Job summary
An exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated Assistant Psychologist to work within the Liaison Psychiatry team at University Hospitals Dorset (Poole and Bournemouth).

Your role with involve working closely with clinical psychologists, and a multi-disciplinary team, to support the provision of a high quality and inclusive psychology offer to the client population within the acute hospitals.

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of.

Main duties of the job
To support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the UHD Liaison Psychiatry team; providing protocol based psychological assessment and psychological interventions under the supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with a qualified clinical psychologist and within the overall framework of the Liaison Psychiatry service policies and procedures.

To support and enhance the professional psychological support and training to mental health and non-mental health staff within the hospitals

To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collation and analysis of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, teaching and project work.

About us
At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do, and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities, and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion, and expertise in all we do.

Details
Date posted 02 July 2026
Pay scheme Agenda for change
Band Band 5
Salary £25,658 to £31,234 a year
Contract Permanent
Working pattern Part-time
Reference number 152-M140.26
Job locations University Hospital Dorset (Bournemouth and Poole), Education Centre, Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Castle Lane East, Bournemouth, BH7 7DW

Job description
Job responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidates individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role.

All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

As part of your statement please describe a model for psychological intervention for people in a general hospital setting with mental health difficulties. You may wish to discuss how a common model of psychologically intervention could be adapted?

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Experience of working with adults with mental health difficulties
• High-level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.

Desirable

• Experience of working with teams and professionals to promote psychological understanding and working
• Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis

Knowledge, skills and training
Essential

• An Upper Second or First class undergraduate degree
• Eligibility to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Personal Qualities
Essential

• An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines. An ability to interact warmly with people with mental health problems or disabilities
• An ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
• A high level of interpersonal skills, self- awareness, sensitivity, tact and empathy in all communications
• Awareness of personal and professional boundaries

Job experience
Essential

• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance
• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a mental health context

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).