Assistant Psychologist
| Posting date: | 23 July 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | Competitive |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 22 August 2025 |
| Location: | Oxford |
| Company: | inploi |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 75718878 |
Summary
Would you like to make a real difference to the lives of young people at a vulnerable stage of their illness?
The Highfield unit is a purpose-built tier 4, inpatient CAMHS unit. We are a multidisciplinary team offering acute inpatient and day patient admission for young people with acute and complex mental health problems.
We are looking for a Full time (37.5 hour per week) Assistant Psychologist to join our energetic and passionate team, supervised by clinical psychologists, and working alongside nurses, doctors, healthcare assistants, occupational therapists, social workers, family therapists, dieticians, and teaching staff.
We provide care for young people with a range of difficulties including eating disorders, anxiety and OCD, depression, mood disorders, psychosis, trauma, self-harm, and relationship and attachment-based difficulties. Families are often contending with multiple and complex psycho-social difficulties, and we aim to take a holistic approach guided by evidence and best-practice.
The Highfield Unit is committed to learning and development and there will be training opportunities available, including DBT skills training and a range of in-house CPD sessions on topics such as trauma, attachment, Positive Behaviour Support and other professional issues.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for an enthusiastic and creative psychology graduate who can work independently and as part of a team. This post provides an excellent opportunity to work with a diverse range of young people and develop psychological competencies. Your main responsibility will be working on symptom and outcome measurement (including administration, scoring, interpretation, reporting and liaison. Other key roles include:
- Contributing to and co-facilitating therapeutic groups on the ward including DBT skills group and a psychoeducation group for eating disorders
- Joining and supporting the work of designated working parties around issues such as social media use and staff wellbeing
- The administration of standardised neuropsychological assessments (e.g. WISC-V) under supervision. Appropriate training will be provided.
- Working therapeutically with young people for discrete interventions on an individual basis, under supervision from clinical psychology
- Supporting the Clinical Psychology team in developing and disseminating psychological formulations for all young people admitted to the ward.
- Supporting other audit and service evaluation work as required
Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the “candidate guide to making an application” and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.
As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people’s homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: “Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”
Our values are: “Caring, safe and excellent”
We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:
• Excellent opportunities for career progression
• Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
• NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
• Competitive pension scheme
• Lease car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)
• Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the “supporting statement” element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.
If you are looking for a new opportunity, a career change or seeking clinical experience we encourage you to contact the Highfield to arrange an informal visit. Please contact Samuel Lloyd-White or Rachael Wharfe on 01865 902507
Person specification Essential criteria- Honours degree in Psychology, 2:1 or 1st class. (or 2:2 with a higher degree) with entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional Psychology, Mental Health practice and research design and analysis.
- Previous experience of working with people with emotional, behavioural and/or mental health/ learning difficulties
- Experience of working with clients with complex mental health and psychosocial needs in a clinical setting
- Experience of administering and interpreting routine outcome measures
- Knowledge and understanding of normal child/ adolescent development.
- Knowledge of standardised neuropsychological assessments (e.g. WISC-V)
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a Mental Health context
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
Job Description & Person Specification (PDF, 136.2KB)
Guidance Notes for Candidates Applying for a job at OHFT (PDF, 424.6KB)
Recruiter Contact DetailsName: Samuel Lloyd-White
Title: Lead Clinical Psychologist
Email: samuel.white@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Telephone: 01865 901400