Job summary
- Main area
- Assistant Psychologist
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- Fixed term: 18 months (18 months FTC)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 364-B-200
- Employer
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Thurrock Community Hospital
- Town
- Grays
- Salary
- £28,392 - £31,157 per annum plus 5% Fringe High Cost Allowance
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 03/07/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Assistant Psychologist
Band 4
Please be aware that, due to current allocation constraints, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are being prioritised for registered roles at this time.
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
Assistant Psychologist – Older Adult Inpatient Psychology Service
Band 4
18 month Fixed Term Contract
Based at Thurrock Community Hospital, Grays
We are looking for a Psychology graduate who is passionate, enthusiastic and highly motivated to working with older people in inpatient settings. The Assistant Psychologist role is an integral part of Psychological Services for Older People across South Essex. Successful candidate will support and enhance the professional psychological care of service users across our older adult inpatient wards. They will be supporting psychological assessments and evidence based interventions for both talking and Art psychotherapy under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist. The post holder will be supported in their role and development by an experienced and diverse group of clinicians, staff members and managers. Psychological Services are highly respected within the Trust and inpatient wards.
The Assistant Psychologist will support a qualified psychologist and an art psychotherapist on acute inpatient dementia and mental health wards in delivering individual and group interventions. The post holder will assist in the preparation of materials and conduct administrative tasks relevant to the service. The successful applicant will be able to work with an appropriate level of independence in managing their own workload. Regular high quality supervision will be provided by a qualified and experienced Clinical Psychologist.
Main duties of the job
We are committed to delivering equitable services and developing an inclusive culture. We want our organisation to reflect the diversity of the population we serve and we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds, especially from under-represented groups, as we are keen to bring diverse life experiences to our teams and expand who we are and what we have to offer.
The successful applicants must have a degree in psychology, which confers Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership with the British Psychological Society (previously GBR). Values such as being open, compassionate and commitment to empowerment are as important as a good degree classification. In the personal statement section, applicants should respond to the person specification and show their commitment to our values.
We will only consider you for shortlisting if you answer the following questions in under 500 words:
- What are the common themes and challenges working with older people?
- What would you bring to the role that would help us provide safe and effective services for older people on inpatient wards?
Please note that applications from undergraduates who have not yet been awarded their degree will not be considered.
This advert may close early due to a high number of application, please ensure applications are submitted as soon as possible.
Working for our organisation
To learn more about working within our Services at EPUT, please view our recruitment videos, where members of the team share their experiences and insights into their roles and what it is like working within our Psychological Services, here at EPUT.
Please view our video link here: Psychological Services
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.
Benefits
- 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
- Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
- Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
- 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
- Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for a detailed list of responsibilities.
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
Knowledge/Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience using microcomputers for databases or data analysis, especially SPSS for windows
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems.
- Work with people with mental health problems and/or dementia.
- Literate in IT/Computer Skills
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 Aishwarya Bhalla
- Job title
- Senior Clinical Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07583 122 120
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