Employer Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type NHS Site Robin Pinto Unit Town Luton Salary £27,485 - £30,162 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 18/09/2025 23:59
Assistant Psychologist in Forensic Psychology
Band 4
Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.
We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.
You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.
The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.
We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3,500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.
We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.
We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.
Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.
Job overview
Robin Pinto Unit is an 18 bedded low secure unit for males with severe and enduring mental health problems who have been detained under the Mental Health Act. Patients present with a range of co-morbid problems, including psychosis, personality disorders, and history of substance abuse. Patients often have a history of criminal offences, including convictions of violence offences and/or sexual offences.
We currently have a vacancy for an Assistant Psychologist to join Forensic Psychological Services, and be based at Robin Pinto Unit, on a Fixed Term Contract of one year. This post would be suitable for someone who wishes to gain further experience in the fields of clinical or forensic psychology. The post holder will be given regular supervision with a qualified psychologist, and will be supported to develop their understanding of the applications of psychology with a range of mental health needs.
It is crucial that candidates have a Degree from a BPS accredited course in psychology (2:1 and above).
Main duties of the job
Post holders will have the opportunity to observe psychological assessments and interventions being carried out by psychologists, to jointly facilitate treatment groups, and to independently carry out pieces of clinical work, such as psychometric and neuropsychological assessments, risk assessments and appropriate clinical interventions under supervision. Training will be given in relevant areas to support the post holder both in this role and in their on-going career progression.
Candidates need to be an enthusiastic and committed graduate who wishes to develop their clinical skills working in a progressive team providing a high quality psychology service for adults with severe and enduring mental health problems.
Please note this job advert will close early should a high volume of applications be received
Working for our organisation
Robin Pinto Unit has a multidisciplinary team including a consultant psychiatrist, ward doctor, nursing staff, psychologist, social worker, and occupational therapist. The psychology team aims to address patients’ mental health needs and forensic risk through a combination of individual and group evidenced-based interventions. The post holder will also have the opportunity to work with the wider psychology team within secure services.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To contribute to Forensic Psychological Services by supporting qualified psychologists in the undertaking and delivery of a range of clinical and research based tasks. There will be opportunities to co-facilitate a range of group therapy programmes, as well as providing support to qualified staff in the planning and development of clinical treatment. There will be a key role in completing service level audit projects as part of quality and developmental initiatives. Responsibilities will also include liaison with allied professionals, contributing to the sharing of psychological knowledge, and case discussion. Remaining time will comprise attending clinical meetings, participating in departmental forums and opportunities to shadow other team members. All work will take place under the direction and management of an experienced Psychologist. There will be a requirement to complete clinically related administration.
Please see the attached job description document for further details.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
* Degree from a BPS accredited course in psychology (2:1 and above).
* Entitlement to Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society.
* Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, health practice and/or research design and analysis
Knowledge
* Graduate level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practical within the clinical fields of psychology.
* Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for people with mental health problems.
* Training in the use of structured professional judgement tools such as the HCR-20.
Skills/Experience
* An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
* Ability to communicate well with people with complex mental health problems.
* Experience using computers for databases or data analysis.
* An ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
* Experience of working as an assistant psychologist.
* Experience of facilitation/co-facilitation of psychology groups.
Important note: please ensure that as part of your application, you include professional references with business contact information covering your last three years of employment history. We are unable to accept personal or character references.
As a newly appointed employee, you are responsible for incurring the cost of your initial DBS check relevant to your post; the amount will be deducted from your first salary with the Trust.
Our Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We particularly welcome applications from people with experience of using mental health services. We also hold the Disability two tick symbol and have made the pledge to commit to employing more people with learning disabilities, we encourage people with a disability to apply. If you require this application form in another format i.e. Braille or audio tape etc, please contact the Recruitment Department on 01375 364513 or email epunft.recruitment.adverts@nhs.net and we can arrange for this to be dispatched to you.
The Trust has the right to expire vacancies prior to the closing date if they so wish. The Trust makes every attempt to contact all applicants and we strongly advise that you check the email account which is registered with NHS Jobs regularly, we would advise however due to the high number of applications we receive that if you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes.
Important Notice: Recently the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) which amended on 22 July 2021 and come into force on 11 November 2021 that anyone directly employed to work in a Care Home or who are required as part of their role to be deployed to a CQC registered care home are required to have had both their COVID vaccinations, unless they are exempt. This is therefore a requirement of this role and will form part of our pre-employment checks.
Please note -staff who are formally at risk within the organisation will be given priority in securing alternative employment. Should it come to light that a post being advertised by the Trust is considered ‘suitable alternative employment’ to an individual who is at risk, the recruiting manager will be advised and the post will be withdrawn from NHS Jobs.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Name Dr Emma Gray Job title Principal and Lead Forensic Psychologist Email address emma.gray40@nhs.net
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