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Job summary

Main area
CYPS
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 4
Contract
12 months (Fixed term/Secondment for 12 months)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
346-NYC-044-26-A
Employer
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Orca house
Town
York
Salary
£28,392 - £31,157 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
30/08/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust logo

Psychology Assistant

NHS AfC: Band 4

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 4 Psychology Assistant - fixed term /secondment for 12 months to join our neurodevelopmental pathway.  The role will involve contributing to the assessment of children and young people across York who are presenting with neurodevelopmental difficulties such as Autism and ADHD.  

Psychologists & Psychological Therapists provide key leadership roles within the Trust. To support this we have developed leadership profiles for each psychology band and the profile card associated with this post is attached on NHS Jobs. You can find more information about the NHS Leadership Academy’s Healthcare Leadership Model and the profiles at their website. We encourage you to look at these resources as they will play a part in the interview process.

You must have the Right to Work in the UK in order to be successfully appointed to this role. Sponsorship may be available for this role in specific circumstances in line with Home Office regulations, where applicants were granted permission as a Skilled Worker under the immigration rules in place before 22 July 2025, and have had continuous permission as a Skilled Worker since then. We recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit Immigration Rules - Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations - Guidance - GOV.UK

Main duties of the job

Working under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Psychologist, the main role of the Psychology Assistant in the team is to conduct cognitive assessments and school observations that can contribute to the work of the team.  Additional roles will include assisting with audit, managing databases and service development.  

We are looking for an enthusiastic colleague who has excellent team working skills.

The Trust employs a successful team of Psychologists with a highly motivated and supportive team of Senior Managers and other senior clinical staff. The Trust is a strongly value based, person-centred organisation which has taken a strategic approach to continued service improvement, the modernisation of clinical roles and the introduction of care pathways embedded within a functioning system of governance.

Assistant psychologists are an integral part of our assessment team providing both standardised and informal assessments.  These will include cognitive assessments, play-based assessments, school observations and running groups.

Working for our organisation

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

This job advert may close early if a high volume of applications have been received. If interested, please apply for this post as soon as possible. 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Degree in Psychology
  • Eligible for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
  • Numeracy, Literacy and ITQ Level 2 or equivalent
Desirable criteria
  • Post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Some experience of people using services in psychological, mental health and/or social care settings. This may include, for example, personal experience or supporting a family member to access services
  • Experience in discussing and responding to issues related to cultural diversity, intersectionality and inclusivity, including working with vulnerable groups (e.g. those for whom English is not their first language)

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to communicate information (verbal and written) effectively in a manner appropriate to the individual and situation
  • Record keeping (within agreed timescale)
  • Methodical and accurate approach to data collection and analysis
  • Competence in using psychometric assessment tools (within agreed timescale)
  • Breakaway techniques (within agreed timescale)
  • Awareness of the need to learn and develop through a variety of methods and experiences
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of clinical report writing

Personal attributes

Essential criteria
  • Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours
  • Compassionate in meeting the needs of vulnerable people, their families and carers
  • Able to engage with vulnerable people and work effectively in distressing or emotive circumstances
  • Committed to further developing self-awareness (for example, life experiences, culture, intersectionality, characteristics) and how this influences the work we do
Desirable criteria
  • Interest in pursuing a career in the Applied Psychology

Employer certification / accreditation badges

We are a Living Wage EmployerVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerNHS Rainbow badgeStep into healthArmed Forces CovenantBetter Health at Work Gold Award

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.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Lorna Hunter
Job title
Team Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01904 420950
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