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Job summary

Main area
Assistant Psychologist
Grade
Band 4
Contract
18 months (18 months Fixed Term Contract)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
364-A-9449
Employer
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
St.Aubyn Centre
Town
Colchester
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
28/10/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Assistant Psychologist

Band 4

Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk. 

We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.

You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive. 

The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.

We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years. 

We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.

We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.  

Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.

Job overview

The post is based at The St Aubyn Centre (General Adolescent Unit- GAU aged 13-18) in Colchester Essex.  The hospital offers short term admission to young people who are no longer safe in the community due to their complex mental health needs and high risk presentations. Poplar is a trauma, DBT and systemic informed service that works with young people and parents or carers in collaborative ways to effect change. The service offers a comprehensive range of therapeutic groups to young people and their carers, a variety of individual assessments/interventions and family therapy assessments and treatments.  The psychological therapy team are extremely experienced clinicians and innovators in service improvement, recently winning a national ward for their DBT skills groups and Positive Behaviour Support Plans. The team also has a robust and comprehensive MDT of social work, nursing, OT, psychiatry and education.

Please be advised this advert will close early should we receive a high number of applications - late applications will not be accepted.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work closely with colleagues from the other CAMHS inpatient unit in Essex, Poplar Adolescent Unit.

The post will suit a candidate passionate about working with young people towards recovery, keen to lead on and contribute to service innovation and skilled at exercising clinical leadership.

Working for our organisation

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you. 

  • Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
  • Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
  • If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
  • We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits

  • 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
  • Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
  • Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
  • £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
  • Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

  • Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
  • Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further main responsibilities and duties please refer to the job description and person specification. 

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology.
  • Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable criteria
  • Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
  • Previous experience of working with children or adolescents in a care setting.

Skills/Experience

Essential criteria
  • Literate in IT/Computer Skills
  • Experience of assisting in the provision of care to patients
  • Good oral communication skills based on fluency on the English language
  • Ability to be aware of when to request assistance from senior and other members of the team
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of paid work in direct care provision (either inpatient or community settings)
  • Experience of administering psychometric tests.

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Work with children/ young people/adults with mental health problems, neurodivergence, and/or learning disabilities. High level communication skills (written and verbal) including 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.
  • An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
Desirable criteria
  • High standard of report writing.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Essex Family Friendly Employers

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Claudia Foakes
Job title
Head of Psychological Services
Email address
[email protected]
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