Job Summary
We are looking for an experienced and compassionate Assistant Psychologist to join our Cancer Psychology Service. This is a varied role, offering the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the development of psychologically informed care for people affected by cancer. You will support service evaluation and help shape service delivery through co‑production with patients, staff, and stakeholders. A key focus will be on promoting trauma‑informed care and addressing health inequalities. Where needed, you will contribute to individual and group interventions. You will also support research, literature reviews, and the development of training, teaching, and digital resources. The role requires flexibility, the ability to work independently, and will evolve over time in response to service needs. This is an excellent opportunity to gain broad experience in clinical health psychology within a supportive and innovative team.
Responsibilities
* Developing and implementing psychologically informed resources.
* Co‑facilitating psycho‑education and peer support groups for service users under clinical supervision and guidance.
* Supervised one‑to‑one psycho‑education and guided self‑help with service users.
* Establishing and working within therapeutic boundaries.
* Basic cognitive assessment (with training and supervision provided).
* Being involved with patient and public involvement initiatives to help inform, develop, and promote the rehabilitation offer.
* Supporting audit, service evaluation and research activity.
* Encouraging and supporting the development of psychological knowledge and skills for multi‑disciplinary colleagues.
* Assisting in the delivery of training for colleagues and other staff groups on relevant psychological skills and perspectives.
* Contributing to multi‑disciplinary and other team meetings.
* Responsible maintenance and protection of clinical records.
* Receiving regular clinical supervision in accordance with good practice guidelines.
* Reporting back to the Clinical Lead on matters of concern or which need a decision from Clinical Lead level.
* Contributing to Service and Trust objectives and following Trust policies and procedures.
* Providing information on performance and outcome measures.
* Analytical and judgement skills: assessing and judging service‑user needs and deciding on appropriate interventions within individual and group work; analysing and making decisions based on group dynamics.
* Planning and organisational skills: planning and prioritising own workload; planning and organising structure and content of individual and group work with service users.
* Responsibility for Human Resources: may be required to demonstrate duties to others, including other assistant psychologists and other health care professionals.
* Health and safety: adhering to Trust health and safety policies and procedures and having due regard for the health and safety of themselves, colleagues and the general public.
Details
* Date posted: 03 November 2025
* Pay scheme: Agenda for change
* Band: Band 5
* Salary: £31,049 to £37,796 a year pa, pro rata
* Contract: Fixed term (12 months)
* Working pattern: Full‑time
* Job location: Walton Hospital, Whitecotes Lane, Chesterfield, S40 3HW
* Reference number: 842‑SCS‑6078‑25
Person Specification
Essential Qualifications
* Good honours degree in Psychology (First Class or 2:1) or equivalent post‑graduate conversion route.
* Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS.
Essential Knowledge
* Knowledge of and interest in psychological issues related to physical health.
* Knowledge of and interest in preventative psychological approaches and issues around health inequalities.
Desirable Knowledge
* Evidence of continuing professional development showing an interest in and passion for developing knowledge of applying psychological ideas and approaches to mental and physical health.
Desirable Experience
* Experience of delivering psychologically informed structured interventions (including guided self‑help) for people with physical and mental health‑related problems in individual or group situations.
* Skills and experience in psychological assessment including risk assessment.
* Experience of completing service audit and evaluation.
* Experience of delivering training to staff on mental and physical health‑related issues.
* Knowledge and experience in delivering psycho‑education to people with physical health problems in individual or group situations.
* Skills and experience in establishing therapeutic boundaries and rapport in individual or group settings.
* Knowledge of and experience of working in or with clinical health psychology services.
Essential Skills
* Ability to work harmoniously and collaboratively with other disciplines.
* Skills in good listening and delivering practical and emotional support to individuals and teams in pursuit of behavioural and psychological change.
* Skills in implementing, analysing and reporting on service audit and evaluation.
Desirable Skills
* Group work skills.
* Teaching and training skills.
Essential Values, Drivers and Motivators
* Values consistent with delivering high quality psychological input to services, systems and communities.
* Values consistent with a commitment to address health inequalities.
Aptitude and Personal Qualities
* Ability to tolerate and manage highly distressing emotional issues.
* Ability to engage in sustained mental effort, involving tasks demanding intense concentration.
* Must be capable of being accountable for own professional actions having work managed rather than closely supervised.
* Warmth and genuineness.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
* Derbyshire Community Health Services NHSFT
* Walton Hospital, Whitecotes Lane, Chesterfield, S40 3HW
* http://www.dchs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
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