Assistant Psychologist
Closing date: 15 June 2026
We are recruiting for the role of Assistant Psychologist across our female acute wards in Calderdale, Dewsbury, Barnsley, and Wakefield. The position offers 1.0 WTE posts on each ward.
Main duties of the job
* Support the qualified psychology team with psychological assessments, gathering clinical information, and contributing to formulations.
* Deliver structured, low‑intensity psychological interventions under supervision (e.g., grounding, safety‑planning, emotion‑regulation exercises).
* Co‑facilitate therapeutic groups and ward‑based programmes with other MDT members, such as wellbeing, coping skills, and psycho‑education.
* Collect, score, and manage psychological outcome measures, contributing to service evaluation and audit.
* Provide psychology‑informed support to patients, helping them use coping strategies and engage with care plans.
* Contribute to team formulation discussions, offering observations and supporting implementation of psychologically informed care.
* Support trauma‑informed and gender‑sensitive practice across the ward by modelling compassionate, relational approaches.
* Assist with data collection, research, and quality improvement projects to develop the service.
* Maintain accurate clinical records and contribute to risk‑aware, collaborative care.
* Engage in supervision and reflective practice to ensure safe, ethical, and effective delivery of psychological support.
Job responsibilities
* 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.
* To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of client problems, under the supervision of a HCPC‑registered Practitioner Psychologist.
* To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups or clinical projects.
* To work with other staff to assess community patients and review their care in preparation for multi‑disciplinary reviews.
* 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.
* To attend and contribute to appropriate multi‑disciplinary meetings.
* 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.
Key result areas
* Clinical: Undertake psychological assessments of clients applying psychological theory (neuropsychological tests, self‑report measures, rating scales, structured observations, semi‑structured interviews).
* Clinical: Assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving psychological treatment and management of client problems under supervision.
* Clinical: Assist in coordination and running of therapeutic groups or clinical projects.
* Clinical: Work with other staff to assess community patients and review their care in preparation for multi‑disciplinary reviews.
* Clinical: Assist in development of a psychological‑based framework of understanding and care to benefit all clients of the service across all settings.
* Clinical: Attend and contribute to appropriate multi‑disciplinary meetings.
* Professional: Respect diversity and treat everyone with dignity and respect, acknowledging and recognising people’s expressed beliefs, preferences, and choices.
Qualifications
* An Honours degree in Psychology (2:1)
* Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
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).
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/neural 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.
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
EEO statement
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
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