Job Summary
An exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated Assistant Psychologist to work across the community mental health teams in west Cheshire. Predominantly based in our Ellesmere Port team, the successful candidate may be required to work across our other bases (Chester & Winsford) for the purposes of audit and evaluation projects, supervision & meetings.
Your role will involve working closely with clinical psychologists, psychology practitioners, and multi-disciplinary teams, to support the provision of a high quality and inclusive psychology offer to the client population within secondary care. We are in the early stages of developing a psychology service which is embedded within the CMHTs, as such the post offers a broad variety of opportunities and applications from innovative and creative thinkers are especially welcomed.
This is a fixed term role for 18 months and may be offered as a secondment opportunity. (Please obtain permission to be released on a secondment before submitting an application).
Main duties of the job
The role will involve contributing to the provision of psychological assessment, formulation and interventions (1:1 and group-based) to clients within the community mental health teams, under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist(s). The post will require someone with a willingness to work alongside colleagues from other professions that form the MDT, whilst representing psychology as a valuable contribution to the service. With a positive attitude towards supervision and reflection, you will be well-supported to contribute meaningfully to the clients our service is designed to serve. The role will also involve supporting the evaluation of the service through audits and quality improvement projects as well as the development of psychological resources and training.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good honours degree in Psychology (2.i or above). Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS
Desirable
- Advanced keyboard skills
- Other related academic qualifications to Masters or Doctorate level
Knowledge & Expertise
Essential
- The ability to communicate complex/ sensitive information where barriers to understanding exist. For example, instances requiring empathy and reassurance
- The ability to make judgements involving a range of facts or situations requiring analysis or comparison of a range of options. Also skills for assessing clients in one-to-one sessions, group dynamics or who are participating in research
- The ability to organise straightforward tasks, activities or programmes, some of which may be ongoing. Also, the ability to plan and prioritises own workload, research programme activities; group sessions, etc
- Working to Professional Guidelines
- Must be capable of working within guidelines; receives regular supervision/ direction
Desirable
- Ability to use routinely available spreadsheet/database software (Excel, Access, etc.)
- Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable relevant work experience with people who have complex mental health problems/ learning disabilities risk patterns and challenging behaviour
Desirable
- Relevant work experience of people with learning disabilities/ mental health problems
- Desire to progress to Clinical Training (DClinPsy)
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: 25 August 2025
