Assistant PsychologistNHS

Job summary

We are looking to employ one full-time highly motivated, enthusiastic and values-driven assistant psychologist to join our Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) service for three months. The successful candidate will be a highly valued member of the team. Whilst in post, the successful candidates will receive weekly supervision from a qualified psychological professional, relevant clinical and research experience, and opportunities to further develop their understanding of clinical psychology within the NHS. Additional support structures will be available including peer support, supervision and an assistant psychologist buddy system.

This post is funded by NHS England for psychology graduates looking to gain relevant clinical experience, who may be unable to take on unpaid voluntary work. Existing routes to gain clinical experience can be challenging to navigate and can further disadvantage aspiring clinical psychologist psychology graduates who experience financial, educational or social barriers (FESB). Eligibility for the post is detailed below. Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust is passionate about increasing diversity within the clinical psychology profession and is committed to making changes to improve access to the profession.

Main duties of the job

The successful post holder will join a busy EIP team, and work across our sites in Stockton (Wessx House) and Middlesbrough (Parkside Mental Health Resource Centre). The focus of the role is to support with the delivery and evaluation of a community engagement project focussed on enhancing the EIP service for racially marginalised communities in the local area. The project is linked to the Trusts Patient Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) actions. For more information on PCREF, please check the NHS England website. The post holder will have opportunities to shadow members of the multi-disciplinary team and get involved with direct clinical work linked to the project.

Interview

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is piloting virtual multiple mini-interviews using the SAMMI platform. Candidates who have been shortlisted for this vacancy may be invited to complete their interview using SAMMI. To complete your interview, you will be required to have access to laptop or computer with audio and video functionality. For more information on the SAMMI platform, please see the attached document Virtual Multiple Mini Interviews: applicant information. By applying for this post, you are agreeing to take part in an interview using SAMMI.

Job description

Please provide a supporting statement with your application using the following guidance:

1 A statement confirming how/that you meet the Academic and FESB criteria for the role:

Academic Criteria

Psychology BSc Degree with GBC

Have not had substantial (more than four weeks full time equivalent) assistant psychologist or research assistant experience

Have not started or completed a postgraduate training course (including PHDs)

Experience of FESB to entering the profession that may include (but is not limited too)

Identify as an under-represented group within the Clinical Psychology profession (e.g. ethnically minoritised background/BAME)

Unable to take on unpaid voluntary work due to additional caring responsibilities or personal circumstances

Do not have family support

Are a care leaver

Grew up in an area that has a low level of engagement in higher education (POLAR4 quintilehttps://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/data-and-analysis/young-participation-by-area/)

Have experienced discrimination in academia or in the profession

Family being on low income or receiving benefits

Receiving government grants whilst at university

Please note, you do not need to have experience of all the above financial, educational or social barriers to be eligible for the post. For further information, please see the attached TEWV Aspiring Clinical Psychologist Programme document.

2. A personal statement that answers the following questions (500 words maximum):

• Why you are interested in pursuing a career in clinical psychology
• How your values and experiences have influenced you to be a suitable candidate for this post
• What you hope to gain from this post

Please note: There is no requirement to have prior clinical experience when applying for this post. Although you may wish to reflect on personal/lived experience, it is not a requirement that you do so. Please only include information in your application form that you feel comfortable to share.

Psychologists & Psychological Therapists provide key leadership roles within the Trust. To support this we have developed leadership profiles for each psychology band and the profile card associated with this post is attached on NHS Jobs. You can find more information about the NHS Leadership Academys Healthcare Leadership Model and the profiles at their website. We encourage you to look at these resources as they will play a part in the interview process.

You must have the Right to Work in the UK in order to be successfully appointed to this role. Sponsorship may be available for this role in specific circumstances in line with Home Office regulations, where applicants were granted permission as a Skilled Worker under the immigration rules in place before 22 July 2025, and have had continuous permission as a Skilled Worker since then. We recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit Immigration Rules - Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations - Guidance - GOV.UK

This job advert may close early if a high volume of applications have been received. If interested, please apply for this post as soon as possible.

About us

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care --our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.