Assistant Psychologist - Fixed Term Position in Low Secure Mental Health Unit

About the Role

Nua Healthcare Services, Ireland’s foremost private provider of mental health and support services, is seeking an Assistant Psychologist to join their Low Secure Unit (LSU) in Gormanston, County Meath. The LSU specializes in secure mental health care for adult males with complex, severe, and long-term mental health challenges, including offenders or individuals with criminal justice involvement. This unit emphasizes assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery within a multidisciplinary and secure framework geared towards collaborative rehabilitation goals.

Patient Profile and Unit Focus

• Severe and persistent mental health issues
• Psychosis and other complex presentations
• Personality disorders and relational difficulties
• Mental health rehabilitation and recovery needs
• Behaviours of concern and risk management
• Complex trauma-related conditions
• Emotional regulation and interpersonal functioning challenges
• Neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder and ADHD where relevant
• Acquired Brain Injury with accompanying cognitive needs

Role Responsibilities

• Assist Clinical and Senior Clinical Psychologists in delivering specialist psychological services tailored to patients in secure mental health settings with complex needs
• Collaborate directly with adult males having severe mental health difficulties and criminal justice histories, supporting their rehabilitation and recovery aspirations
• Contribute actively as a member of the Psychology Department and multidisciplinary team to provide integrated, recovery-focused, person-centred care
• Support psychological assessments, including diagnostics, case formulations, intervention planning, and clinical reporting under guidance
• Help prepare and communicate psychological reports and recommendations to multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders
• Engage in delivering both direct and indirect individual and group interventions with evidence-based treatment plans
• Participate fully in multidisciplinary meetings to contribute to integrated care plans and rehabilitation programmes
• Offer psychological consultation, reflective sessions, staff support, and training to promote trauma-informed care and psychological understanding across the service
• Receive consistent clinical supervision in areas such as forensic mental health, psychological formulation, and risk assessment
• Work safely within the procedural and physical security framework of a low secure forensic mental health unit
• Uphold professional, ethical, and clinical standards compliant with legislation, codes of practice, and regulatory bodies
• Maintain ongoing professional development to stay current with advances in clinical psychology, forensic settings, research, and evidence-based practices
• Complete all mandatory and role-specific training and adhere to company policies, governance, and values promoting recovery-oriented care

Candidate Requirements

Essential

• Master’s degree in Psychology or related discipline
• Registration eligibility with the Psychological Society of Ireland
• Strong interpersonal skills fostering positive relationships across diverse groups
• Excellent active listening and verbal/written communication abilities
• Patience, empathy, and sensitivity to individual needs
• Practical, solution-oriented mindset with positive attitude
• Demonstrates initiative, sound judgement, enthusiasm, and relevant knowledge
• Ability to understand behavioral, wellbeing, and motivational influences
• Effective time management and prioritization skills
• Capable of independent work and confident decision-making alongside team contributions
• Maintains professionalism, confidentiality, and respect for dignity and rights

Desirable

• Previous experience as an Assistant Psychologist
• Exposure to forensic psychiatry, low secure or secure hospital environments
• Experience supporting forensic assessments, risk evaluations, and case formulations
• Work with individuals with mental health or intellectual disabilities
• Competency in drafting clear, concise professional psychological reports
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills
• Self-motivated and proactive within clinical settings

Additional Key Skills

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building capabilities
• Ability to foster positive therapeutic connections with complex needs individuals
• Proficient in report writing, assessment, and analytical thinking
• Collaboration within multidisciplinary teams
• Organizational skills managing deadlines and priorities
• Effective problem-solving and initiative
• Knowledge of psychological assessments, clinical formulations, and evidence-based therapies
• Commitment to ethical, professional, and person-centred approaches
• Experience working within secure and challenging environments
• Competent in IT use and accurate clinical documentation

Benefits

• Company pension scheme
• Specific illness cover
• Comprehensive induction and ongoing professional development
• Promising career advancement opportunities
• Life assurance/death-in-service benefits
• Paid maternity and paternity leave
• Educational assistance
• Employee assistance programme (EAP)
• Bike-to-work scheme
• Referral and retention bonuses
• Nationwide retailer discounts