• Job Description

  Req#: C9457-25-0190?language=&page=1&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  We are seeking an Assistant Psychologist to join the Personality/ Complex Trauma team. The team offers a city-wide and regional tertiary level service to people experiencing difficulties associated with a diagnosis of Emotionally Unstable/Borderline Personality Disorder and/or complex trauma.

  We provide psychotherapeutic interventions, consultation and advice for service users and other teams, alongside specialist education, training and research. The team is part of the Specialist Psychotherapy Service at St Georges and has been awarded APPTS accreditation (the Accreditation Programme for Psychological Therapies Services) from the Royal College of Psychiatry.

  We offer a full Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) programme alongside a range of other psychotherapy modalities with an evidence base in this area, such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), Psychodynamic Therapy and trauma focused approaches such as EMDR.

  We are a welcoming and supportive team who are keen to develop our skill base in order that we meet the needs of our service users.

  Please be advised there is a cap on this vacancy and the post will close automatically once this has been reached.

  Main duties of the job

  We are seeking an Assistant Psychologist who can join our Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Programme; and contribute to the delivery of DBT skills groups, DBT graduate groups and a DBT 'skills for staff' initiative. We are therefore seeking someone who has prior knowledge and experience of running DBT groups (see personal specification for further details).

  We are seeking someone who has enthusiasm for, and experience of working with service users with complex needs, as well as experience of working in multidisciplinary teams.

  We are seeking someone who can offer one to one interventions with our service users under supervision, for example, stabilisation or behavioural activation work, or administering the Skills Training in Affect and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR) programme.

  We are seeking someone who can aid with the collection, inputting and analysis of our service outcome measures and qualitative feedback.

  We are seeking someone who can contribute to co-production initiatives, working along side our service users to develop our services.

  We are seeking someone who can run our monthly "Coffee and craft" drop in session for service users whilst they are on our waiting lists.

  About us

  Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust is a major employer and provider of services. Our Service Users, Carers and Staff are central, and our Values are important, to the delivery of high-quality care. We actively seek out individuals who share these values:

  • We work together
  • We are inclusive
  • We keep improving
  • We are respectful and kind

  Details

  Date posted

  22 May 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 5

  Salary

  £28,407 to £34,581 a year per annum

  Contract

  Fixed term

  Duration

  24 months

  Working pattern

  Full-time, Flexible working

  Reference number

  457-25-7210758

  Job locations

  Fitzwilliam Centre

  143-145 Fitzwilliam Street

  Sheffield

  S1 4JP

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  With the guidance and support of supervising staff:

  To support and enhance the professional psychological care of service users within the team; to provide psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the management of the senior supervising psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with the Clinical Leads and Senior Supervisor and within the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures.

  To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work and the developing reporting requirements of the Team.

  Clinical:

  To assist in the coordination and running of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy groups.

  To be required to work on a frequent basis with people with complex difficulties often associated with diagnoses such as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder/Borderline Personally Disorder.

  To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of service users, including the use of psychometric tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, family members and others involved in the persons care under the management and clinical supervision of the Clinical Psychologist.

  To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a service users problems, under the management and clinical supervision of the Clinical Psychologist, in the Team.

  Where required, to attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.

  To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all users of the service, across all settings where care takes place.

  To lead in the co-production, with service users, of initiatives such as DBT graduate groups and cross service waiting list groups.

  To support the referral and assessment process under development in the Team by collating clinically relevant information in the form of notes reviews to include key information on risk, previous therapy, diagnosis/es and support clinical decision making.

  Teaching, training and supervision

  To receive regular management and clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.

  To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.

  To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.

  Service Development

  To assist in the collection, input and analysis of service outcome data.

  To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.

  To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.

  Research and service evaluation

  To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.

  To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.

  To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist the qualified clinical psychologist in evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

  Working Environment

  The job role will involve working in situations where there may be occasional verbal or physical aggression from service users carers and the general public.

  General Requirements

  To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post-holders professional and service manager(s).

  To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in psychology across the service, by continuing to develop the skills of a reflexive and reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal, and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of clinical psychology and related disciplines.

  To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry, recording and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the BPS and Trust policies and procedures.

  To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues.

  To attend and contribute to relevant professional meetings.

  To develop and maintain good working relationships with colleagues within Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust and in the statutory and voluntary services with the aim of promoting high standards of care and clinical practice.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  With the guidance and support of supervising staff:

  To support and enhance the professional psychological care of service users within the team; to provide psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the management of the senior supervising psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with the Clinical Leads and Senior Supervisor and within the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures.

  To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work and the developing reporting requirements of the Team.

  Clinical:

  To assist in the coordination and running of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy groups.

  To be required to work on a frequent basis with people with complex difficulties often associated with diagnoses such as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder/Borderline Personally Disorder.

  To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of service users, including the use of psychometric tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, family members and others involved in the persons care under the management and clinical supervision of the Clinical Psychologist.

  To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a service users problems, under the management and clinical supervision of the Clinical Psychologist, in the Team.

  Where required, to attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings.

  To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all users of the service, across all settings where care takes place.

  To lead in the co-production, with service users, of initiatives such as DBT graduate groups and cross service waiting list groups.

  To support the referral and assessment process under development in the Team by collating clinically relevant information in the form of notes reviews to include key information on risk, previous therapy, diagnosis/es and support clinical decision making.

  Teaching, training and supervision

  To receive regular management and clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.

  To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.

  To contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care.

  Service Development

  To assist in the collection, input and analysis of service outcome data.

  To assist in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required.

  To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.

  Research and service evaluation

  To assist in the design and implementation of audit and research projects.

  To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.

  To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research to assist the qualified clinical psychologist in evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

  Working Environment

  The job role will involve working in situations where there may be occasional verbal or physical aggression from service users carers and the general public.

  General Requirements

  To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post-holders professional and service manager(s).

  To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in psychology across the service, by continuing to develop the skills of a reflexive and reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal, and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of clinical psychology and related disciplines.

  To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry, recording and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the BPS and Trust policies and procedures.

  To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues.

  To attend and contribute to relevant professional meetings.

  To develop and maintain good working relationships with colleagues within Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust and in the statutory and voluntary services with the aim of promoting high standards of care and clinical practice.

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Psychology Honours Degree 2:1 or above
  • Eligible for Graduate Membership of the BPS (GBC)

  Desirable

  • Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology

  Experience

  Essential

  • Experience of working with people with complex difficulties
  • Experience of running DBT groups

  Desirable

  • Experience of service-user co-production initiatives

  Skills

  Essential

  • Offering 1:1 psychotherapeutic interventions under supervision

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Psychology Honours Degree 2:1 or above
  • Eligible for Graduate Membership of the BPS (GBC)

  Desirable

  • Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology

  Experience

  Essential

  • Experience of working with people with complex difficulties
  • Experience of running DBT groups

  Desirable

  • Experience of service-user co-production initiatives

  Skills

  Essential

  • Offering 1:1 psychotherapeutic interventions under supervision

  Disclosure and Barring Service Check

  This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Fitzwilliam Centre

  143-145 Fitzwilliam Street

  Sheffield

  S1 4JP

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.shsc.nhs.uk/working-us (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Fitzwilliam Centre

  143-145 Fitzwilliam Street

  Sheffield

  S1 4JP

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.shsc.nhs.uk/working-us (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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