Assistant Psychologist

Role overview

This position is for a Psychology Assistant joining a new Gloucestershire service that delivers Community Sentence Treatment Requirements (CSTRs). The post will work closely with the Liaison & Diversion Service to help achieve the best possible outcomes for people involved in the criminal justice system. The initiative is supported by NHS England’s Integrated Non-Custodial Service (INCS) as part of a wider strategy to reduce reoffending over the long term.

CSTRs are a sentencing option available to courts and are intended to provide therapeutic support for health-related needs within the client group. The work will include addressing primary mental health concerns and collaborating with local drug and alcohol misuse services.

What you will do

As part of the CSTR service, you will support psychological work under the direction of a qualified Clinical Psychologist and EMDR Consultant. The role involves delivering interventions to individual service users and groups, including people experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma-related difficulties, personality disorders and learning disabilities.

You will also contribute to assessment work alongside Gloucestershire Liaison & Diversion Service, helping identify health needs across the offender pathway. In addition, you will maintain effective professional relationships with Magistrates’ Courts, Crown Court, Probation Services, and substance misuse services. Where required, you may also help deliver training to criminal justice agencies and contribute to audit, service evaluation, or research activity.

Candidate profile

The trust is looking for someone with a psychology degree at 2:1 level or above and BPS Graduate Membership. You should understand the needs and challenges faced by people affected by mental health difficulties and substance misuse.

Prior experience in a health or social care environment is important, along with direct experience of delivering therapeutic interventions in a mental health setting. Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential, particularly for preparing reports for partner organisations and carrying out assessments, formulations, and psychological interventions.

About the employer

Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust employs more than 5,000 colleagues across over 55 sites and within people’s homes. The organisation promotes a workplace culture built on civility, inclusion, diversity, belonging and trust.

Recent staff survey feedback showed that 72% of colleagues would recommend the Trust as a place to work, 76% would recommend the standard of care, and 81% said patient and service user care is the organisation’s priority. These scores compare favourably with similar NHS trusts in England, while the Trust continues to focus on further improvement and on becoming a consistently outstanding place to work.

Contact for informal enquiries

For more information or an informal discussion, contact Dr Kerry Ozcelik, Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Lead, at kerry.ozcelik@ghc.nhs.uk or 0300 421 4812.

Team managers Andy Webb and Lowri Jones are also listed for the Criminal Justice Liaison Service / Gloucestershire Integrated Non-Custodial Service. Contact details provided were andy.webb@ghc.nhs.uk, lowri Jones@ghc.nhs.uk, and 0300 421 4812.