Higher Assistant Psychologist
At a glance
- Band
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Posted
- 07/09/2026
- Closes
- 14/09/2026
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 a Band 5 Higher Assistant Psychologist within the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Offender Personality Disorder Pathway Service. The post-holder will work in a Psychologically Informed Planned Environment (PIPE) at an Approved Premises in Peterborough. Key duties include developing the PIPE, co-delivering psycho-education groups, and implementing individualised risk management plans for residents. The role offers opportunities to gain insight into multi-agency risk management and expand experience in consultation, audits, and research projects.
Essential criteria
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable criteria
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
- Experience of people with personality disorder difficulties and/ or complex presentations/ challenging behaviours.
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
- Previous experience of an assistant psychologist post or equivalent
- Experience of working with forensic clients
- Lived experience of mental health
- Knowledge & Skills
- Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive and distressing and to be balanced with robust risk management.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- Competent in the use of software programmes such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Experience of developing and maintaining databases for the purposes of data-analysis e.g. use of Excel or SPSS for Windows
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with enduring mental health problems and personality disorders.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to the context of people with personality disorders.
- A clear understanding of the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to risk management within forensic services.
- High standard of report writing.
- Experience of formulation development with clients
- Experience of supporting the design of group training packages.
- Experience of participation in group facilitation with clients
- Experience of participation in training to staff/ others
- An understanding of psychology applied to forensic clients and PIPE.
- Awareness of the Schema Therapy Model/ Mode Model
- Awareness of/ experience with DBT skills-based approaches
- To continue your professional development
- Other
- Able to tolerate prolonged periods of sitting and/ or standing
- Ability to travel independently and in a timely manner across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to meet strict deadlines.
- Education/Qualifications
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
- Experience of people with personality disorder difficulties and/ or complex presentations/ challenging behaviours.
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
- Previous experience of an assistant psychologist post or equivalent
- Experience of working with forensic clients
- Lived experience of mental health
- Knowledge & Skills
- Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive and distressing and to be balanced with robust risk management.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- Competent in the use of software programmes such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Experience of developing and maintaining databases for the purposes of data-analysis e.g. use of Excel or SPSS for Windows
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with enduring mental health problems and personality disorders.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to the context of people with personality disorders.
- A clear understanding of the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to risk management within forensic services.
- High standard of report writing.
- Experience of formulation development with clients
- Experience of supporting the design of group training packages.
- Experience of participation in gro
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 5 at £29,970 – £36,483 a year, across England.
This advert: £32,073 – £39,043 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 7d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Higher Assistant Psychologist
The closing date is 14 September 2026
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 5 Higher Assistant Psychologist to work within the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Offender Personality Disorder Pathway Service.
This small but established team arises from a joint initiative between Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Foundation Trust and National Probation Service.
There current post will be based in the community at the Approved Premises in Peterborough. The Approved Premise is a Psychologically Informed Planned Environment.
The post-holder will be working to develop the PIPE, its residents and staff. Our PIPE offers the opportunity to participate in planning and pre arrival work with the residents. The co-delivery of brief psycho-education groups and skills-based training to residents. As well as developing the residents' engagement, motivation and implementing individualised risk management plans.
Main duties of the job
The role offer further opportunities to gain insight into multi-agency risk management processes (e.g. MAPPA), as well as gaining a wider perspective of services for this client group; through attendance at commissioning meetings and regional/ national events. The role will give opportunities to expand experience with; consultation work, conduction
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