Assistant Psychologist
At a glance
- Band
- Band 4
- Contract
- Fixed-term
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Posted
- 07/09/2026
- Closes
- 18/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
Candidates needing sponsorship are encouraged to apply.
HiveMind found a sponsorship-friendly statement in the source advert welcoming applicants who require a visa. Always confirm on the source before applying.
“Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.”Quoted verbatim from the source advert
Role summary
This role is for an Assistant Psychologist within the inpatient Adult Forensic Mental Health Service at the Riverside Centre. The successful candidate will work with individuals who have complex needs and challenging behaviours, often related to offending. Duties include assessment, therapeutic interventions, and supporting colleagues, as well as contributing to research and audit activities. The post requires an understanding of forensic mental health issues and the ability to work with distressing material.
Essential criteria
- A first or upper second-class honours Psychology Degree accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) OR a lower second with the addition of a higher degree in psychology (e.g., MSc).
Desirable criteria
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, and/or research design and analysis.
- Experience of working in a forensic setting or with forensic service users
- Experience of working with people with significant mental health problems, complex psychological distress or personality difficulties
- Experience of research evaluation and audit of the application of psychological principles to mental health problems
- Previous experience of working as an Assistant Psychologist
- Experience of working within an integrated multi-disciplinary team
- Awareness and understanding of issues relating to risk and forensic mental health settings
- An understanding of the needs of service users with complex mental health difficulties and/or other psychological/physical disabilities
- Experience using computers for databases and data-analysis
- Awareness of one or more structured professional judgement risk assessment tools (e.g., the HCR-20v3, the RSVP, the SARA, etc)
- Awareness of the basic principles of one or more therapeutic approaches (e.g., schema therapy, cognitive analytic therapy (CAT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), etc)
- An understanding of forensic mental health related-legal frameworks
- Skills and Abilities
- High-level communication and interpersonal skills (written and verbal), including report writing, and an ability to engage and establish positive working relationships with professionals and service users
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and supervised at regular intervals
- Ability to self-reflect and respond well to feedback
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively
- Basic IT skills, including the ability to use word processor and spreadsheet software, and to quickly learn how to use new applications (e.g., the Trust electronic patient health record)
- Skills in group facilitation
- Skills in research analysis
- Professional robustness and resourcefulness when working with complex service users
- Skills in working within a multi-disciplinary team and the ability to communicate effectively with varied range of professionals
- Education/Qualifications
- A first or upper second-class honours Psychology Degree accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) OR a lower second with the addition of a higher degree in psychology (e.g., MSc).
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, and/or research design and analysis.
- Experience of working in a forensic setting or with forensic service users
- Experience of working with people with significant mental health problems, complex psychological distress or personality difficulties
- Experience of research evaluation and audit of the application of psychological principles to mental health problems
- Previous experience of working as an Assistant Psychologist
- Experience of working within an integrated multi-disciplinary team
- Awareness and understanding of issues relating to risk and forensic mental health settings
- An understanding of the needs of service users with complex mental health difficulties and/or other psychological/physical disabilities
- Experience using computers for databases and data-analysis
- Awareness of one or more structured professional judgement risk assessment tools (e.g., the HCR-20v3, the RSVP, the SARA, etc)
- Awareness of the basic principles of one or more therapeutic approaches (e.g., schema therapy, cognitive analytic therapy (CAT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), etc)
- An understanding of forensic mental health related-legal frameworks
- Skills and Abilities
- High-level communication and interpersonal skills (written and verbal), including report writing, and an ability to engage and establish positive working relationships with professionals and service users
- Ability t
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 4 at £26,530 – £29,114 a year, across England.
This advert: £28,392 – £31,157 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 11d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Assistant Psychologist
The closing date is 18 September 2026
Job summary
We are recruiting an Assistant Psychologist to work within the inpatient Adult Forensic Mental Health Service at the Riverside Centre. We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated psychology graduates, to work with people who have complex needs and behaviour that has brought them into secure services.
You will join a large team of experienced colleagues. You will be involved in activities that include assessment, therapeutic interventions and work to support colleagues in the wider service. You will also be involved in research/audit/QI activity in your role here.
We expect applicants to appreciate the kinds of issues and challenges that are faced in working with people who have mental health difficulties and problems related to offending and/or aggression and violence towards others. Histories of significant adversity and trauma, and problems with self-harm, substance misuse, and managing relationships with others are common. Ideally, you will have prior experience in working in a forensic/secure setting and/or a service where you have supported people with complex needs. You will receive all necessary training, supervision and support to enable you to fulfil the role effectively, and to also maintain your own psychological and emotiona
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