South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Assistant Psychologist
Closing date: 18 June 2026
Exciting opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Psychologist to join our welcoming and friendly Integrated Community Stroke Team here in Barnsley. The Team comprises the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit (S.R.U.) and the Early Supported Discharge (E.S.D.). The E.S.D. service enables patients to continue their rehabilitation therapy at home, with the same intensity and expertise that they would receive in hospital. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of an experienced Clinical Psychologist and help to support the provision of the newly developed psychological services into both S.R.U. and E.S.D.
The psychology service provides both indirect and direct interventions, utilising the biopsychosocial Stepped Care Approach to inform its practice. There will be opportunities to liaise with the multi‑disciplinary team, provide training to staff and presentations to stroke survivors and to be involved in service development initiatives. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to conduct, under supervision, neuropsychological assessments and psychological assessments, providing Level One and Level Two interventions.
Situated to the east of the Pennines, Barnsley is a cohesive market town in South Yorkshire located halfway between Leeds and Sheffield. The town has excellent transport links accessed from the M1 motorway and good rail links from surrounding areas. It has a vibrant town centre with beautiful open countryside on its doorstep.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will, under the supervision of the Clinical Psychologist, support the provision of psychological assessment and interventions within an Integrated Community Stroke Service. You will be expected to assist in the delivery of liaison, teaching and training, as well as be actively involved in service development and audit initiatives. Maintaining the Psychology Services caseload databases and information/assessment resources is also a key part of this role.
Successful candidates will have a BPS accredited degree in Psychology (minimum 2:1), conferring eligibility for GBC, as well as experience of working with adults with mental health and/or cognitive difficulties. Whilst not essential, further post‑graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis would be helpful to the role, as would experience of working with neurological and/or complex physical health conditions.
The ability to work flexibly across both an in‑patient and community setting would be required, and the ability to work with both patients, families and caregivers would be beneficial. A good understanding of the relevant psychological models and their application, as well as data analysis and report writing skills is also desirable. As community working forms part of this role, a driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential.
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.
The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.
To support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the service, across all sectors of care; providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with a HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist and within the overall framework of the team's policies and procedures. To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, and development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.
KEY RESULT AREAS:
1. To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients applying psychological theory, including neuropsychological 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.
2. To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a client's problems, under the supervision of a HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist.
3. To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups or clinical projects.
4. To work with other staff to assess community patients and review their care in preparation for multi‑disciplinary reviews.
5. To assist in the development of a psychological based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place.
6. To attend and contribute to appropriate multi‑disciplinary meetings.
7. To respect diversity. To treat everyone with dignity and respect and act in ways that acknowledge and recognise people's expressed beliefs, preferences and choices.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up‑to‑date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.
At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* An Honours degree in Psychology (2:1)
* Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Training
* Further post‑graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
Experience
* Practical experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities and/or psychological/behavioural/neurological problems
* Experience of paid work in direct care provision, particularly in the care group of the specialty of this post.
* Experience of administering and scoring neuropsychological assessments.
Special Knowledge/Skills
* High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
* Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
* Ability to communicate information which may be perceived as contentious to patients, carers and colleagues in a manner that promotes understanding and acceptance
* An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or other disabilities.
* An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to health and social service contexts.
* An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
* Experience using computers for databases or data analysis.
* Experience using microcomputers for databases or data analysis especially SPSS for Windows
* High standard of report writing
Physical Attributes
* Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
Personal Attributes
* An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
* An ability to interact effectively with people with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
* Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
* Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
* Able to travel throughout the catchment area, without unnecessary delays.
* A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability)
* An interest in working with people with mental health problems.
* A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology.
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.
Employer name
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
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