
Job requirements
Essential
16 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Experience
Practical experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities and/or psychological/behavioural/ neurological problems
- Qualifications
An Honours degree in Psychology (2:1)
- Qualifications
Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
- Personal Attributes
An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- Personal Attributes
An ability to interact effectively with people with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
- Personal Attributes
Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
- Personal Attributes
Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Personal Attributes
Able to travel throughout the catchment area, without unnecessary delays.
- Personal Attributes
A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability)
- Physical Attributes
Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
- Special Knowledge/Skills
High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- Special Knowledge/Skills
Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- Special Knowledge/Skills
Ability to communicate information which may be perceived as contentious to patients, carers and colleagues in a manner that promotes understanding and acceptance
- Special Knowledge/Skills
An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or other disabilities.
- Special Knowledge/Skills
An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to health and social service contexts.
- Special Knowledge/Skills
An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
Desirable
8 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Training
Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
- Experience
Experience of paid work in direct care provision, particularly in the care group of the specialty of this post.
- Experience
Experience of administering and scoring neuropsychological assessments.
- Personal Attributes
An interest in working with people with mental health problems.
- Personal Attributes
A desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology.
- Special Knowledge/Skills
Experience using computers for databases or data-analysis.
- Special Knowledge/Skills
Experience using microcomputers for databases or data analysis especially SPSS for Windows
- Special Knowledge/Skills
High standard of report writing
Job summary
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Are you passionate about supporting people with learning disabilities and committed to improving their quality of life?
Would you be interested to be part of a thriving multi-disciplinary health team?
An exciting opportunity has arisen for Clinical Psychology Assistant Practitioner to join the Wakefield Adult Community Learning Disabilities Health Service.
You will join an experienced, well-established and committed specialist multi-disciplinary team who are based in Wakefield. The Team consists of a comprehensive multi-disciplinary team including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, learning disability nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapist, speech & language therapists, dietician, therapy assistants and healthcare support workers. The Team works together to support individuals aged 18 and over with diagnosed learning disabilities and their families/carers.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will be part of a multi-disciplinary community learning disability health team working with adults with learning disabilities in Wakefield. As well as clinical psychology, the team is comprised of occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, nursing physiotherapy and psychiatry.
The post is supervised by qualified clinical psychologist and involves direct assessment, formulation and intervention work with service users, as well as indirect working with family-carers and staff teams. You will also be involved in audit, service development and clinical governance. The service has close links with the local clinical psychology doctorate course at Leeds, and we regularly take trainees on placement.
We are looking for a highly motivated, psychology graduate with a positive and progressive outlook who aspires to provide the best standard of care and support for service users.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.
At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, we are unable to sponsor anyone for a skilled worker visa for this role.
We are happy to accept applications from candidates who can prove their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes. Such applications will be considered alongside all other applications.
About us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Details
- Date posted: 22 September 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 4
- Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
- Reference number: C9378-W1545
- Job locations: Block 9, Fieldhead Hospital, Ouchthorpe Lane, Wakefield, WF13SP, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.
The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.
To support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the service, across all sectors of care; providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with a HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist and within the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures. To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, and development of audit and / or research projects, teaching and project work.
ORGANISATIONAL CHART
KEY RESULT AREAS:
Clinical:
1. To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients applying psychological theory, including neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care.
2. To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and / or management of a clients problems, under the supervision of a HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist.
3. To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups or clinical projects.
4. To work with other staff to assess community patients and review their care in preparation for multi-disciplinary reviews.
5. To assist in the development of a psychological based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place.
6. To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.
7. To respect diversity. To treat everyone with dignity and respect and act in ways that acknowledge and recognise peoples expressed beliefs, preferences and choices.
For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Clinical Psychology Assistant Practitioner with South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Wakefield, England. It is listed as a Band 4 Assistant psychologist role. The advertised salary is £28392.00 to £31157.00. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 06 Oct 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (22 Sep 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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