Job vacancy: Higher Assistant Psychologist, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Ryhope, Sunderland

Job summary

Main area: Psychology
Grade: Band 5
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Part time - 18.75 hours per week
Job ref: 263-ICG25-058-LB

Employer: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Hopewood Park Hospital
Town: Ryhope, Sunderland
Salary: £31,049 - £37,796 pro rata per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 26/08/2025 23:59

Higher Assistant Psychologist

Band 5

Hello!

We are so delighted you are considering coming to work with us at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).

We know the power of looking into an organisation, one you might want to work in, or one where you are going to get help, and being able to say, ‘I’ve seen somewhere I can fit in and be myself.’ We’re on a journey to make the Trust an inclusive employer, representative of the community we serve and we want more of our community to consider applying for jobs with us.

Opportunities for you

Spanning east to west coasts from Northumberland to Cumbria and from the Scottish Borders down to Middlesbrough we’ve got exciting new opportunities available at every level and in every area.

We offer flexible working, helping work fit around family and caring responsibilities, or training and development needs and there’s lots on offer in the way of benefits, such as, lease cars, childcare schemes, staff discounts, season tickets for travel and a cycle to work scheme. All this in a vibrant workplace supported by the following staff networks.

Cultural diversity staff network
Disabled staff network
LGBT+ staff network

We also have a number of staff support groups which are open to any staff to attend. These Include:

Armed Forces and Veterans Staff Association
Mind, Health and Wellbeing Community
Menopause toolkit and cafes and staff carer support group

We offer fantastic personal development opportunities through our Collective Leadership Programme and other Organisational Development initiatives. Whatever you are looking for, you will be joining a supportive, friendly team, offering varied and interesting roles, with opportunities for career progression.

Always improving

CNTW is regulated by the national healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our last two inspections have rated us as an outstanding organisation. We’re always seeking to improve as an organisation. Do you want to be part of that?

Please note that it is a requirement of this Trust that all external applicants pay for their own DBS certification if a DBS check is required for the post. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first monthly pay

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 12^th August 2025

Closing date : 26^th August 2025

We welcome your application.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

Upper 2nd class honours degree, or higher, in psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of British Psychological Society.

Desirable criteria

Further post graduate training in relevant areas of psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

Paid or unpaid work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities. Experience as an assistant/research psychologist. Knowledge of evidence based practice.Computer literate, including use of databases & data analysis, e.g. SPSS for Windows. Demonstrates graduate level knowledge and experience of research and research methodology. An understanding of psychology applied to healthcare.

Desirable criteria

Experience of paid work in direct care provision. Experience with client group relevant to post. Experience of psychometric test administration and interpretation. Experience of providing individual or group interventions.

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

High level of communication skills (written and oral), including an ability to communicate and work in highly emotive circumstances. Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues. An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and other disabilities. Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health / cognitive impairment / disability context. Computer literate, including use of databases & data analysis, e.g. SPSS for Windows. Demonstrates graduate level knowledge and experience of research and research methodology. An understanding of psychology applied to healthcare.

Desirable criteria

A high standard of report writing.

Role/Team specific requirements

Essential criteria

An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines. An ability to interact appropriately with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities. Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.

Personal Characteristics

Essential criteria

Able to manage own stress in difficult conditions and to identify when additional personal support may be necessary.

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.

Please ensure to check out all of the supporting documents linked to this advert, for useful information about working for us, information from our Chief Executive and much more.

Mindful employer. Being positive about mental health.

Stonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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 Judith Welsh
Job title: Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Email address: [email protected]
Telephone number: 0191 5667000

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Job summary

Employer heading

Higher Assistant Psychologist

Band 5

Job overview

Main duties of the job

Working for our organisation

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Role/Team specific requirements

Essential criteria

Personal Characteristics

Essential criteria

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

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