Higher Assistant Psychologist

The North East Provider Collaborative commissions secure care services across the Cumbria, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) footprints. It has approved the development of a new Forensic Community Service (FCS) model operating equitably across the geographical areas of both Trusts for individuals with mental disorders or personality disorders as a secondary condition who have offended or are at risk of doing so. It provides additional partnership NHS and third sector staff resources to support care co-ordination and/or joint working for all service users leaving secure care hospital. Specific aims are to reduce the length of stay within secure care hospital beds by providing therapeutic continuity between hospital and community, to reduce re-admission rates and to increase community provision to support successful (re-) integration. This post is located in the CNTW (North Cumbria, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear) footprint.

The team will use the evidence-based '12 Components' model of care developed by NHS England (NHSE), which is a biopsychosocial model delivered by the multi-disciplinary team that recognises the interconnection between biology, psychology, and socio-environmental factors.

The role will involve contributing to specialist assessment across a broad range of risks and clinical need. The post holder will be required to produce clear, accessible and collaborative formulations with service users, carers and staff which will guide interventions to assist the service user to adjust to situations that require social interaction with members of the family, work, community, or any other social unit.

The role involves undertaking psychological interventions with service users as informed by their formulations, under the supervision of the Senior Forensic Psychologist and may also involve contributing to the supervision of other staff, within the Multi Disciplinary Team, helping them to deliver psychological interventions to service users.

The post holder will maintain effective relationships with colleagues in in-patient secure settings and community services in order to optimise pathways for service users. Direct work with service users may involve in-reach work within secure inpatient settings prior to the individuals discharge from secure hospital, and will also involve working with service users in community settings.

The post holder will receive clinical supervision from the Senior Psychologist within the Forensic Community Service and Operational supervision from the Team Manager of the Forensic Community Service.

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.

We believe in the development of our staff and the post holder will be encouraged to engage in continued professional development opportunities appropriate to their role.

The Psychology Team works within multi disciplinary and multi agency teams across the secure care pathway.

The role will involve working as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team, supporting the Senior Psychologist in providing assessment, formulation and treatment to service users. You will also have the opportunity to be involved in training and research opportunities within the service.

Previous experience as an Assistant Psychologist or Research Assistant is essential for Band 5 Higher Assistant Psychologist posts.

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 21 st October 2025

Closing date : 4 th November 2025

We welcome your application.