Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and compassionate Senior Assistant Psychologist to work within our Primary Care Mental Health Treatment Requirement (pc-MHTR) Team . This position is based primarily on the Isle of Wight. However, an ability to travel and cover both the Island and the Portsmouth area, if required, is essential. If you are seeking a new challenge, and have a keen interest in the criminal justice services, we encourage you to apply and join our supportive and welcoming team! The pc-MHTR Team are part of MPFT's Health and Justice Service. The pc-MHTR team provide psychological assessments and interventions to people with mental health difficulties who have come into contact with criminal justice services and whose offences may attract a community or suspended sentence order. The team aims to prevent short term custodial sentences and reduce reoffending by improving access to psychological interventions and addressing underlying mental health problems, thereby improving health and social outcomes for the individual and their family. MPFT deliver services across England. We are experienced in working across a wide geographical area and there is no necessity to travel to Trust headquarters, and IT support is virtual. There is an expectation to travel for some specific training events and 'Team Away Days' which are held across the Southeast of England.

Main duties of the job
You will:Under the supervision of an HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist

• Support the clinical leads in triaging screenings of referrals and assessments
• Undertake protocol based psychological assessments of service users
• Formulate and deliver care plans collaboratively with service users
• Prepare autonomously assessment reports, letters, the results of psychometric assessments, case note reviews and research/audit projects.
• Provide advice, guidance and support to service users to enhance awareness of their psychological needs
• Contribute to the training and support of other staff in psychological care including preparing training packages, as agreed with the Clinical Lead, deliver briefings about service provision to partner agencies, and contributing to the organisation of training seminars and conferences for others
• Mentor band 4 assistant psychologists and provide induction support to these roles

About us
By joining Team MPFT, you will be helping your communities and in return for this, we will support you by;

• Supporting your career development and progression
• Excellent NHS Pension scheme
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Options for flexible working
• Up to 27 days annual leave (increasing with service up to 33 days)
• Extensive Health and Wellbeing support and resources
• If you work in our community teams, we pay for your time travelling between patients
• Lease car if you complete more than 500 business miles per annum, fully insured and maintained (including tyres), mileage paid at lease car rate
• Salary sacrifice car - fully insured and maintained (including tyres), your gross pay is reduced by the cost of the vehicle before tax, NI and pension deductions are calculated, mileage paid at business rates
• Salary sacrifice bikes up to £2k
• Free car parking at all trust sites
• Free flu vaccinations every year
• Citizens Advice support linked with a Hardship Fund for one off additional support up to £250 (if the criteria is met)

We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation and there is a choice of staff networks that help you meet like-minded people.

Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications

Details
Date posted
14 August 2026

Pay scheme
Agenda for change

Band
Band 5

Salary
£32,073 to £39,043 a year
per annum

Contract
Permanent

Working pattern
Full-time

Reference number
301-SB-26-8183909-A

Job locations
Isle of Wight Courts
1 Quay Street
Newport, Isle of Wight
PO30 5YT
United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information on the Job Description, main responsibilities and Person Specification to ensure you have the relevant skills for the post, please see the attached documents.As a member of the team you will be responsible for undertaking assessments, formulating service users needs and delivering psychological interventions, under the supervision of a qualified Practitioner Psychologist.An understanding of the needs of people with a diagnosis of personality disorder, mental illness, and/or learning disabilities is needed in this role, with the ability to communicate sensitive information to the patient, carer and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.We look forward to receiving your application. If you have any questions regarding the role, do not hesitate to contact us in advance of submitting your application.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Qualified at Hons degree level in Psychology
• Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society

Desirable

• Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional Psychology, mental health and/or research design and analysis

Experience
Essential

• Previous experience of working as an Assistant Psychologist, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner in IAPT, or working in a role where you have direct supervision from an applied psychologist
• Experience of using psychological assessments, formulations, risk assessments and care planning
• Experience in providing psychological interventions (group programmes and/or individual interventions)

Desirable

• Experience of working with offenders.
• Experience of administering, scoring and interpreting psychometric tests.
• Previous experience working in the NHS

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details
Employer name
Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address
Isle of Wight Courts
1 Quay Street
Newport, Isle of Wight
PO30 5YT
United Kingdom

Employer's website
https://www.mpft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Clinical Psychologist
Charlotte Rennie
Charlotte.Rennie@mpft.nhs.uk
03007907000

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.
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.