Job summary
Assistant Psychologist - Transform Lives with Oakdale

Location: Horsforth or Harrogate (travel to other sites, including Halifax, may be required)
Hours: Full Time
Employment Type: Fixed Term - 18 months
Salary: £25, 745 - £31, 454

At Oakdale, we believe in care that changes lives. For over 25 years, we've been delivering trusted, evidence-based therapies and assessments for children, young people, and adults. As a values-driven, not-for-profit organisation, we work with the NHS, schools, local authorities, and private clients, always putting people first.

Now, we're looking for a compassionate and skilled Assistant Psychologist to join our supportive, forward-thinking team. If you're passionate about clinical excellence, wellbeing, and making a genuine impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job
To support Oakdales qualified practitioner psychologists in delivering specialist neurodevelopmental, trauma, and attachment assessments, psychometric evaluations, service audits, and training across service locations, alongside essential case management and administrative duties.

About us
At Oakdale, a leading private mental health service provider, our people are at the heart of everything we do. Were more than a team were a community of passionate, talented professionals committed to delivering excellence in mental health care, case management and service development

Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
Assessment & Clinical Support

• Assist in the administration of psychometric questionnaires as part of specialist trauma, attachment, and neurodevelopmental assessments under supervision.
• Assist in the full cognitive assessment process: from administration and clinical report writing, through to attending and supporting feedback meetings under supervision of a qualified psychologist.
• Support neurodevelopmental assessments, including conducting DIVA interviews, and administering QbCheck assessments under supervision.
• Prepare clinical reports under the direct supervision of Oakdales qualified practitioner psychologists.
• Conduct school observations, liaise with school/educational staff, and manage multi-agency liaison as required.
• Support, attend, prepare for, and contribute to multidisciplinary (MDT) meetings and reviews under supervision.
• Assist in the development, coordination, and running of training and psychoeducation groups.

Service Development & Technology

• Confidently utilise and integrate AI-assisted technology and modern software tools to support operational tasks and optimise clinical report-writing workflows.
• Assist in the design, implementation, and dissemination of service development audits, outcome monitoring, and analysis.
• Attend service development planning meetings and assist with service improvement projects as required.

Operational, Administration & Governance

• Maintain accurate case records on Oakdales case management systemincluding clinical observations, notes, proformas, and test datain accordance with operating procedures.
• Assist in case management and oversee the client journey from initial referral to discharge.
• Manage personal workload responsibly under the direct support and supervision of an Oakdale practitioner psychologist and line manager.
• Participate actively in regular clinical supervision with a qualified practitioner psychologist.
• Travel: Work flexibly across primary bases in Horsforth and Harrogate, traveling to satellite locations (such as Halifax) as required by clinical demand.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade and nature of the post as reasonably required.

Person Specification
Knowledge:
Essential

• Working understanding of child and adolescent development principles.

Desirable

• Knowledge of establishing, implementing, and evaluating intervention programmes or outcome frameworks
• Knowledge of basic risk assessment and safeguarding frameworks

Skills and Abilities
Essential

• Exceptional literacy and report-writing skills, with meticulous accuracy, psychometric scoring precision, and attention to detail
• Confident in the use of AI-assisted technologies to support operational tasks and clinical report-writing workflows
• Broad base of competent IT skills and ability to use computers effectively (including clinical databases/EPR)
• Strong interpersonal and effective communication skills (written, verbal, and non-verbal
• Ability to work on own initiative, prioritise workload, manage client journeys, and work effectively under pressure
• Ability to engage meaningfully in clinical supervision with a qualified practitioner psychologist

Experience
Essential

• Relevant paid or voluntary experience working with children or adults in a health, care, or educational setting

Desirable

• Prior experience in administering cognitive assessments, neurodevelopmental measures, or structured tools (e.g., DIVA, QbCheck, trauma/attachment measures)
• Experience working with individuals who are autistic, have ADHD, intellectual disabilities, complex needs, developmental trauma, and/or challenging behaviours
• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) and multi-agency liaison
• Experience in clinical audit, data analysis, or service evaluation methodologies

Other Requirements
Essential

• Valid driving licence and access to a vehicle for travel between sites (Horsforth, Harrogate, Halifax, etc.)

Qualifications
Essential

• Approved undergraduate degree in Psychology conferring eligibility for Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) with the British Psychological Society (BPS)
• Bachelors degree classified 2:1 or higher OR a Bachelors degree (any class) coupled with a relevant Higher Degree (e.g., MSc)

Oakdale Centre CIC is an equal opportunities employer.