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Job overview
We are looking to recruit a band 5 Higher Assistant Psychologist to join the Adult Forensic Psychology Service within Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Foundation NHS Trust.
The Adult Forensic Psychology Team within secure care services provides recovery-focused psychological services (including assessment, formulation and interventions) to mentally disordered offenders across mental health, learning disability and personality disorder pathways, both within in-patient and community settings.
This role is to support psychological provision across our medium and low secure inpatient forensic mental health and learning disability wards at Northgate Park.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will have a Psychology degree (2:1 or above) and should have experience of working with people with mental health difficulties/learning disability/personality disorder/or other disabilities. Experience of working with forensic populations is desirable.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 21st July 2026
Closing date : 4th August 2026
We welcome your application.
Person specification
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Able to manage own stress in difficult conditions and to identify when additional personal support may be necessary
Desirable
- A desire to explore a career in applied Psychology
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- High level of communication skills (written and oral), including an ability to communicate and work in highly emotive circumstances.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to clients, carers and colleagues.
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and other disabilities.
- Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health / cognitive impairment / disability context.
- Computer literate, including use of databases & data analysis, e.g. SPSS for Windows.
- Demonstrates graduate level knowledge and experience of research and research methodology
- An understanding of psychology applied to healthcare
Desirable
- A high standard of report writing.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Paid or unpaid work with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities
- Experience as an assistant/research psychologist
- Knowledge of evidence based practice
Desirable
- Experience of paid work in direct care provision.
- Experience with client group relevant to post
- Experience of psychometric test administration and interpretation
- Experience of providing individual or group interventions.
Personal Characteristics
Essential
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
- An ability to interact appropriately with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals by supervisor.
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- 2nd class honours degree, or higher, in psychology.
- Eligibility for graduate membership of British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Higher Assistant Psychologist with Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust in Newcastle Upon Tyne, North East and Yorkshire, England. It is listed as a Band 5 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is £32,073 - £39,043 per annum. The contract type is Fixed term: 12 months (n/a). The application deadline is 04 Aug 2026.
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