Job summary
- Main area
- Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Psychology
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- 12 months (Fixed Term)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 434-SCS7374126
- Employer
- Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital
- Town
- Aylesbury
- Salary
- £27,485 - £30,162 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 18/08/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Assistant Psychologist
Band 4
Be part of our BHT family
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) is an integrated provider of acute hospital and community services for people living in Buckinghamshire and the surrounding area.
We care for over half a million patients every year:
- Provide specialist spinal services at our world renowned National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the birthplace of the Paralympics
- Nationally recognised for urology and skin cancer services
- Regional specialist centre for burns, plastic surgery, dermatology, stroke and cardiac services
- Deliver community services in health centres, schools, patients’ own homes, community hospitals and community hubs.
More than 6,500 people from different nations, cultures and backgrounds work for us.
We would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options. We strive to be a family friendly, inclusive employer.
If you require any assistance in making this application, please contact [email protected] or phone 01494 734868.
We pride ourselves in being a great place to work and invite you to join our BHT family.
Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic Assistant Psychologist interested in gaining experience within a Clinical Health Psychology setting to contribute to the clinical, research and professional activity of our internationally respected Department.
The team consists of clinical psychologists, psychological therapist, family counsellor and administrator and the role will work alongside our current assistant psychologist. We have a demonstrated commitment to research, publishing over 140 papers. We regularly employ Assistant Psychologists (AP) with the majority progressing to training and provide placements for Clinical Psychology Trainees. We are part of a thriving Trust Psychological Service with 11 other clinical services.
This role will include clinical research as well as direct contact with inpatients across the lifespan and overseeing psychological health screening. Applicants should possess a good degree in Psychology, experience as an AP or post graduate experience in undertaking clinical research is preferred but not essential. An operational knowledge of Excel, SPSS and statistics is essential.
Please note, we often receive a substantial number of applications, so this post may close earlier than advertised and when the application threshold has been reached.
Main duties of the job
- Support the psychological health screening of inpatients at the NSIC and, under supervision, have national responsibility for liaising with other spinal cord injury centres to implement and recently launched national psychological and complex mental health standards and pathway.
- Support the psychological needs, assessment and treatment, of spinal cord injured inpatients across the lifespan admitted to the NSIC, under supervision from a clinical psychologist.
- Support the Department to provide the internationally renowned Stoke Mandeville Spinal Needs Assessment and Goal Planning Programme, be a Keyworker for patients and supporting routine data collection and audit.
- Contribute to the development of patient information and psychosocial education at the NSIC.
- To provide support, under the supervision of the NSIC Head of Clinical Psychology, to trainees and students on placement at the Department or undergraduates doing work experience.
Working for our organisation
Listen to why colleagues think we are a great place to work! - BHT - A great place to work (buckshealthcare.nhs.uk)
What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?
- As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
- We offer flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside your NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes.
- We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.
Why work for us?
- We’re committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
- As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
- Greater diversity within our BHT family improves positive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
- A keen supporter of the Armed Forces Community who know the value of employing a service leaver/veteran and their families.
What do we stand for?
- Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
- Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
- Our care values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.
If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.
If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on [email protected] quoting the vacancy reference number.
Person specification
Education, Qualfications and Training
Essential criteria
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology which provides a graduate basis for registration of the British Psychological Society.
- Post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working to a demanding schedule and capable of completing and finishing tasks.
- Experience of working with people with physical disabilities.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working as an Assistant Psychologist would be desirable.
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision.
Skills, Ability, Knowledge
Essential criteria
- High level of written and verbal communication skills, including ability to communicate in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- Capable of working productively as a team member and ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients and carers.
- Understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with physical disabilities.
- Understanding of psychology applied to healthcare and desire to explore a career in clinical psychology
- High standard of report writing or previous publications.
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently and be able to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Knowledge of computer statistical packages and data storage such as Excel, SPSS, R and Bayesian statistics is a positive advantage.
- Knowledge of good clinical practice, data storage.
Desirable criteria
- Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge in a physical disability context.
- Knowledge of psychological assessment tools.
Applicant requirements
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Jane Duff
- Job title
- Consultant Clinical Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
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