Senior Assistant Psychologist in Poole

Main area Clinical Psychology Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 15 hours per week (Working days preferred Thurs & Fri based on job share arrangement) Job ref 153-SP06950

Department name 01. UHD - General Recruitment Site Poole Town Poole Salary £32,073 - £39,043 pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 01/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 13/11/2026

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 5 Senior Assistant Psychologist in our Community Paediatric Service. The vacancy is ideal for candidates who have an interest in working with young people with a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder / Condition and their families. The post will involve working closely with external organisations , as well as members of the Multidisciplinary Team which includes Consultant Community Paediatricians , Clinical Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Nurses.

Under supervision from the Clinical Psychologist, the successful applicant will work as part of our Autistic Spectrum Disorder Pathway to provide training, support and advice to families who are in the process of seeking an assessment. This pathway is part of The Dorset Development and Behaviour Pathway which is a locally driven initiative designed to inform and support families who access our service.

The post holder will promote and coordinate the patient journey through the service, utilising an evidence based approach. They will act as a single point of contact for families to keep them informed about during the process of assessment and to give practical tips whilst waiting or making referrals to appropriate services .

We are looking for a motivated and flexible individual with an undergraduate/post graduate degree in Psychology . Strong communication and organisational skills are required .

Interview: 13th November

Main duties of the job

The post will form a key part of the Dorset Development and Behavioural Pathway, specifically supporting the parents/carers of young people with suspected ASD. The post is intended to contribute to an efficient and supported journey for young people and their families/carers within the multiagency diagnostic pathway for ASD and related conditions. It is intended that this role will support clinicians with assessments so that their time and capacity is spent where it is needed most. The post-holder will be involved in information gathering and administering standardised assessments under supervision of the Lead Clinical Psychologist. The post-holder will be able to provide information and signpost parents to Early Help Services across Dorset which can support them further. This post is also intended to support those children and families who do not get a diagnosis but who have outstanding support needs. The post holder will need to make referrals into other services which can help. The post holder will collate and share with families and professionals, up-to-date local and national information on community and digital resources to support young people with ASD. The post holder will be supervised by a registered Clinical Psychologist working in the service.

Working for our organisation

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached for full details:

The post will form a key part of the Dorset Development and Behavioural Pathway, specifically supporting the parents/carers of young people with suspected ASD. The post is intended to contribute to an efficient and supported journey for young people and their families/carers within the multiagency diagnostic pathway for ASD and related conditions. It is intended that this role will support clinicians with assessments so that their time and capacity is spent where it is needed most. The post-holder will be involved in information gathering and administering standardised assessments under supervision of the Lead Clinical Psychologist. The post-holder will be able to provide information and signpost parents to Early Help Services across Dorset which can support them further. This post is also intended to support those children and families who do not get a diagnosis but who have outstanding support needs. The post holder will need to make referrals into other services which can help. The post holder will collate and share with families and professionals, up-to-date local and national information on community and digital resources to support young people with ASD. The post holder will be supervised by a registered Clinical Psychologist working in the service.

Person specification

Qualifications

• An Upper Second or First class undergraduate psychology degree (from a BPS accredited course)
• Evidence of on-going professional development
• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject e.g. diploma, MSc in a clinical subject relevant to the post

Experience

• Experience of working with young people and families in a community setting
• Understanding of Child Development.
• Experience of working with parents/carers in a clinical capacity
• Experience of working with children or adults who experience a range of ASD and emotional & behavioural difficulties.
• Experience of administering cognitive/ neuropsychological assessments
• Experience of coordinating the collection of information and organisation of meetings

Technical skills and competencies

• Highly developed communication skills and ability to work with young people & their families/ carers during times of stress and uncertainty.
• Good time management and ability to prioritise

Knowledge

• Knowledge and understanding in order to Safeguard children.

Personal Attributes

• Awareness of personal and professional boundaries
• The ability to instill confidence in others and in managing anxiety in other professionals and with families/carers
• An in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by young people and their families seeking ASD diagnosis and support.

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.

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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