Assistant Psychological Therapy Practitioner: Sponsorship Available

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Job Summary

An opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Psychological Therapy Practitioner to work alongside a team of Community Dietitians and Highly specialist Clinical Psychologists specialising in adult weight management, the role will include supporting your own caseload of patients to lose weight and achieve life long change.

This is a role for a full time, permanent, Assistant Psychological Therapy Practitioner, integrated into the Weight Management Service for Adults.

You will need to work at Riverside Health Centre, with the flexibility to travel and work in clinics across the Cardiff University Health Board site. You will work across the pathway, at levels 2, 3 (All Wales Weight Management Pathway (2021) and in Maternity Services with adults living with obesity.

This post will involve direct work with adults living with obesity and roles supporting the wider multi-disciplinary team.

An interest in nutrition in the health and wellbeing of patients and experience of working in the community would be advantageous.

The ability to speak welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and /or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

 

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will be supported and supervised by two part-time Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologists.

The role includes individual and group work with adults living with obesity using therapeutic models such as Dialectical Behavioural therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. There will be opportunities to learn more about trauma based therapeutic models in this context. The role also involves support to the Maternity Services for women living with obesity. There will be an administrative and data entry component to the role. There will be a chance to support psychological care in this setting via training and research/audit supervised by Clinical Psychologists and Dietitians.

The main base is at Riverside Health Centre with additional time at other sites across Cardiff and Vale University Health Board Site.

The post holder will:

  • Follow standard operating procedures and contribute to the aims and outcomes of the Nutrition & Dietetic Service.
  • Plan and prioritise patient caseload and implement treatment of adult patients.
  • Carry out consultations in 1 to 1 or group settings.
  • Support the Weight management service lead in developing the weight management service going forward.
  • Support dietetic and psychology services with collection and management of data as per Welsh Government requirements.
  • Assist in the organisation and provision of performance management and programme evaluation information.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Psychology Undergraduate Degree. An undergraduate degree in social science/counselling/teaching/training. Masters degree. 5+ years of paid mental health experience and CBT diploma.

Desirable

  • Completing CBT/ACT course (1 point)

Experience

Essential

  • Application clearly and appropriately written. Reference to research/ reports written. Previous experience of psychological therapy/psychoeducation groups.

Desirable

  • Previous assistant psychologist post. Previous support worker role. Volunteer work in relevant area.

Skills

Essential

  • Example of communicating sensitive information well included. Communication/counselling skills course. Experience of working or volunteering in setting with vulnerable people. Reference to using digital tools (videocall platforms, canva, word, excel) to deliver/collate psychological information.

Desirable

  • Experience of delivering therapy groups. Experience of delivering guided self-help/one to one support sessions. Experience of being supervised by psychologist/psychological therapist.

Special Knowledge

Essential

  • References to psychological needs/experiences of previous client groups/weight management clients. References to psychological factors/needs/barriers for weight management clients.

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in the NHS. References to CBT and third-wave CBT therapies

Additional

Essential

  • References to developing positive working relationships with colleagues. Has previously engaged with reflective practice/clinical supervision.

Desirable

  • Speaks Welsh

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: 21 June 2026

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