Job Description

Job summary
CNWL NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to have been awarded the contract for the East of England Gambling Service in partnership with Inclusion (Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust).
We are seeking 1 Assistant Psychologist to join our dynamic team. This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a unique branch of mental health at a time of unprecedented expansion and growth. The post holder will have the chance to make a significant difference to residents in the East of England and to be part of the development of the first NHS gambling service in this region.
The successful candidate will be an energetic and robust individual with sophisticated and sensitive clinical skills, and a proven track record of delivering high quality services in either the NHS, social care or the private sector.
Various working locations and remote working across the East of England.
Main duties of the job
Main duties of the job
As an Assistant Psychologist you will be expected to support qualified clinical staff in completing assessments, delivering individual and group therapy and conducting audit and evaluation. The post-holder will also have the opportunity to contribute to the delivery of the specialist psychological intervention programmes offered in the service, which are primarily motivational interviewing and CBT based. The post will also include exposure to research endeavours being undertaken.
There is a strong organisational support element to the role in the form of overseeing the referral and assessment booking process, using databases and IAPTUS, and providing administrative assistance to the team as required. Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently is essential. Supervision will be offered by qualified clinical/counselling psychologists.
The successful applicant will be an enthusiastic and committed team player with a genuine interest in mental health.
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
About us
About us
The working environment will be a specialist NHS gambling service staffed by a multi-disciplinary team working with outpatients. The post-holder will have a working base at Milton Keynes but the role is likely to be largely remote working. There will be an expectation of delivering services in other locations across the region to be agreed once demand is clear.
CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 7,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.
Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.
Details
Date posted
04 September 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 4
Salary
27,485 to 30,162 a year per annum (pro rata if P/T)
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
12 months
Working pattern
Full-time, Home or remote working
Reference number
333-D-AD-0554
Job locations
Ark MK
33-37 Farthing Grove
Netherfield
MK6 4JH
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job responsibilities
For further information about the advertised role, please refer to the job description & person specification included in the documents section of this advert.
Clinical and administrative * To plan and undertake assessments of clients. This may include using motivational interviewing techniques, self-report measures, risk assessment, rating scales, direct and indirect observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care. Assessments will involve making judgements involving complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options, as well as requiring prolonged concentration.

• To write clinical summaries and care plans based on information gleaned at assessment and present these to the multi-disciplinary team
• To provide motivational interventions to clients waiting to commence CBT
• To work in a highly emotive atmosphere with clients with gambling and/or gaming problems on a regular basis, and be able to communicate sensitive and complex information, whilst maintaining a high degree of professionalism at all times. May be subject to verbal aggression in individual sessions.
• To assist in the co-ordination and running of therapeutic groups, under the supervision of a qualified member of staff.
• To liaise with referrers and clients and facilitate the referral process along with administrative staff. To maintain an oversight of client engagement from first contact to discharge
• To assist managers and senior staff as required to ensure the safe daily operation of the clinic

Job description
Job responsibilities
Job responsibilities
For further information about the advertised role, please refer to the job description & person specification included in the documents section of this advert.
Clinical and administrative * To plan and undertake assessments of clients. This may include using motivational interviewing techniques, self-report measures, risk assessment, rating scales, direct and indirect observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care. Assessments will involve making judgements involving complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options, as well as requiring prolonged concentration.

• To write clinical summaries and care plans based on information gleaned at assessment and present these to the multi-disciplinary team
• To provide motivational interventions to clients waiting to commence CBT
• To work in a highly emotive atmosphere with clients with gambling and/or gaming problems on a regular basis, and be able to communicate sensitive and complex information, whilst maintaining a high degree of professionalism at all times. May be subject to verbal aggression in individual sessions.
• To assist in the co-ordination and running of therapeutic groups, under the supervision of a qualified member of staff.
• To liaise with referrers and clients and facilitate the referral process along with administrative staff. To maintain an oversight of client engagement from first contact to discharge
• To assist managers and senior staff as required to ensure the safe daily operation of the clinic

Person Specification
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Essential

• High level communication skills (written and verbal) including the ability to communicate around subjects that may be highly emotive
• Highly computer literate and proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues
• 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

Desirable

• Experience of using databases for data analysis, especially SPSS.
• High standard of report writing
• Knowledge of IAPTUS

TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS
Essential

• A 2:1 honours degree or higher in psychology
• Eligibility to Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable

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

EXPERIENCE
Essential

• Previous direct work in a clinical setting with clients experiencing addiction or mental health problems
• Experience of research

Desirable

• Experience of paid work in direct care provision.

OTHER
Essential

• Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.

Desirable

• A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology

PERSONAL
Essential

• An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
• An ability to interact with people with mental health problems or disabilities
• Ability to work reliably and consistently with work agreed and supervised at regular intervals.

Desirable

• An interest in working with people with mental health problems or other disabilities.

Person Specification
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Essential

• High level communication skills (written and verbal) including the ability to communicate around subjects that may be highly emotive
• Highly computer literate and proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues
• 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

Desirable

• Experience of using databases for data analysis, especially SPSS.
• High standard of report writing
• Knowledge of IAPTUS

TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS
Essential

• A 2:1 honours degree or higher in psychology
• Eligibility to Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable

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

EXPERIENCE
Essential

• Previous direct work in a clinical setting with clients experiencing addiction or mental health problems
• Experience of research

Desirable

• Experience of paid work in direct care provision.

OTHER
Essential

• Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.

Desirable

• A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology

PERSONAL
Essential

• An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
• An ability to interact with people with mental health problems or disabilities
• Ability to work reliably and consistently with work agreed and supervised at regular intervals.

Desirable

• An interest in working with people with mental health problems or other disabilities.

Skills Required