Assistant Psychologist in Cardiff

Iris Care Group is looking to appoint an Assistant Psychologist (AP) to work at Pinetree Court Hospital, a 29‑bed low secure psychiatric hospital specialising in the rehabilitation of people with learning disabilities (LD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have complex mental health needs and forensic histories.

What you will receive:

• Life Insurance paid for death in service, three times salary equivalent
• Auto‑enrolment into the pension scheme
• Full Training Provided in line with the All Wales Induction framework
• Free uniform where required
• Career Development Opportunities – 50% staff currently enrolled on professional & Management courses
• Fully funded access to nationally recognised qualifications (eg. QCF 2,3,5) on completion of your probationary period
• Additional long service annual leave
• Supportive and collaborative team environment
• £500 recommend a friend incentive

Main duties:

• Support the delivery of psychological services to individuals with learning disabilities (LD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), complex mental health needs, and forensic histories within a low secure hospital setting.
• Manage and maintain a supervised caseload, including conducting psychological assessments, behavioural observations, risk‑related work, and formulation‑based interventions under the guidance of qualified psychologists.
• Assist in the development, implementation, and review of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) plans to promote patient wellbeing, reduce behaviours of concern, and enhance quality of life.
• Facilitate and co‑facilitate psychoeducational and therapeutic group programmes tailored to patient needs.
• Provide practice leadership and psychologically informed support to multidisciplinary ward teams to encourage consistent therapeutic approaches.
• Support the delivery of evidence‑based psychological interventions and rehabilitation programmes in line with individual care plans.
• Attend and contribute to multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, ward reviews, CPA meetings, and other clinical discussions relating to patient care and risk management.
• Assist in collecting, analysing, and reporting psychological and behavioural data to inform treatment planning and evaluate outcomes.
• Support service development, clinical audits, research activities, and quality improvement initiatives within the psychology department.

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree in Psychology recognised by the British Psychological Society (BPS) with Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC).
• Experience working with individuals with learning disabilities, autism, mental health difficulties, or challenging behaviour.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong organisational, observational, and report‑writing skills.
• Commitment to professional development and pursuing a career in psychology.
• Previous experience as an Assistant Psychologist.
• Experience within forensic, inpatient, rehabilitation, or secure settings.
• Knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) approaches.
• Understanding of trauma‑informed care and risk management.
• Experience facilitating groups or delivering staff training.

Person specification:

• Compassionate and person‑centred approach
• Ability to build therapeutic relationships
• Resilient and emotionally aware
• Motivated to learn and develop clinically
• Professional, adaptable, and proactive
• Strong reflective practice skills

Benefits of the role:

• Regular clinical supervision from qualified psychologists
• Opportunities for training and professional development
• Experience within a specialist forensic and rehabilitation setting
• Exposure to multidisciplinary working and complex clinical presentations
• Support towards future doctoral applications and career progression within psychology

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.