An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Higher Assistant Psychologist post to provide 6 months maternity leave cover with t he Intensive Positive Behaviour Support Service (IPBS within the Specialist Children and Young People’s business unit. IPBS comprises of services for young people with a learning disability and autistic young people who may present with distress behaviours and/or mental health presentations that increase their risk of hospital admission.
This post is to work across both the learning disability and autism pathways utilising both Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and lifeworld approaches to deliver trauma informed care. The Higher Assistant Psychologist post within the team is a highly valued, varied and responsible role that supports service evaluation, assessment and interventions delivered under the supervision of experienced Clinical Psychologists. There are additional opportunities to deliver training to partner agencies. A high level of professional support and continuing professional development will be available to the postholder.
T o support the assessment and formulation of casework for service users who have substantial and complex needs.
To deliver prescribed psychological interventions under the supervision of experienced Clinical Psychologists.
To oversee data collection and analysis that often involves complex behavioural information and support the development of collaborative, evidence based, person centred support plans.
Deliver individualised training for person centred support plans to all key stakeholders involved in the service user’s care.
Contribute to clinical governance of service pathways by overseeing the bespoke review tool used within IPBS.
To support a wide range of service evaluation and research projects designed to build the evidence base for interventions that support young people with learning disabilities or autism who are experiencing significant mental health difficulties and distress behaviours.
Maintain e ff e c t iv e cl i n i c al wo r k i ng r e l at i on s h i ps w i th m e m b e r s of the m u l t i - d i sc i p l i n a r y c l i n i c a l t e a m ( s ) i nto w h i c h the po s th o l d er w o r k s . Fr equent l i a i s on w i l l a l s o ta k e p l a c e w i th other ag e n c i es including Education, Social Care and Third Sector services.
To provide compassionate, neuro-affirming care that is based on empathy, kindness, respect and dignity.
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented, and committed workforce who are caring and compassionate and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS both now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.
IPBS is a multi-disciplinary team which aims to support young people in their communities, enhancing the community offer at times of increased need as indicated by the Dynamic Support Registers in each locality. IPBS work across the full CNTW footprint, and as such is a very busy, dynamic team, interfacing through a well-established PBS Clinical Network with each of the Learning Disability Teams within the locality areas of North Cumbria, Northumberland, North Tyneside, Newcastle and Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside. The team has close working relationships with Children and Young People’s Inpatient Services at Ferndene. The team also sits with the Provider Collaborative initiative, established with the aim of working across the Integrated Care Board footprint of the North East, which means close links are also set up with other Mental Health and Learning Disability Trusts within the region.
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 27 th August 2026
Closing date : 10 th September 2026
We welcome your application.
Please note - this vacancy may close early once a suitable number of applications are received.
