# Band 5 Assistant Psychologist (Acute Pathway) - Swindon > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Trust Partnership NHS Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/band-5-assistant-psychologist-acute-pathway-swindon/6be78aee-6faa-4f68-b572-478721e2a392 - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/band-5-assistant-psychologist-acute-pathway-swindon/6be78aee-6faa-4f68-b572-478721e2a392.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Trust Partnership NHS Trust - **Town:** Bath - **Region:** South West - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Healthcare support worker - **Grade:** Band 5 - **Salary:** £32,073 - £39,043 per annum - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Full time - 37.5 hours per week (No shift working required) - **Closing date:** 2026-06-21T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-06-05T11:13:16.600Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Somerset/Swindon/Avon_Wiltshire_Mental_Health_Partnership_NHS_Trust/Adult_Mental_Health/Adult_Mental_Health-v8039830 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8039830?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.awp.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview This role has been developed as part of a transformation programme across our acute services, designed to increase access to evidence based psychological treatment. You will work closely with the Practitioner Psychologists and other Psychological Practitioners working across the acute pathway. The postholder will support the delivery of individual and group evidence-based psychological interventions, to service users on Applewood Ward and under the Swindon Intensive Service (SIS). They will also support the Practitioner Psychologists in the facilitation of team formulations for these two teams, for example reviewing and summarizing the clinical record in preparation for the team formulation session. The postholder will support the qualified Practitioner Psychologists in the evaluation of the service provided, and in undertaking relevant QI projects. Swindon Psychological Therapies Service (PTS) comprises a supportive team of Clinical Psychologists, Counselling Psychologists, CBT Therapists, Arts Psychotherapists and a Family Therapist. We have established links with local training providers in Clinical and Counselling Psychology, and also take undergraduate placement students from the Bath psychology course. As a team we are supporting several QI projects. The team has a strong emphasis on promoting staff wellbeing, including a monthly wellbeing newsletter. We actively support staff in their ongoing professional development and have a bi-monthly CPD Club. ### Main duties of the job The postholder will support the Practitioner Psychologists working on Applewood ward and Swindon Intensive Service (SIS) to deliver assessment, formulation and evidence based psychological interventions for service users, and carers, on the acute pathway. There will also be opportunities to support the delivery of team formulation and reflective practice for the wider MDTs working across Applewood and SIS. The postholder will support the delivery of training to the wider MDT around psychologically informed, brief interventions. Applewood ward:   Applewood ward is a 16 bedded unit, providing input for male service users of working age experiencing acute mental health difficulties. The ward is located at Sandalwood Court. Swindon Intensive Service (SIS): Swindon Intensive Services offer rapid assessment and treatment for people who are experiencing a mental health emergency. The team provides proactive and intensive support to avoid the symptoms of a mental health emergency getting worse. The aim of the service is to offer treatment and care in an individual’s own home as an alternative to hospital admission. The team are based at Sandalwood Court. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities See Job Description and Person Specification for further details of the job role and main responsibilities. Right to Work in the UK This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application, as the organisation is unable to support sponsorship for this post. ## Job Details This role has been developed as part of a transformation programme across our acute services, designed to increase access to evidence based psychological treatment. You will work closely with the Practitioner Psychologists and other Psychological Practitioners working across the acute pathway. The postholder will support the delivery of individual and group evidence-based psychological interventions, to service users on Applewood Ward and under the Swindon Intensive Service (SIS). They will also support the Practitioner Psychologists in the facilitation of team formulations for these two teams, for example reviewing and summarizing the clinical record in preparation for the team formulation session. The postholder will support the qualified Practitioner Psychologists in the evaluation of the service provided, and in undertaking relevant QI projects. Swindon Psychological Therapies Service (PTS) comprises a supportive team of Clinical Psychologists, Counselling Psychologists, CBT Therapists, Arts Psychotherapists and a Family Therapist. We have established links with local training providers in Clinical and Counselling Psychology, and also take undergraduate placement students from the Bath psychology course. As a team we are supporting several QI projects. The team has a strong emphasis on promoting staff wellbeing, including a monthly wellbeing newsletter. We actively support staff in their ongoing professional development and have a bi-monthly CPD Club. ## Job Description The postholder will support the Practitioner Psychologists working on Applewood ward and Swindon Intensive Service (SIS) to deliver assessment, formulation and evidence based psychological interventions for service users, and carers, on the acute pathway. There will also be opportunities to support the delivery of team formulation and reflective practice for the wider MDTs working across Applewood and SIS. The postholder will support the delivery of training to the wider MDT around psychologically informed, brief interventions. Applewood ward: Applewood ward is a 16 bedded unit, providing input for male service users of working age experiencing acute mental health difficulties. The ward is located at Sandalwood Court. Swindon Intensive Service (SIS): Swindon Intensive Services offer rapid assessment and treatment for people who are experiencing a mental health emergency. The team provides proactive and intensive support to avoid the symptoms of a mental health emergency getting worse. The aim of the service is to offer treatment and care in an individual’s own home as an alternative to hospital admission. The team are based at Sandalwood Court. ## Responsibilities See Job Description and Person Specification for further details of the job role and main responsibilities. Right to Work in the UK This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application, as the organisation is unable to support sponsorship for this post. ## Person Specification ### Other Requirements **Essential** - Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times. ### Skills and Abilities **Essential** - - Word processing and other IT skills - - Ability to work collaboratively with other staff - - Good written and verbal presentation skills - - Flexibility and capacity to embrace change - - Ability to use supervision well - - Good organisational skills - - Ability to use own initiative and work independently - - Ability to plan and prioritise own workload - - Ability to overcome barriers to communication - - Self-awareness and emotional resilience - - Ability to communicate effectively in highly emotive atmospheres - - Ability to work with diversity. ### Experience and Knowledge **Essential** - - Experience of working in a previous Assistant Psychologist post, or equivalent health professional role. - - Understanding of common mental health problems. - - Knowledge of safeguarding processes and responsibilities. - - Experience of working with a range of client groups. - - Audit or research experience. **Desirable** - - Experience of working in an acute mental health setting. - - Experience of developing and delivering training. - - Experience of using statistical packages ### Education and Qualification **Essential** - - An honors degree in Psychology (2:1 or 1st) - - Eligibility for graduate membership of the BPS **Desirable** - - Introductory training in a psychological therapy ## Documents - [jd and ps (pdf, 440.4kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10328378) - [financial support & discounts (pdf, 919.6kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2794) - [value of the nhs pension scheme (pdf, 279.0kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2795) - [inclusive top 50 uk employers list (pdf, 78.9kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2439) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.