Clinical Associate in Psychology
At a glance
- Band
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Part-time
- Posted
- 28/08/2026
- Closes
- 14/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
This role involves working as a Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP) within the Acute Psychology Inpatient Services, specifically on Swift Ward, an 18-bedded male acute assessment and brief treatment unit. The CAP will support the embedding of trauma-informed approaches, assist in psychological treatment plans, coordinate therapeutic groups, and contribute to service development and research. The position requires working under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist and being an integrated member of the multi-disciplinary team.
Essential criteria
- An honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology at 2.1 or better OR
- Successful completion of a BPS accredited postgraduate Psychology conversion programme with 2.1 equivalent or above OR
- A 2.2 honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology with appropriate additional experience (or contextual information) demonstrating academic potential.
- MSc for Clinical Associate in Psychology qualification OR nearing qualification for same.
- Eligibility for registration on the British Psychological Society Wider Psychological Workforce register.
- Satisfactory Enhanced check with the Disclosure and Barring Service
- Ability to work independently, reliably, and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, therapeutic approaches and/ or research design and analysis.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of undertaking a research project.
- Experience of working within acute adult mental health.
- COMMUNICATION SKILLS
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to service users, carers, and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- An ability to interact with people with mental health problems.
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all discipline.
- Experience using computers for databases or data - analysis, especially Microsoft Excel and SPSS for Windows.
- High standard of report writing.
- Competence using IT and media equipment.
- QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING
- An honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology at 2.1 or better OR
- Successful completion of a BPS accredited postgraduate Psychology conversion programme with 2.1 equivalent or above OR
- A 2.2 honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology with appropriate additional experience (or contextual information) demonstrating academic potential.
- MSc for Clinical Associate in Psychology qualification OR nearing qualification for same.
- Eligibility for registration on the British Psychological Society Wider Psychological Workforce register.
- Satisfactory Enhanced check with the Disclosure and Barring Service
- Ability to work independently, reliably, and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice, therapeutic approaches and/ or research design and analysis.
- Experience of undertaking a research project.
- Experience of working within acute adult mental health.
- COMMUNICATION SKILLS
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to service users, carers, and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- An ability to interact with people with mental health problems.
- An ability to interact effectively with staff from all discipline.
- Experience using computers for databases or data - analysis, especially Microsoft Excel and SPSS for Windows.
- High standard of report writing.
- Competence using IT and media equipment.
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 6 at £37,338 – £44,962 a year, across England.
This advert: £41,957 – £50,387 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 10d ago · Closes in 8d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Clinical Associate in Psychology
The closing date is 14 September 2026
Job summary
Here at HPFT we have a long history of delivering outstanding care, and we are taking our Acute Psychology Inpatient Services to the next level. We have expanded our psychological provision on all HPFT adult mental health inpatient wards and are establishing Trauma Informed Approaches .
Part of the expansion has been the embedding of Clinical Associates in Psychology (CAP) roles within the service. We currently have two CAP's who are an established and valued part of the diverse workforce and we wish to expand this provision
We are looking for a caring and compassionate CAP to work alongside the multi-disciplinary team under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist on Swift Ward, an 18 bedded male acute assessment and brief treatment unit.
The successful candidate will hold a MSc for Clinical Associate in Psychology qualification OR be nearing qualification.
Main duties of the job
To support in the embedding of trauma informed approaches across the ward including Team Formulations, delivering training and ensuring good data collection at all times. To assist in the formulation and delivery of intervention plans involving the psychological treatment of service users , under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist
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