Assistant Psychologist

Are you looking for the next step in your psychology career in an environment where you can learn, develop and make a genuine difference? At Farmfield Hospital, you'll join a compassionate and forward-thinking Psychology Department committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based and trauma-informed care to some of the most vulnerable people in society.

You will work with men experiencing a range of complex mental health difficulties, including psychosis, personality disorder, trauma-related difficulties, substance misuse, depression, self-harm and emotional distress. Many service users have experienced significant adversity, and our model of care is underpinned by trauma-informed and recovery-focused principles that emphasise understanding, compassion, collaboration and hope.

As an Assistant Psychologist, you will be an integral member of both the Psychology Department and the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT), working alongside psychiatrists, nurses, occupational therapists, social workers and healthcare support workers. Together, you will support service users to understand their experiences, develop coping strategies, build on their strengths and move towards their recovery goals.

Working under the supervision of a Qualified Psychologist, you will contribute to psychological assessments, formulations, interventions and service development activities. You will also have opportunities to be involved in audit, research, service evaluation, quality improvement initiatives, staff training and innovative projects that help shape and improve the care we provide.

Our Psychology Department is committed to innovation, reflective practice and continuous learning. We play a key role in promoting psychologically informed and trauma-informed care across the hospital and are actively involved in service development, quality improvement and staff support initiatives. This is an excellent opportunity for someone wishing to develop specialist skills in forensic and mental health services while gaining valuable experience within a supportive, enthusiastic and experienced team.

As an Assistant Psychologist, you will:

• Work collaboratively as part of the multidisciplinary team to support service users' recovery journeys.
• Contribute to psychological assessments, formulations and treatment planning under the supervision of a Qualified Psychologist.
• Develop positive therapeutic relationships with service users through compassionate, recovery-focused and trauma-informed practice.
• Assist in delivering individual and group-based psychological interventions and evaluate their effectiveness.
• Support psychologically informed care within the wider MDT.
• Assist in the development and delivery of psychological training and consultation for staff.
• Maintain clinical databases and records.
• Collect and analyse outcome measures and service data.
• Produce reports and written summaries for a range of professional audiences.
• Contribute to audit, research, service evaluation and quality improvement projects.
• Help promote recovery-focused, trauma-informed and evidence-based practice across the service.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A minimum of an upper second-class honours degree in Psychology conferring eligibility for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
• Experience working with people experiencing mental health difficulties, either as an Assistant Psychologist or in a related health, social care, support or voluntary role.
• An interest in forensic and mental health services and trauma-informed approaches.
• A genuine passion for helping people recover and improve their quality of life.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to work compassionately and sensitively with individuals experiencing significant distress and complex needs.
• A commitment to evidence-based psychological practice and ongoing professional development.
• Strong organisational, administrative and IT skills.
• An interest in research, audit, quality improvement and service development.
• The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• An understanding of, and commitment to, the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and the British Psychological Society's Code of Ethics and Conduct.

This role would suit someone who is compassionate, curious, reflective and motivated to make a positive difference in people's lives while developing their skills within a supportive, progressive and innovative Psychology Department.

Where you will be working:

Location: Farmfield Drive, Charlwood, Surrey, RH6 0BN

You will be working at Farmfield Hospital, situated located next to Gatwick.

You’ll be caring for adult men 18+ who potentially have a forensic background and enduring mental health illnesses such as personality disorder, substance misuse issues and challenging behaviours.

What You’ll Get

At Elysium Healthcare, we believe in taking care of the people who care for others, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and future:

• Annual base salary of £27,426 Pro Rata
• The equivalent of 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays) – plus your birthday off and the option to buy additional annual leave, in our annual selection window.
• Career development and training to help you achieve your professional goals
• Access to our Rewards & Benefits platform Ely-Vate; Your one-stop destination for everyday savings, exclusive benefits, and wellbeing hub!
• Wellbeing support and activities to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Access to Blue Light Card, which provides a range of exclusive offers and discounts
• Life Assurance, for added peace of mind
• Stream – instant access to earned wages when you need it, plus access to save, directly from your wages, alongside financial wellbeing support.
• 24/7 GP service and second medical opinion, to ensure you are the best you can be
• Enhanced Maternity Package, so you can truly enjoy this special time
• Pension contribution, to help secure your future
• Free/subsidised meals and onsite/local free parking

About your next employer:

Elysium Health care has over 8,000 employees and a unique approach to the delivery of care. With a network of over 80 services across England and Wales covering Mental Health, Neurological, Learning Disabilities & Autism, Children & Education, there is opportunity for you to grow and move.

Elysium Healthcare is part of Ramsay Health Care with a global network that extends across 10 countries and employs over 86,000 people globally.

Elysium Healthcare follows safer recruitment of staff for all appointments and is a Disability Confident employer, committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment. It is a requirement that all staff understand it is each person’s individual responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of service users. All candidates will be subject to a DBS disclosure