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Job summary

Main area
Assistant Psychologist
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Fixed term: 6 months (FTC until 31st March 2026)
Hours
Part time - 18.75 hours per week
Job ref
364-A-9360
Employer
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Mid and South Essex
Town
Mid and South Essex
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
17/09/2025 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

Are you ready for your 2025 role?

Grow your behaviour specialist career in learning disabilities today and join a vibrant team to improve and implement care provision for adults with learning disabilities considering assessment, intervention/therapeutic support.

Essex University Partnership University Trust’s Learning Disabilities Psychological Service in South Essex is expanding. This is a great time for a highly motivated assistant psychologists passionate about transformation to join the team and support development of the service.

The assistant psychologist will work under direct supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist and behaviour therapist, who will retain clinical responsibility for the work carried out, provided that the clinical work is within the care plan specified. To participate in audit, service evaluation and/or research, and to undertake teaching or project work under the supervision of a qualified psychologist. Specific duties will be determined on the basis of skills and experience and operational service requirements, and may vary occasionally as service needs/requirements change. You will join the team in supporting people with learning disabilities and their carers across the community and also within an assessment and treatment inpatient unit. 

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

1.                  To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service

2.                  To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.

3.                  To prepare any assessment equipment/materials as required.

4.                  To undertake specific administrative duties as required.

5.                  To undertake continued professional development in line with BPS recommendations in order to develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.

Why should you consider a behaviour therapist career in learning disabilities?

  • It offers varied and interesting work to challenge and develop your skills.
  • It will give you flexibility and freedom to use different models and approaches in your practice.
  • We value your expertise and empower you to use your experience and skills to provide the best possible care to your patients.
  • We want you to advocate for our patients, see behind the diagnosis and improve the perception of learning disability in our society.

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

If you would like to talk to somebody about this vacancy then please contact Dr Rachael Miller, Consultant Clinical Psychologist / Head of Learning Disability Psychological Service on Tel: 01277 637204

The South Essex area is geographically close to London with good transport links to the East Anglia region, it has a more affordable standard of living than London itself, making it an attractive place to live and work.

We seek professionals motivated to change lives by focusing on patient care that helps individuals flourish, focusing on their well-being and self-determination and aiming for their optimal development. This will applied via a strength-based approach to their learning disability practice.

Roles are available as part of a well-established, highly professional multidisciplinary team of psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists and nurses.

We offer multiple options for further professional development through wider collaborative working with the Essex Learning Disability Partnership, including the development of neuro-developmental disorders, dementia and challenging behaviour pathways.

Person specification

Training and Qualification

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 mental health practice and/or research design and analysis

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • 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 service users, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance
  • An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities
  • An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context
  • Experience using databases and/or data-analysis, especially Excel, and SPSS or Statistica
  • 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
Dr Rachael Miller
Job title
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Email address
[email protected]
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