Job Summary
The post holder will support and enhance the professional psychological care of children, young people and families within a the specialised eating disorder team under the direction and supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist.
Working as part of the Community and Mental Health Division you will collaborate with other Clinical Psychology and multi-disciplinary team members. Other professionals in health, education and the voluntary sector involved in the emotional well-being of children and families.
This post involves work in the community, at Alder Hey Hospital and at our intensive therapies hub in Waterloo.
Main duties of the job
- Following appropriate induction and under direction and supervision, to undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients including standard psychometric tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client’s care.
- To assist in the delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and / or management of a client’s problems, under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist. The post holder can be required to work in highly emotive atmosphere and must maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times.
- To assist in the co-ordination and running of therapeutic groups.
- To work with other staff to assess outpatients, inpatients and residents and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.
- To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all care settings.
- To attend and contribute to clinical psychology meetings and appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings, as directed by the qualified clinical psychologists.
- To prepare test materials and visual aids as required and to maintain stock of same where necessary.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- 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 understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities
Desirable
- High standard of report writing
Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context
- An ability to interact sensitively and effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- An ability to interact with people with mental health problems or other disabilities and their families.
Essential Criteria
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology. A lower second class honours degree supplemented by post graduate qualification may be considered. Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
- Work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities on a paid or voluntary basis.
- Research and Audit Experience
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
- Previous experience as an Assistant in an NHS setting.
- Previous experience in eating disorder setting
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.
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: 17 February 2026
