Assistant Psychologist in Leeds

Job Summary

My name is James Hussain; I am the Team Manager for Secure CAMHS. We are a collaborative multi‑disciplinary team with a diverse range of professional expertise. We are looking for a Band 4 Assistant Psychologist to join our secure CAMHS team at Adel Beck Secure Children’s Home. Adel Beck is a 24‑bedded secure children’s home for young people aged 10‑18, remanded or sentenced by the criminal courts, or accommodated for their own welfare.

You will work closely with the Principal Clinical Psychologist and other staff to enhance trauma‑informed care throughout the service. The role is primarily indirect, focusing on supporting staff teams, contributing to psychologically informed care, and ensuring that formulation drives decision‑making, risk assessment, and care planning. You will also build strong relationships with residential staff and young people, translating psychological thinking into everyday practice and supporting the creation of safe, attuned, and consistent environments. The role will involve participation in the neurodevelopmental pathway and contributing to assessments.

Secure CAMHS operates Monday‑Friday 8 am‑8 pm (a 12‑hour period). We encourage you to visit the service if you are offered an interview.

Responsibilities

• To undertake protocol‑based psychological assessments of clients using psychological theory, including neuropsychological tests, self‑report measures, rating scales, structured observations, and semi‑structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in client care.
• To assist in the formulation and delivery of care plans that incorporate psychological treatment and/or management of clients’ problems, under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.
• To assist in the coordination and running of therapeutic groups or clinical projects and to work with other staff to assess in‑patients and review their care in preparation for multi‑disciplinary reviews.
• To assist in developing a psychological framework of understanding and care for all clients of the service across all settings where care takes place.
• To attend and contribute to appropriate multi‑disciplinary meetings.

IT Responsibilities

• Use highly developed IT skills and access knowledge through internet searches (e.g. Psych.Lit, Medline) to stay current with clinical and professional developments.
• Prepare and present materials for effective teaching and training (e.g. PowerPoint, graphic representations).
• Record and analyse data for research and audit using databases, spreadsheets, and statistical analysis packages such as SPSS.
• Create graphs or charts to collate or summarise data on individual interventions or treatment programmes.
• Assist in producing visual or user‑friendly information for interventions with clients.

Teaching, Training and Supervision

• Receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
• Gain wider experience of professional psychology within the NHS beyond the principal service area where the post is based.
• Develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.

Qualifications

Essential

• An Honours degree in Psychology (minimum 2:1).
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.

Desirable

• Experience using computers for databases or data analysis, including SPSS for Windows.
• High standard of report writing.

Special Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• High‑level communication skills (written and verbal) suitable for emotive settings.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
• Ability to convey information that may be perceived as contentious in a manner that promotes understanding and acceptance.
• Understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or other disabilities.
• Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to health and social service contexts.
• Understanding of psychology applied to health care.

Desirable

• Experience using microcomputers for databases or data analysis, especially SPSS for Windows.
• High standard of report writing.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
• Ability to interact effectively with people with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
• Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
• Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
• Able to travel throughout the catchment area without unnecessary delays.

Desirable

• Interest in working with people with mental health problems.
• Desire to explore a career in Professional Psychology.
• Driving licence.
• Car owner.

Experience

Essential

• Practical experience of working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities and/or psychological/behavioural problems.

Desirable

• Experience of paid work in direct care provision, particularly in the care group of this specialty.
• Experience of administering and scoring neuropsychological assessments.

Training

Desirable

• Further post‑graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission for a Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.