Job summary
We are seeking to appoint an Assistant Psychologist to work within our inpatient rehabilitation and acute care wards at Bowmere Hospital.
The post will be based across our rehab ward, Maple ward, our acute wards Juniper and Beech ward, and our PICU ward, Willow ward (Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit). You will work within in a well established psychology team of two Consultant Clinical Psychologists, Qualified Clinical Psychologists, Trainee Psychologists, and an Assistant Psychologist. You will be part of a wider inpatient MDT which includes Nurses, Support workers, Occupational therapists, and Psychiatrists.
The rehab ward is a service for people with long-standing mental health difficulties who are working towards living in the community and is an all-male ward. The two acute wards are mixed gendered wards and for people with acute mental health difficulties and risk. The PICU is a smaller ward for people who require more intensive acute care support.
We are looking for applicants who have some experience of working with people with mental health difficulties and who can demonstrate their compassion and optimism for people with mental health experiences.
Shortlisting for this vacancy is due to commence on 24/04/2026 and the proposed interview date is 12/05/2026.
Main duties of the job
We have established staff support sessions and team reflective practice, formulation meetings with the MDT, and contribute to making psychologically informed behavioural support plans and crisis plans. The teams' interests include DBT, Mentalisation based treatment, eating difficulties, challenging behaviours, psychosis, and team dynamics.
There is joint working with community teams and specialist transition teams so the post holder will get a sense of how services are commissioned and join with social care.
The assistant psychologist role will involve supporting and enhancing the psychological care of service users, providing direct psychological assessment and psychological interventions (individual and group) under the supervision of qualified Clinical Psychologists, as well as indirect work including contributing to team meetings and supporting non psychology staff in psychological interventions.
Additional aspects of the role will include clinical administration, audit, and data collection. Applicants are required to have achieved a degree in psychology or equivalent which confers Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society.
The posts advertised is a full time post. The base is Bowmere Hospital, Countess of Chester.
About us
CWP is an innovative and transformational all-ages mental health service provider. There will be opportunities to join internal and external professional and clinical networks, undertake research, and provide training and support to the next generation of psychology and mental health practitioners. There are strong connections to the three main DClinPsy regional training programmes (Liverpool, Lancaster and Manchester).
We encourage applications from suitably qualified and experienced people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good honours degree in Psychology (2.i or above). Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS
- To undertake breakaway training or equivalent following appointment.
Desirable
- Advanced keyboard skills
- Other related academic qualifications to Masters or Doctorate level.
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
- The ability to communicate complex/ sensitive information where barriers to understanding exist. For example, instances requiring empathy and reassurance.
- The ability to make judgements involving a range of facts or situations requiring analysis or comparison of a range of options. Also skills for assessing clients in one-to-one sessions, group dynamics or who are participating in research.
- The ability to organise straightforward tasks, activities or programmes, some of which may be ongoing. Also, the ability to plan and prioritises own workload, research programme activities; group sessions, etc.
- Working to Professional Guidelines.
- Must be capable of working within guidelines; receives regular supervision/ direction
Desirable
- Ability to use routinely available spreadsheet/database software (Excel, Access, etc.)
- Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable relevant work experience with people who have complex mental health problems/ learning disabilities risk patterns and challenging behaviour.
Desirable
- Relevant work experience of people with learning disabilities/ mental health problems
- Desire to progress to Clinical Training (DClinPsy)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good honours degree in Psychology (2.i or above). Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS
- To undertake breakaway training or equivalent following appointment.
Desirable
- Advanced keyboard skills
- Other related academic qualifications to Masters or Doctorate level.
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
- The ability to communicate complex/ sensitive information where barriers to understanding exist. For example, instances requiring empathy and reassurance.
- The ability to make judgements involving a range of facts or situations requiring analysis or comparison of a range of options. Also skills for assessing clients in one-to-one sessions, group dynamics or who are participating in research.
- The ability to organise straightforward tasks, activities or programmes, some of which may be ongoing. Also, the ability to plan and prioritises own workload, research programme activities; group sessions, etc.
- Working to Professional Guidelines.
- Must be capable of working within guidelines; receives regular supervision/ direction
Desirable
- Ability to use routinely available spreadsheet/database software (Excel, Access, etc.)
- Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable relevant work experience with people who have complex mental health problems/ learning disabilities risk patterns and challenging behaviour.
Desirable
- Relevant work experience of people with learning disabilities/ mental health problems
- Desire to progress to Clinical Training (DClinPsy)
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
