About this role
Job summary
The application will close either on 16th June, or when 50 applications have been received.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for two Band 4 Assistant Psychologists to join the Adult Mental Health Inpatient Psychology Team at The Harbour, Blackpool. These are 12-month fixed-term posts supporting psychological input across the two male acute wards, Orwell and Churchill.
The Harbour provides inpatient care for adults with complex mental health needs, supporting people at a point of crisis in the least restrictive and safest way. The main focus of these posts will be the delivery and evaluation of a brief CBT-informed psychological intervention for male acute inpatients who may experience high levels of distress, emotional and behavioural dysregulation and/or substance use challenges.
The post holders will join an established and growing inpatient psychology service at The Harbour. The current psychology team includes two Consultant Clinical Psychologists, two Principal Clinical Psychologists, one Clinical Psychologist and two existing Assistant Psychologists working into the female acute wards. The service is also due to expand further later this year with the addition of two Clinical Psychologist posts.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for suitably qualified and experienced individuals with a genuine interest in working with adults in an acute inpatient mental health setting. Applicants should have good verbal and written communication skills, be able to work effectively with colleagues and enjoy working as part of a busy multidisciplinary team.
The post holders will deliver structured individual intervention sessions and facilitate three group-based psychological intervention sessions per week. The role will also involve completion of clinical documentation and report writing, administration and scoring of outcome measures, collation of clinical activity data and contribution to audit and service evaluation.
The successful applicants will work under the supervision of a Principal Clinical Psychologist and within agreed clinical plans, intervention protocols and Trust policies relating to Assistant Psychologists. They will also work alongside each other and provide some support to the wider psychology service at The Harbour, including supporting Consultant Clinical Psychologists with clinical, audit, evaluation, administrative, report-writing and service-support tasks as required.
About us
The role will involve close working with ward-based multidisciplinary teams and supporting psychologically informed care within the ward environment. Applicants should be reflective, well organised, able to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and able to engage service users who may be distressed or ambivalent about engaging in therapeutic work.
We are looking for applicants with a 2:1 degree in Psychology and eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership of the British Psychological Society. Applicants must also have relevant experience within an adult acute or PICU inpatient setting and/or experience of working as an employed Assistant Psychologist, supervised by a qualified Clinical Psychologist.
Informal enquiries are welcomes and can be directed to Dr Amy Nickson, Principal Clinical Psychologist, at [email protected]
Please note, as soon as sufficient applications are received this advert will close. It is hoped the interviews will be held on Friday 3rd July 2026.
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.
Job description Job responsibilities
The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.
Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.
For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.
Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
A 2:1 honours degree or higher in psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of the BPS.
Knowledge Essential
Awareness of the psychological, social and systemic needs of adults with complex mental health difficulties. Awareness of the principles of psychological assessment, formulation and intervention. Understanding of the importance of confidentiality, consent, professional boundaries and working within limits of competence.
Desirable
An understanding of Clinical Psychology and its applications.
Experience Essential
Experience of working as a healthcare assistant within an acute or PICU inpatient setting with adults and/or experience of working as an employed assistant psychologist in the NHS, supervised by a qualified clinical psychologist. Direct clinical and/or clinical research experience with service users presenting with complex, chronic and co-occurring mental health and/or substance use challenges, or who present with risk to self or others. Experience of working within multidisciplinary teams.
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 Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Address The Harbour
Windmill Rise, Off Preston New Rd
Blackpool
FY4 4FE
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)