Job summary
- Main area
- Assistant Psychologist
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (from start date)
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 311-F850-25
- Employer
- Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Heathfield House
- Town
- Stockport
- Salary
- £27,485 - £30,162 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 29/10/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 20/11/2025
Employer heading

Assistant Psychologist
NHS AfC: Band 4
If you are Kind, Fair, Ingenious and Determined then we want you to come and join our #PennineCarePeople
https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk/values
Job overview
We are recruiting an enthusiastic and compassionate Assistant Psychologist to join us within the Rehabilitation and High Support (RHS) Care hub. The post will suit a motivated candidate who wishes to gain experience of promoting psychological perspectives within inpatient services.
The postholder will input into Heathfield House (Cale Green), Bevan Place (Stepping Hill Hospital) and Hurst Place (Tameside Hospital). All units provide inpatient rehabilitation to support men with severe and enduring mental health needs, with the aim of moving towards more independent living. Men have a primary diagnosis of a psychotic illness, but may have additional difficulties with trauma, emotional regulation, substance use, forensic history, or cognitive skills. BThe rehabilitation services aim to support re-integration into the community, and work closely with the newly established Community Rehabilitation Team.
This is is a 12-month fixed term full time role available.
Main duties of the job
You will support the lead psychologist to promote psychological perspectives on the ward. You will be expected to offer assessment, formulation and interventions to the men. You will also facilitate skills-based groups, such as mindfulness. You will also support the wider MDT to develop individual positive support plans with service users.
You will support the implementation of a trauma-informed approach on the ward by co-facilitating Team Formulation meetings and Reflective Practice sessions. You will also be responsible for administrative tasks such as preparing notes on individuals backgrounds, data input and spreadsheet management.
You will receive clinical and line management supervision from a Practitioner Psychologist and join peer supervision with other Assistant Psychologists.
Working for our organisation
Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the top of our agenda. We believe that a diverse, inclusive and engaged culture is vital; that everyone’s value should be recognised and respected.
We proactively challenge injustices, and are the only Trust in the North West to publicly recognise our commitment to becoming anti-racist and supporting our transgender and non-binary colleagues. We also have thriving staff networks to make sure everyone has a voice.
Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.
We are committed to staff development through shared learning, training and peer supervision. We are working hard at Walkerwood to reduce restrictive practices, and to provide trauma-informed care.
Our trust values are:
Kindness
Fairness
Ingenuity
Determination
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification to support your application for this post. Please refer to the essential criteria in the person specification which will highlight the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to demonstrate in your application, by way of example, to give yourself the best opportunity to be shortlisted.
Person specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential criteria
- A first or upper second class honours degree 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
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working clinically in mental health settings.
- Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team.
Desirable criteria
- Previous experience working as an Assistant Psychologist.
- Experience of working with complex mental health difficulties
- Experience of working with behaviour that challenges
- Experience using word processing tools, spread sheets and statistical packages for data analysis.
- Experience of service evaluation.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Have an understanding of psychological approaches to understanding complex mental health difficulties
- Have an understanding of the principles of a trauma-informed approach
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
- High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive and challenging.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in way that enhances psychological mindedness.
Desirable criteria
- Ability to design and evaluate research projects relevant to Applied Psychology.
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 Joshua Thompson
- Job title
- Clinical Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
225 Old Street
225 Old Street
OL6 7SR
- Telephone
- 01617163181
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