Job summary
Band 5 Higher Assistant Psychologist
Inpatient Care Group, South Locality
Rehabilitation and Recovery Services
Permanent contract
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Higher Assistant Psychologistto bring their skills to the rehabilitation and recovery inpatient services at Hopewood Park, Sunderland. The post holder will work across Clearbrook (female) and Aldervale (male) High Dependency Units, which are 18 bedded specialist rehabilitation and recovery wards for patients with highly complex mental health needs who require intensive rehabilitation over the short to medium term.
The role will involve working as part of both multidisciplinary teams using a biopsychosocial approach. It includes providing specialist assessment including cognitive and psychometric, supporting the 5Ps formulation process, and providing both individual and group psychological interventions to service users. The successful candidate will be supervised by a qualified member of the psychology inpatient rehabilitation team and will be line managed by the trust-wide professional lead for psychology for the inpatient rehabilitation pathway.
Service specific training
The post holder will be encouraged to engage in continued professional development.
Main duties of the job
The post holder's duties will be to assist the qualified member of the psychology team in the delivery of psychological services in the inpatient rehabilitation pathway by providing psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention under supervision, and working independently within the limits agreed with their supervisor.
The post holder will produce professional assessment and intervention reports.
The post holder will support the service in the delivery of training initiatives.
The post holder will utilise research skills for audit, literature reviews, service development and other research initiatives within the pathway or the wider service.
The post holder will show initiative to work independently to an appropriate level.
The post-holder will provide compassionate care that is based on empathy,kindness, respect and dignity.
About us
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 12th August 2025
Closing date : 17th August 2025
We welcome your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 12th August 2025
Closing date : 17th August 2025
We welcome your application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Upper 2nd class honours degree, or higher, in Psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of psychology; mental health practice; and/or research design and analysis.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Paid or unpaid work with people with mental health problems and/or disabilities. Experience as an assistant/research psychologist. Knowledge of evidence-based practice.
Desirable
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision. Experience with client group(s) relevant to the post. Experience of psychometric test administration and interpretation. Experience of providing individual or group interventions.
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- High level of communication skills (written and oral), including an ability to communicate and work in highly emotive circumstances. Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers, and colleagues. An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems. Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health / cognitive impairment / disability context. Computer literate, including use of databases & data analysis, e.g. SPSS for Windows. Demonstrates graduate level knowledge and experience of research and research methodology. An understanding of psychology as applied to healthcare.
Desirable
- A high standard of report writing.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Upper 2nd class honours degree, or higher, in Psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of psychology; mental health practice; and/or research design and analysis.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Paid or unpaid work with people with mental health problems and/or disabilities. Experience as an assistant/research psychologist. Knowledge of evidence-based practice.
Desirable
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision. Experience with client group(s) relevant to the post. Experience of psychometric test administration and interpretation. Experience of providing individual or group interventions.
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- High level of communication skills (written and oral), including an ability to communicate and work in highly emotive circumstances. Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers, and colleagues. An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems. Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health / cognitive impairment / disability context. Computer literate, including use of databases & data analysis, e.g. SPSS for Windows. Demonstrates graduate level knowledge and experience of research and research methodology. An understanding of psychology as applied to healthcare.
Desirable
- A high standard of report writing.
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).
Additional information
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).
