Job Description

Main area

Assistant Psychologist

Grade

Band 4

Contract

1 year (fixed term)

Hours

Full time - 37.5 hours per week

Job ref

373-CYP1427

Site

Catherine House

Town

Crewe

Salary

26,530 - 29,114 Per annum

Salary period

Yearly

Closing

03/06/2025 23:59

Job overview

We are seeking an ambitious Assistant Psychologist (AP) to join our Intensive Support Function team, who is aspiring to gain knowledge and support children, young people and families accessing our service. Our service supports children and young people who have a formal Autism and or Learning Disability Diagnosis who are at risk of placement breakdown or admission to a mental health hospital. You would be joining a supportive, mixed and skilled team and working under the supervision of a Principal Clinical Psychologist.



This is an exciting post where you would gain experience in assessment, formulation and interventions and in particular with adapted approaches and systemic thinking. We have a team highly skilled in positive behavioural support and ample opportunity for gaining good experience in this field. There would also be supporting the teams service development and research/audit experience.



You would be supported to ensure your CPD time and be active within our trust-wide AP development group. We regularly have trainee clinical psychologists within the team which can be beneficial and inspiring to work together.

Main duties of the job

The role would include the AP supporting the Principal Clinical Psychologist in completing holistic assessments , supporting with intervention planning, undertaking behavioural assessments (structured and non-structured), formulation and intervention; working on an audit of the pathway work, using critical research skills; supporting writing of reports, producing adapted resources and communicating with various professionals within the multi-agencies who support our children , young people and families.



If you are looking for a new challenge, enjoy variety in your work and wish to be part of a team striving to make a difference then we want to hear from you.



To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high calibre candidates that share our vision & trusts 6 C's values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people & members of our BAME & LGBTQ+ communities.

Working for our organisation

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.



We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton and Liverpool. We also provide specialist services for the North West as a whole.



Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.



As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.

We also offer up to three weeks' induction, with our Prepare to Care programme for all new starters. This aims to give you all the knowledge and guidance to help you hit the ground running with CWP.



Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see 'documents to download' section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.



At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.



CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust's Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.



Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust's Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust's Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.



An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.



If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the 'essential' criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer 'YES' to the question: 'Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?'



Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.



The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.



Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of 16 per year applies.



New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.



Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.



Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Person specification

#

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Good honours degree in Psychology (2.1 or above). Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS To undertake breakaway training or equivalent following appointment

Desirable criteria

Advanced keyboard skills Other related academic qualifications to Masters or Doctorate level. #

Knowledge and Expertise

Essential criteria

The ability to communicate complex/ sensitive information where barriers to understanding exist. For example, instances requiring empathy and reassurance. The ability to make judgements involving a range of facts or situations requiring analysis or comparison of a range of options. Also skills for assessing children/young people in one-to-one sessions, group dynamics or who are participating in research. The ability to organise straightforward tasks, activities or programmes, some of which may be ongoing. Also, the ability to plan and prioritises own workload, research programme activities; group sessions, etc. Working to Professional Guidelines. Must be capable of working within guidelines; receives regular supervision/ direction

Desirable criteria

Ability to use routinely available spreadsheet/database software (Excel, Access, etc.) Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books #

Experience

Essential criteria

Demonstrable relevant work experience or knowledge of working with children young people or adults with learning disabilities and/or autism,.

Desirable criteria

Relevant work experience of adolescents with learning disabilities/ mental health problems Desire to progress to Clinical Training (DClinPsy)
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.

Further details / informal visits contact

Name

Molly Harvey

Job title

Team Coordinator

Email address

molly.harvey@nhs.net

Telephone number

01270 656335

Additional information

If you consider yourself Neurodivergent and need help to complete your application form, please contact

cwp.recruitment@nhs.net

or telephone 01244 393100