Assistant Psychologist

Role overview

This position is for an energetic and reliable Assistant Psychologist to join a busy Talking Therapies team in Hillingdon. The post supports NHS Talking Therapies delivery through a blend of clinical assistance, administrative coordination, and service improvement work.

The role includes keeping therapy waiting lists under review, helping with assessments, co-leading psychoeducational groups, and supporting the tracking of outcome and patient experience data. It also involves maintaining self-help and signposting information, helping new staff settle in, and supporting the service’s communication and engagement work, including outreach through social media to help local people access support.

Main duties

You will work closely with clinicians and the wider therapy team to help deliver safe, timely and effective care.

• Oversee and monitor therapy waiting lists so patients can access support without unnecessary delay.
• Assist qualified clinicians during assessments and help collect the clinical details needed for treatment planning.
• Help run psychoeducational and therapeutic groups, including sessions focused on stress management and anxiety management.
• Prepare session materials, support delivery, and gather outcome data from group work.
• Administer and track Patient Experience Questionnaires and other service measures.
• Support data gathering, analysis, and report writing for service evaluation and quality improvement.
• Keep referral and signposting resources current so patients can find community, voluntary sector, and self-help options.
• Assist with onboarding new starters, including diary coordination and updating clinician availability.
• Contribute to service promotion and patient engagement through social media and other communication methods.

Additional clinical responsibilities

• Carry out review calls and monitor people who are waiting for treatment.
• Identify changes in presentation, risk, or suitability for therapy and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Support clinical decision-making and treatment planning with accurate information recording.
• Help deliver evidence-based low-intensity interventions in a group setting.

Training, development and supervision

• Receive regular clinical supervision in line with professional guidelines.
• Gain broader experience of professional psychology within the NHS under the supervision of the accountable psychological therapist.
• Build the skills and competencies needed for the role through ongoing development.

Service development, IT and research

• Contribute to the design and delivery of service development projects.
• Attend meetings where service improvements are planned and reviewed.
• Maintain electronic and manual clinical records, as well as statistical data, and provide information to managers when needed.
• Take part in relevant IT and systems training.
• Support audit and research activity, including literature searches, data collection, analysis, summaries, and reports.
• Follow the Trust’s research governance requirements.

General expectations

• Maintain high standards of professional practice through participation in CPD and development activities.
• Keep records and reports to a high standard in line with professional and Trust procedures.
• Prepare test materials and visual aids as required.
• Carry out administrative tasks appropriate to the post.
• Undertake additional duties of a similar level when required by management.
• Comply with Trust policies on equality, health and safety, confidentiality, and related procedures.

About the organisation

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust works in partnership with multidisciplinary colleagues and values the lived experience of both staff and service users. The organisation is known for delivering innovative, high-quality healthcare and for contributing to wider health strategy and policy development. Staff also benefit from a strong commitment to personal development and wellbeing.

What you can expect

• A culture that supports staff wellbeing and leadership development.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• A varied workload.
• Access to a range of continuing professional development opportunities.

Person specification

Essential: an upper second class honours degree or above in psychology, with eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society; experience working with people with mental health problems and/or other disabilities; strong written and verbal communication skills; the ability to work sensitively in emotionally charged settings; understanding of mental health, disability, and applied psychology in healthcare; ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary staff; capacity to work independently and reliably; and willingness to use supervision well.

Desirable: further postgraduate training in professional psychology, mental health practice, research design or analysis; paid care experience; experience delivering psychological therapies such as CBT; neuropsychology or cognitive rehabilitation exposure; strong report writing; use of databases and analysis tools such as SPSS; interest in later-life mental health; interest in working with older people; experience of independent, creative work with a specific population; and a full driving licence with access to a car for work.

Important notes

This role is not limited to the tasks listed above. Other duties within the same grade may be allocated as needed, and the job description may change over time as service requirements evolve.