Band 4 Assistant Psychologist - Zinnia CMHT in Birmingham

Band 4 Assistant Psychologist - Zinnia CMHT

Band 4

Main area CMHT Grade Band 4 Contract 23 months (Fixed Term) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 436-8297748

Site Zinnia Centre Town Birmingham Salary £28,392 - £31,157 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 04/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 03/12/2026

Please note that this post may close earlier than the indicated closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Job overview

We are excited to offer an Assistant Psychologist (Band 4) Full-time (37.5 hours) post within our Integrated Community Care and Recovery (ICCR) Services. The post is based at Zinnia Community Mental Health Team at the Zinnia Centre, Sparkhill, Birmingham This post is offered on a fixed term basis for 23 months.

We offer ample opportunities for 1:1 client work, group work, working with the MDT and research and audit. You will be part of a well-established psychology team. The post holder will also have the opportunity to receive 1:1 clinical supervision from a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist. Please note that this post is predominantly located in the CMHT base, although there may be some remote working adhoc depending on duties.

We are looking to recruit a psychology graduate who has relevant clinical experience and is interested and passionate about working with people who have severe and enduring mental health problems.

There will be a specific focus on the provision of services for adults of 25-years-old and over.

Main duties of the job

The post is based within the Integrated Community Care and Recovery (ICCR) Services of the Trust. The post holder will have the opportunity to work closely with Psychology and Psychological Services colleagues based in a number of geographical areas and within new integrated team structures that provide a service for people who have complex interpersonal and emotional difficulties presenting with depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma, personality disorder diagnoses, psychosis, and dual diagnoses, some of who present a challenge to services. The individual will have excellent opportunities to gain experience of multilevel service provision and to further develop support skills in clinical assessment, formulation and intervention as well as involvement in relevant auditing and evaluation of clinical services, working alongside qualified staff.

Working for our organisation

Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.

Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community. If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to people’s lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information about the main responsibilities please view the attached job description and person specification.

We are unable to support applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work the United Kingdom (UK)

Person specification

Training and 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 and/or research

Experience

• Experience of work with people with mental health problems or disabilities, or other relevant problems or disabilities (e.g. learning disabilities, organic impairment).
• Paid work in a setting providing direct care.
• Experience of working with people with serious mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia)
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team.

Knowledge and Skills

• High level interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to work and effectively communicate complex or sensitive information in highly emotive and emotionally charged settings involving conflict and significant personal distress.
• An awareness and understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and disabilities and of contemporary issues in the field.
• Experience of collecting research data, including questionnaire design and interviewing.
• Experience using microcomputers and associated software for purposes of data analysis and reporting, including databases and statistical programmes such as SPSS.

Personal

• An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
• An ability to interact and to build and sustain relationships with people with mental health problems and associated disabilities.
• Under the day-to-day direction of a qualified psychologist, has ability to work independently, reliably, consistently and with initiative (seeking guidance when necessary).
• An interest in working with people with mental health problems or other disabilities.

Other

• An ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
• A desire to explore a career in professional psychology

Our Trust is committed to treating individuals fairly and ensuring they have the same opportunities to fulfil their potential, even if this means doing things differently for different people sometimes. We are working hard to ensure our workforce reflects the diversity within Birmingham and Solihull and that our services meet the needs of all diverse service users and carers.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of our safe recruitment practice pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. As part of the selection process you may be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, however all cases of criminal record history are dealt on a case by case basis.

Please note, if applicable for your role you will be required to cover the cost of your DBS certificate. This will be deducted from your salary over 3 months.

All successful applicants will be required to complete the Trust’s induction programme. The Fundamental (Statutory and Mandatory) training will be in an e-learning format. You will be required to complete training modules online (approx. 9-14 hours depending on post) by the end of your second week with us.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process we may contact you via email to advise you of the interview details. Please ensure you access your email account from which you applied regularly once the position has closed. Our selection process may involve more than one interview or assessment.

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the United Kingdom (UK) are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. However, please ensure that you check if this role meets the eligibility criteria for sponsorship. Non UK /Republic of Ireland candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Browse: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . The minimum salary threshold for a Health and Social Care is £25,000 and for the Skilled Worker route is £38,700. If the starting salary for this role is below this, we will not be able to provide sponsorship.

Relocation expenses may be reimbursed subject to eligibility. The policy provides for reimbursement up to £8,000.

Please note - if you are applying for a role within Police custody, due to Police Vetting requirements you must have been a UK resident for the last years.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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