Job Description

Main area

Senior Assistant Psychologist

Grade

Band 5

Contract

12 months (Fixed term - 12 months - due to funding)

Hours

37.5 hours per week (Full time)

Job ref

373-SMH2416

Site

Soss Moss

Town

Macclesfield

Salary

29,970 - 36,483 Per annum

Salary period

Yearly

Closing

22/06/2025 23:59



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Job overview

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and creative senior Assistant Psychologist to work within our Forensic Services.



Overall the service consists of three inpatient services; 1. A regional forensic step down service within the rehabilitation complement; 2. A regional low secure inpatient wards for men with mental health related difficulties 3. A regional specialist ASD and ID low secure inpatient for autistic people with ID and complex risk needs. We are looking for applicants who have considerable experience of working with people with complex needs and risk patterns and who can demonstrate their compassion and optimism for the rehabilitation and recovery and safe support to this service user group.



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Main duties of the job

The senior assistant psychologist role will involve supporting and enhancing the psychological care of service users, providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions (individual and group) under the supervision of Qualified Clinical Psychologists. You will work alongside staff teams within the inpatient areas, with Nursing professionals, Support Workers, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapist and Psychiatrists.



Additional aspects of the role will include clinical administration, audit, data collection and input into the development of training packages and the delivery of them. Applicants should have achieved an upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology which confers Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society.


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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.


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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!


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Person specification

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Qualifications

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Essential criteria

Good honours degree in Psychology (2.i or above). Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS To undertake breakaway training or equivalent following appointment. #####

Desirable criteria

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

Knowledge & Expertise

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Essential criteria

High level of communication skills (written and verbal) 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 clients 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. The ability to prioritise and plan own workload, service user assessments/interventions, research programme, group training 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/databas e software (Excel, Access, etc.) Record of having published in either peer reviewed or academic or professional journals and/or books High standard of report writing Familiarity with relevant psychometric assessments/risk assessments. ####

Experience

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Essential criteria

Demonstrable relevant work experience with people who have complex mental health problems/ learning disabilities risk patterns and challenging behaviour. Experience of providing training to professionals #####

Desirable criteria

Relevant work experience of people 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

Dr Rebecca Swarbrick

Job title

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Email address

rebecca.swarbrick@nhs.net

Telephone number

012625862501

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