Job summary
We have an exciting vacancy for a Band 4 Assistant Psychologist to join our Adult Autism Service. You will be joining a dedicated team and will provide care for autistic people. You will be supported by an experienced MDT which include Clinical Psychologists, social workers, Occupational therapists, speech and language therapist, mental health nurses and learning disability nurses.

Main duties of the job
The role of the Assistant Psychologist is to support and enhance the professional psychological care of autistic clients by providing post-diagnostic support. The post holder will work directly with autistic people to help them explore and understand their diagnosis, delivering both one-to-one and group sessions that support self-awareness, identity development and access to appropriate strategies and resources. Under supervision and with access to relevant CPD opportunities the Assistant Psychologists will also undertake direct work with clients individually and in group settings. The Assistant Psychologists will work closely with qualified Clinical Psychology colleagues on research and audit projects and will be expected to be active members of the MDT.

About us
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Details
Date posted: 19 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 4
Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year per annum
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 350-CC8344578
Job location: Willis House, 23 Cumber Lane, Whiston, L35 2YZ, United Kingdom

Person Specification
Qualifications

• Essential: An honours degree in that satisfies the British Psychological Society criteria for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership
• Desirable: Post graduate training in areas relevant to psychological practice, mental health and/or research design and analysis

Experience

• Essential: Work experience in any organisation.
• Essential: Experience of research methodology, data collection, analysis and report writing.
• Desirable: Experience co-facilitating or supporting groups
• Desirable: Experience designing and conducting large scale research, audit or service evaluations
• Desirable: Previous experience working with service users and families

Knowledge

• Essential: Knowledge of a broad range of psychological theories and the application of these to mental health self-harming behaviours
• Desirable: Knowledge of Psychological Therapies, e.g. Compassion Focused Therapy
• Desirable: Knowledge of NICE guidelines
• Desirable: Knowledge of policies and legislation relevant to gender based services

Skills

• Essential: Excellent interpersonal skills
• Essential: High level communication skills - verbal and written - with professionals, service users and families
• Essential: Good time management skills
• Desirable: Proficient IT skills

Values

• Continuous improvement - committed to making improvements to our services for the benefit of all.
• Accountability - taking ownership to anticipate, develop and deliver high quality care.
• Respect - how we treat others in an inclusive and supportive way.
• Enthusiasm - demonstrate our passion and pride for what we do and how we do it.
• Support - actively supporting others with compassion and courage.

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.

Employer contact
Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Dr Sonia Anderson, sonia.anderson@merseycare.nhs.uk, 01512926964

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