Higher Assistant Psychologist - Community Forensic Psychiatry
At a glance
- Band
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Posted
- 21/09/2026
- Closes
- 05/10/2026
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 is an exciting opportunity for a Band 5 Higher Assistant Psychologist to join the enhanced Forensic Psychiatry Community Service. The role involves supporting the development of psychological case formulations and interventions, as well as enhanced risk assessment tools. The post-holder will also undertake clinically related administration, audit tasks, and contribute to service evaluation and research. They will work independently under supervision within a multidisciplinary team, providing high-quality care to service users with forensic histories.
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 working with people with serious mental disorders, learning disability and complex presentations/ challenging behaviours.
- Experience of completing specialised psychological assessments.
- Previous experience of an assistant psychologist post or equivalent.
- Experience of working with people with forensic histories.
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team in a community setting.
- Experience of Psychological Structured Professional (SPJ) Judgement or Psychometric assessment tools.
- Knowledge and Skills
- 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.
- Good organisational and time managements skills.
- Ability to recognise limits of competence and seek support and supervision when needed.
- Experience of working with structured risk assessment tools such as the HCR20/SAPROF
- A clear understanding of the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to risk management within forensic services.
- Physical Requirements
- Ability to travel independently around the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area meeting required timescales. A full driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential.
- Ability to work from home as required.
- Education / Quailifications
- 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 working with people with serious mental disorders, learning disability and complex presentations/ challenging behaviours.
- Experience of completing specialised psychological assessments.
- Previous experience of an assistant psychologist post or equivalent.
- Experience of working with people with forensic histories.
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team in a community setting.
- Experience of Psychological Structured Professional (SPJ) Judgement or Psychometric assessment tools.
- Knowledge and Skills
- 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.
- Good organisational and time managements skills.
- Ability to recognise limits of competence and seek support and supervision when needed.
- Experience of working with structured risk assessment tools such as the HCR20/SAPROF
- A clear understanding of the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to risk management within forensic services.
- Physical Requirements
- Ability to travel independently around the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area meeting required timescales. A full driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential.
- Ability to work from home as required.
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 14d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Higher Assistant Psychologist - Community Forensic Psychiatry
The closing date is 05 October 2026
Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 5 Higher Assistant Psychologist, to join our enhanced and developing Forensic Psychiatry Community Service.
CPFT are one of six providers of specialist mental health and learning disability care in the East of England, working collaboratively to ensure there is a seamless pathway of care , that is closer to home for the communities that we serve. The Provider Collaborative also works closely with independent sector partners to make improvements to our services and the ways we deliver them.
This enhanced specialist service consists of a multi-disciplinary team, based between Cambridge and Peterborough,. The service works with adults diagnosed with a mental health condition and/or learning disability who present with a risk of significant harm to others, to achieve optimal management of risk and minimise re-offending.
Working closely with the individual, we produce tailored care plans together that is focused around their personal needs and risk. The service adopts a compassionate and trauma informed approach to promote relapse prevention and recovery, so enabling individuals to realise their full potential whilst supporting them to continue to build and live me
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