Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Psychologist to join our Older Adult Inpatient Psychology team in North Cumbria.The Older People's Inpatient Service in North Cumbria is based at the Carleton Clinic in Carlisle and consists of a 15 bedded Dementia Assessment Unit and a 10 bedded Functional Unit.
The post holder will support the psychology team across the two wards in undertaking direct clinical work and audit and service evaluation on the older people wards. The post holder will work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team members including Clinical Psychologists, CBT Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Nursing Staff, and Psychiatry colleagues.
The post holder will have access to regular supervision and CPD.
The post is based in Carlisle in North Cumbria, providing easy access to the Lake District, an area of outstanding natural beauty.
Main duties of the job
The post holder's main duties are to assist qualified psychologists in the delivery of psychological services in the pathway; providing psychological assessment and specific interventions under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist, working independently within the limits agreed with the psychology supervisor.
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.
It's an exciting time to join us here at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) as we continue to develop and invest in our services as well as our staff.
We are looking for caring, empathetic, enthusiastic and motivated individuals who have a passion to improve the lives of our patients. We have new opportunities for Registered Nurses and Doctors Trustwide across all of our inpatient services.
As a CNTW employee we will support you in your personal and career development. You'll have access to a great range of training opportunities through our in-house Academy including Coaching, Apprenticeships, and our Leadership Development Programme.
We are committed to improving the working lives and health and wellbeing of our staff and that's why we have our Thrive programme. Thrive is here to support your whole wellbeing which covers emotional, physical, psychological, financial, career and social aspects.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 28th August 2025
Closing date : 4th September 2025
We welcome your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 28th August 2025
Closing date : 4th September 2025
We welcome your application.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Upper 2nd class honours degree, or higher, in psychology
- Eligibility for graduate membership of 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 other disabilities.
- Knowledge of evidence based practice
Desirable
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision.
- Experience with client group relevant to 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 and other disabilities.
- 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 applied to healthcare.
Desirable
- A high standard of report writing.
Personal Characteristics
Essential
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- An ability to interact appropriately with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
- Ability to work reliably and consistently on tasks agreed and managed at regular intervals by supervisor.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Able to manage own stress in difficult conditions and to identify when additional personal support may be necessary.
Desirable
- A desire to explore a career in applied Psychology.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Upper 2nd class honours degree, or higher, in psychology
- Eligibility for graduate membership of 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 other disabilities.
- Knowledge of evidence based practice
Desirable
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision.
- Experience with client group relevant to 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 and other disabilities.
- 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 applied to healthcare.
Desirable
- A high standard of report writing.
Personal Characteristics
Essential
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- An ability to interact appropriately with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
- Ability to work reliably and consistently on tasks agreed and managed at regular intervals by supervisor.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Able to manage own stress in difficult conditions and to identify when additional personal support may be necessary.
Desirable
- A desire to explore a career in applied 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.
