About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Higher Assistant Psychologist post to provide 6 months maternity leave cover with the Intensive Positive Behaviour Support Service (IPBSwithin the Specialist Children and Young People's business unit. IPBS comprises of services for young people with a learning disability and autistic young people who may present with distress behaviours and/or mental health presentations that increase their risk of hospital admission.
This post is to work across both the learning disability and autism pathways utilising both Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and lifeworld approaches to deliver trauma informed care. The Higher Assistant Psychologist post within the team is a highly valued, varied and responsible role that supports service evaluation, assessment and interventions delivered under the supervision of experienced Clinical Psychologists. There are additional opportunities to deliver training to partner agencies. A high level of professional support and continuing professional development will be available to the postholder.
Main duties of the job
To support the assessment and formulation of casework for service users who have substantial and complex needs.
To deliver prescribed psychological interventions under the supervision of experienced Clinical Psychologists.
To oversee data collection and analysis that often involves complex behavioural information and support the development of collaborative, evidence based, person centred support plans.
Deliver individualised training for person centred support plans to all key stakeholders involved in the service user's care.
Contribute to clinical governance of service pathways by overseeing the bespoke review tool used within IPBS.
To support a wide range of service evaluation and research projects designed to build the evidence base for interventions that support young people with learning disabilities or autism who are experiencing significant mental health difficulties and distress behaviours.
Maintain effective clinical working relationships with members of the multi-disciplinary clinical team(s) into which the postholder works. Frequent liaison will also take place with other agencies including Education, Social Care and Third Sector services.
To provide compassionate, neuro-affirming 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 description Job responsibilities
IPBS is a multi-disciplinary team which aims to support young people in their communities, enhancing the community offer at times of increased need as indicated by the Dynamic Support Registers in each locality. IPBS work across the full CNTW footprint, and as such is a very busy, dynamic team, interfacing through a well-established PBS Clinical Network with each of the Learning Disability Teams within the locality areas of North Cumbria, Northumberland, North Tyneside, Newcastle and Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside. The team has close working relationships with Children and Young Peoples Inpatient Services at Ferndene. The team also sits with the Provider Collaborative initiative, established with the aim of working across the Integrated Care Board footprint of the North East, which means close links are also set up with other Mental Health and Learning Disability Trusts within the region.
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 27th August 2026
Closing date : 10th 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.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
Address St Nicholas Hospital
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 3XT
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)