Assistant Psychologist

Job overview

This is an opportunity to join the Sheffield Memory Service  as a Band 4 Assistant Psychologist (1.0 WTE, 6 month fixed term contract).

Applications are being sought for psychology graduates who have a 2:1 degree (from a course accredited by the BPS) & can demonstrate passion & experience of working as part of MDT's, working with older people, people with cognitive impairment, administration, scoring & interpretation of cognitive assessments.

The successful applicant will work in the Memory Service alongside  the MDT, in a variety of clinical roles including completing core cognitive assessments & facilitating group sessions.  The role also provides opportunity for supporting clinical governance initiatives including reviewing & implementing outcome measures and a variety of audits & working on a variety of service developments. to support the assessment & diagnosis of dementia.

The successful applicant would join the Older Adult & Neurological Conditions Psychology service. The OA & NC psychologists comprises of psychologists, AP's & trainees who work into a range of settings (mental health, dementia, stroke, long term neurological conditions). You would receive weekly supervision as well as informal support & development opportunities.

We anticipate these posts to be very popular & expect to receive a high volume of applications.  Therefore, we reserve the right to close applications early. Interviews will be held remotely on 27th May 2026.

Main duties of the job

To be required to work on a frequent basis with older people with cognitive and mental health problems.

To be able to administer, score & interpret cognitive assessments to service users undergoing a dementia diagnostic work-up within a multi-disciplinary team.

To undertake protocol-based assessments of service users, including the use of self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, family members and others involved in the person’s care under the supervision of the Clinical Psychologist.

You will need high levels of organisational and report writing skills. You will need to be flexible and adapt to working with service users with possible cognitive impairment.  You will need to demonstrate a high level of communication skills (written & verbal) and be able to work in emotionally distressing situations. Additionally, you must possess the ability to use computers for maintaining electronic patient records, word processing, presentations, databases, spreadsheets and email. It is a varied and interesting job role and you will receive the management, training and supervision you need to enable you to contribute fully to the work of the team and build your experience towards clinical training.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

To work as part of the wider SMS team conducting initial assessments, including cognitive screening, standardized questionnaires, history taking and risk assessment.

To contribute to the running of Psychosocial Interventions with other members of the SMS MDT.

To support the service to maintain MSNAP accreditation.

To support the Memory Service and wider Dementia Pathway in service delivery developments, e.g., by conducting service evaluations or summarizing relevant research.

Where required, to attend and contribute to appropriate MDT meetings.

To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all users of the service, across all settings where care takes place.

Teaching, training and supervision

To receive regular (group) clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.  Additional ad hoc individual supervision can also be provided when needed.

To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.

To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.

Some observation & shadowing of other Psychological Professionals within the ‘Older Adults & Neurological Conditions’ division will be supported where it is part of an agreed development need.

Service Development

To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.

Where relevant, to attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.

Research and service evaluation

To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.

To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.

To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist the qualified clinical psychologist in evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

Working Environment

Based at Sheffield Memory Service, Northern General Hospital.

Some limited travel likely between Trust bases.

The job role will involve working in situations where there may be occasional verbal abuse from service users’ carers and the general public.