Higher Assistant Psychologist

Job summary

We are delighted invite applications for a full time Band 5 Higher Assistant Psychologist at the inpatient service at Hopewood Park in Ryhope, Sunderland.

This is a full-time post working across two inpatient services, and the successful post-holder will work into Longview (women's acute) and Beckfield (male PICU).

The role involves working as part of these two multidisciplinary teams using a biopsychosocial model. The post-holder will support the formulation process, provide specialist psychologically informed assessments and interventions in both group and individual settings and offer support to the staff team. The post holder will work closely with qualified clinical psychologists in each service and receive regular clinical supervision from a qualified member of the psychology team.

Main duties of the job

The post holder's main duties are to assist the qualified member of the psychology team in the delivery of psychological services across the acute and PICU pathway.

The post holder will produce professional assessment and intervention reports.

The post holder will support these services in the delivery of training initiatives.

The post holder will utilise research skills for audit, literature reviews, service development, and other research initiatives within the pathway or the wider service.

The post holder will show initiative to work independently to an appropriate level.

The post-holder will provide compassionate care that is based on empathy,kindness, respect, and dignity.

About us

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented, and committed workforce who are caring and compassionate and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS both now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.

Job responsibilities

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 18th August 2026

Closing date : 1st September 2026

We welcome your application.

Please note - this vacancy may close early once a suitable number of applications are received.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Upper 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.

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.

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.