Job Summary
We are looking for an assistant psychologist to work in Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) element of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements in Durham and Tees Valley.
The MHTR is one of the twelve community sentencing options available to magistrates and judges. Introduced in 2005, the MHTR provides a mechanism to ensure that certain offenders with mental health problems who are given Community Orders and/or Suspended Sentence Orders are able to access appropriate treatment.
This service is to provide the primary care element of the MHTR.
The aims and objectives of the provision of Primary Care MHTR are to:
* Reduce offending/reoffending by improving the health and social outcomes
* Provide alternatives to short custodial sentences
* Improve health outcomes
* Provide accessible service which enable engagement
* Strive for early sentencing, or as advised by the court
* To provide rapid access to appropriate and effective assessment and interventions
* Delivery services which meet the needs of individuals
* To provide evidence bases psychological interventions
* To be clinically led MHTR interventions
Main duties of the job
The main focus of the role will be to provide assessment and subsequent intervention for up to 12 sessions. Primarily the model adopted will be cognitive behaviour therapy based to address primary care mental health needs such as anxiety and depression.
You will be led by a psychologist who operationally and clinically leads the service. You will work alongside two higher assistant psychologists as well as partner organisations such as probation, the courts and other healthcare providers to ensure the aims and objectives of the service are met. There will be weekly supervision for the post holder and there are other supervision forums and support in place for learning and development.
The role covers the courts in Durham and Teesside. There is a considerable amount of travel required in the post.
About Us
We offer a wide range of professional development opportunities and training and encourage individuals to further develop their own clinical skills and experience. We also have a large research agenda within the Forensic Service and encourage individuals to pursue this.
Psychologists & Psychological Therapists provide key leadership roles within the Trust. To support this we have developed leadership profiles for each psychology band and the profile card associated with this post is attached on NHS Jobs. You can find more information about the NHS Leadership Academy's Healthcare Leadership Model and the profiles at their website. We encourage you to look at these resources as they will play a part in the interview process.
Date posted
20 March 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 4
Salary
£26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
12 months
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
346-FMH-032-25
Job locations
Sniperley House, Lanchester Road Hospital
Lanchester Road
Durham
DH1 5RD
Job Description
Responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.
Applicants must ensure that prior to applying they have agreement from their current line manager that they can be released on a secondment basis. In the event that permanent funding is secured for this post the successful applicant will be confirmed in post on a permanent basis.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
* Degree in Psychology
* Eligible for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
* Numeracy, Literacy and ITQ Level 2 or equivalent
Desirable
* Post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis
Experience Desirable
* Experience as a psychology assistant (or equivalent, paid or voluntary)
* Experience working with people with mental ill health or learning disabilities (paid or voluntary)
* Experience of clinical audit, research or service evaluation
* Experience using statistical software packages e.g. SPSS
* Experience of using psychometric assessments
Knowledge Essential
* An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental ill health or learning disabilities
* An awareness of the application of psychology to health care
* Understanding of confidentiality
* Awareness of the British Psychological Society Code of Conduct
Skills Essential
* Ability to communicate information effectively in a manner appropriate to an individual or situation
* Record keeping (within agreed timescale)
* Competence in using psychometric assessment tools (within agreed timescale)
* Methodical and accurate approach to data collection and analysis
* Breakaway techniques (within agreed timescale)
Personal attributes Essential
* Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.
Employer details
Employer name
Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Sniperley House, Lanchester Road Hospital
Lanchester Road
Durham
DH1 5RD
Employer's website
https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/ #J-18808-Ljbffr