Job summary
- Main area
- Senior Assistant Psychologist Liaison and Diversion Service
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5
- Contract
- 18 months (Fixed term)
- Hours
- Part time - 30 hours per week
- Job ref
- 363-LUT7438156
- Employer
- East London NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Charter House
- Town
- Luton
- Salary
- £31,049 - £37,796 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 14/09/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 25/09/2025
Employer heading
Senior Assistant Psychologist Liaison and Diversion Service
NHS AfC: Band 5
ELFT has long been recognised as a centre of excellence for mental and health care, innovation and improvement. So it is a very exciting time for you to come and work for us. Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive – so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Job overview
The Luton and Bedfordshire Liaison and Diversion Service (L&DS) are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for a Band 5 Senior Assistant Psychologist to join our team on an 18 month fixed term contract. The post will be for 30 hours per week. Weekly supervision will be provided by a Clinical Psychologist.
The ideal candidate for the post will have experience of working in a mental health care setting as an Assistant Psychologist. Previous experience of working with forensic clients or hard to reach clients would be desirable. In terms of skills, we are particularly looking for applicants who are confident, resilient, reflective, willing to learn, and able to operate with a high level of autonomy. We are also looking for applicants who embrace and have experience of collaborative working with partner agencies, service users and carers, and who have a keen interest in working with police, probation and other public sector organisations.
The Assistant Psychologist role includes offering 1:1 psychological interventions to men and woman, as directed by the court and as a part of a Community Sentence or Suspended Sentence Order. The interventions offered are based on a range of psychological models such as CBT (including compassion focussed therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy) and DBT, with sessions undertaken in the community across Luton and Bedfordshire. You will be required to work closely with our partners including Probation, BeNCH, and the Courts.
Main duties of the job
The Assistant Psychologist role includes offering 1:1 psychological interventions to men and woman, as directed by the court and as a part of a Community Sentence or Suspended Sentence Order. The interventions offered are based on a range of psychological models such as CBT (including compassion focussed therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy) and DBT, with sessions undertaken in the community via Women’s Centres, the Recovery College and the TOKKO Centre, across Luton and Bedfordshire. You will be required to work closely with our partners including Probation, BeNCH, and the Courts.
Working for our organisation
The Assistant Psychologist role includes offering 1:1 psychological interventions to men and woman, as directed by the court and as a part of a Community Sentence or Suspended Sentence Order. The interventions offered are based on a range of psychological models such as CBT (including compassion focussed therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy) and DBT, with sessions undertaken in the community via Women’s Centres, the Recovery College and the TOKKO Centre, across Luton and Bedfordshire. You will be required to work closely with our partners including Probation, BeNCH, and the Courts.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Assistant Psychologist role includes offering 1:1 psychological interventions to men and woman, as directed by the court and as a part of a Community Sentence or Suspended Sentence Order. The interventions offered are based on a range of psychological models such as CBT (including compassion focussed therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy) and DBT, with sessions undertaken in the community via Women’s Centres, the Recovery College and the TOKKO Centre, across Luton and Bedfordshire. You will be required to work closely with our partners including Probation, BeNCH, and the Courts.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- An approved qualification in psychology conferring eligibility for graduate basis for registration with the British Psychological Society, with either a Bachelor’s degree (Class 2.1 or higher) or a Bachelor’s degree (any class) together with a higher Degree. OR A Bachelor’s degree (Class 2.1 or higher) AND evidence of substantial psychological therapy or counselling training.
Desirable criteria
- Attendance at specialist short courses relevant to the post
Experience
Essential criteria
- At least 1 year experience as a band 4 Assistant Psychologist
- Experience of work in the NHS, working with client groups with severe mental health problems
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working with challenging behaviour.
- Working with voluntary organisations.
- Work in a multi-cultural setting, including working with interpreters.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Basic knowledge of mental health issues and approaches to treatment and intervention
- Basic understanding of health care systems and structures: staffing, roles and responsibilities, the role of hospitals, primary care and community care
- Aware of the potential impact of discrimination & disadvantage on mental health.
Desirable criteria
- Up to date knowledge of psychological research and national guidance relevant to the client group.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, communication and active listening skills with service users, carers and staff.
- Manage effectively exposure to distressing/highly emotional circumstances.
- Accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Implement appropriate psychological assessment and interventions relevant to the client group.
- Use IT packages and NHS clinical systems such as RIO.
- Record and report on clinical information as required.
Desirable criteria
- Skills in the use of relevant specialist treatment or assessment procedures
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
- Aroshini Wijetunge
- Job title
- Principal Clinical Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07973380272
List jobs with East London NHS Foundation Trust in Allied Health Professions or all sectors