Assistant Psychologist

Job Summary

Are you interested in developing your clinical skills within child and adolescent mental health services while making a difference to the lives of children and young people?

We have an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Psychologist to join the newly developing Kirklees CAMHS Mild-Moderate Intervention Team. Working within a supportive multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to the delivery of evidence-based interventions and help improve access to timely mental health support for children, young people and families. This role offers excellent opportunities for learning and development within an innovative service focused on early intervention, prevention and improving outcomes.

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

Main duties of the job

Support the delivery of evidence-based interventions for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.

Co-facilitate therapeutic groups, workshops and psychoeducational sessions under appropriate supervision.

Assist with clinical assessment, information gathering and formulation processes.

Undertake outreach and engagement work to support children, young people and families who may experience barriers to accessing services.

Work collaboratively with schools, families and partner agencies to promote engagement and positive outcomes.

Assist in the development of clinical resources and intervention materials.

Support outcome monitoring, service evaluation, audit and quality improvement activities.

Maintain high standards of clinical record keeping and contribute effectively to multidisciplinary working.

If you are looking for a role where you can develop your skills, contribute to a new and evolving service and help children and young people achieve positive outcomes, we would love to hear from you.

Join us in delivering timely, effective mental health support that helps children and young people thrive.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

About Us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Details

Date posted

30 July 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£28,392 to £31,157 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9378-CK2518

Job locations

Folly Hall Mills

St Thomas Road

Huddersfield

HD1 3LT

United Kingdom

Job Description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

To support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the service, across all sectors of care; providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with a HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist and within the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures. To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, and development of audit and / or research projects, teaching and project work.

ORGANISATIONAL CHART

Clinical:

KEY RESULT AREAS:

• 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 clients care.
• To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and / or management of a clients 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 peoples expressed beliefs, preferences and choices.
  
  

IT Responsibilities (clinical)

• To use highly developed IT skills.
• To access knowledge through Internet searches (e.g. Psych.Lit, Medline) to keep up to date with clinical and professional development
• For the preparation and presentation of materials of effective teaching and training (e.g. power point, graphic representations) to record and analyse data for research and audit (e.g. databases, spreadsheets, statistical analysis packages e.g. SPPS).
• To create graphs or charts to collate or summarise data on individual interventions or treatment programmes.
• To assist in producing visual or material or user friendly information for interventions with clients.
  
  

Teaching, training and supervision

• In common with all HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
• To gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS over and above that provided within the principal service area where the post holder is employed.
• To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.
• To contribute to the training and support of other staff, working within the Service in psychological care.
  
  

For Full Job Description, Please See Attached Supporting Documents.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

For Full Job Description, Please See Attached Supporting Documents.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• An Honours degree in Psychology (2:1).
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
  
  

Experience

Essential

• Practical experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities and/or psychological/behavioural/ neurological problems.
  
  

Desirable

• 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.
  
  

Training

Desirable

• Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
  
  

Special Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• 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.
  
  

Desirable

• 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

Essential

• 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).
  
  

Desirable

• An interest in working with people with mental health problems.
• A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology.
  
  

Physical Attributes

Essential

• 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).
  
  

Person Specification

Essential

• An Honours degree in Psychology (2:1).
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
  
  

Essential

• Practical experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities and/or psychological/behavioural/ neurological problems.
  
  

Desirable

• 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.
  
  

Training

Desirable

• Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
  
  

Special Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• 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.
  
  

Desirable

• 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

Essential

• 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).
  
  

Desirable

• An interest in working with people with mental health problems.
• A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology.
  
  

Physical Attributes

Essential

• 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).
  
  

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 details

Employer name

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Folly Hall Mills

St Thomas Road

Huddersfield

HD1 3LT

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Folly Hall Mills

St Thomas Road

Huddersfield

HD1 3LT

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)