Assistant Psychologist

Job summary

The Clinical Psychology service for the Nottinghamshire Adult Mental Health Acute Care Network provides high quality psychological assessment, advice and intervention within local adult acute mental health wards.

As a result of several members of our team securing developmental opportunities, we have three full-time band 3 Assistant Psychologist post’s available across our male and female acute wards (two males wards at Highbury Hospital and one Female ward at Sherwood Oaks). We are seeking candidates with a keen interest and demonstrated experience in adult acute mental health to join our enthusiastic multi-disciplinary teams. We would particularly like to encourage candidates with acute inpatient experience to apply.

You will work in inpatient services and will have good opportunities to participate in individual assessment and formulation of patients’ needs, including a wide range of clinical presentations. There will also be opportunities to plan and deliver both individual and group interventions under the supervision of qualified clinical psychologists. You will work directly with patients and indirectly to advise the multi-disciplinary team, e.g. providing advice at ward review meetings on psychological aspects of patient care.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking candidates who can work confidently under supervision, can follow direction, have the ability to work in teams, and are adaptable and responsive to the needs of the service they are working in. Our commitment to you is we will provide you with the opportunity for you to develop professionally within committed and supportive adult mental health services and play an important role in supporting increasing access to psychological therapies within our acute adult mental health wards.

Applicants should have completed a Psychology honours degree with 2:1 or higher, have clinically relevant work experience and knowledge of psychological assessments and interventions.

The service enjoys good links with local Doctoral training courses in clinical psychology.

Person Specification

Qualification

Essential

• Psychology honours degree 2:1 or higher, meeting the requirements for graduate basis for registration with the British Psychological Society. Candidates with 2:2 degree will be considered if they have completed a postgraduate course (MSc or PhD level)

Desirable

• Post-graduate qualification in psychology (e.g. MSc or PhD)
• Short courses – e.g. in CBT, schema therapy, trauma, understanding complex clinical presentations

Experience

Essential

• Clinically-relevant postgraduate work experience

Desirable

• Experience of working in acute adult mental health setting
• Experience of NHS clinical psychology services

Knowledge

Essential

• Psychological assessment and intervention

Desirable

• Experience of working in applied psychological models, e.g. CBT, DBT, schema therapy

Skills

Essential

• Clear communication skills, both oral and written
• Dealing with barriers to communication
• Numeracy, data collection and analysis skills
• Ability to reflect on practice and accept personal supervision
• Word processing and other IT skills

Desirable

• Understanding of ethical issues in clinical practice
• Ability to manage and de-escalate hostility and aggression

Values and behaviours

Essential

• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork
• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust’s expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation

Closing Date: 19 July 2026