health problems or and other difficulties
  • Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis knowledge

Good communication skills

Essential

  • High level communication skills demonstrated within personal statement. Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance
  • An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities, demonstrated with additional training or within personal statement
  • Personal statement demonstrates an understanding of psychology applied to health care, and an awareness of NHS Plan and clinical governance priorities.

Desirable

  • Experience using RIO and a passion for databases or data- analysis, especially Windows, Excel
  • Knowledge of the educational system in England
  • Additional training relating either to child development or mental health

Experience

Essential

  • Working with children and young people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities
  • Working within the community setting

Desirable

  • A full valid UK driving licence for business purpose

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 02 July 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.