Senior Assistant Psychologist
Job summary
Would you welcome working alongside a highly skilled multidisciplinary team to make a difference to adopted children (10+ years)?
We are looking for a Senior Assistant Psychologist to be part of a pilot project working with adoptive children and their families. This is a 6 month contract initially, to begin summer 2026, with the potential for extension of the post thereafter.
Our small specialist service is dedicated to improving outcomes for adopted children and their families. We provide clinical assessments and formulations for children and young people who present with complex needs, often transversing attachment and trauma related needs, neurodiversity and mental health. Our work informs decision-making, treatment planning and support for adopted children and their families.
As a Senior Assistant Psychologist, you will be a vital part of our clinical team, contributing to these assessments and helping to evaluate the effectiveness of the service.
Main duties of the job
Working closely alongside a Principal Clinical Psychologist, and wider friendly colleagues in the integrated multi-disciplinary SWIFT CAT team, you will support Post Adoption clinical assessments of complex presentations in young people.
You will assist in the delivery of the service by carrying out psychological assessments, including those related to neurodiversity, under supervision. You will also collect, analyse and present data to inform service improvement and evaluation. You will develop resources, conduct research and literature reviews, to ensure that the service is aligned with the evidence-base.
Alongside, supporting the work of the adoption service, there may also be opportunities to contribute to the work of the 'CAT' team, a specialist child assessment and treatment team, that support children and families who are open to Children's Services.
Our base is in Eastbourne and there is an expectation that you will contribute to an office rota and be willing to travel across the county when required.
About us
The Adoption Service is part of the supportive, creative multidisciplinary SWIFT CAT (Children's Assessment and Treatment) team which offers assessments and interventions to children who live in complex high-risk families. Our core business includes assessing children's mental health, including attention to risk management and care planning, and working with families as well as the wider systems that support them.
The team is part of SWIFT Specialist Family Services (SWIFT), a well-established integrated multi-agency service between East Sussex Children's Services and Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust.
Details
Date posted
23 April 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 5
Salary
£32,073 to £39,043 a year per annum
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
6 months
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
354-CS-21890
Job locations
Swift Specialist Family Services
102 Holly Place
Eastbourne
BN22 0UT
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will contribute to and support the provision of psychological assessments of children, young people and their families, including clinical assessments, cognitive assessments and assessments of risk, under the supervision of the qualified clinical psychologist in the team focusing on adopted children and young people.
You will also contribute to specialist complex neurodevelopmental assessments (I.e., Autism Spectrum Condition, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder & Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) for children and young people.
These assessments may include undertaking observations and interviews and administering and scoring psychometrics. Experience of using the WAIS, WISC and ABAS is desirable, but not essential as training and support will be provided.
Previous experience working with children and families is highly desirable given the complexity of young person and family presentation and need.
You will contribute to service development, service evaluation and research to support the work of the psychologists and the wider multidisciplinary team. This may include supporting the collection, collation and maintenance of data relating to service provision.
You will be expected to attend team and service wide meetings and professional development sessions. You will also be provided with your own independent study time. You will be supervised by a qualified clinical psychologist within the team who will support your professional development.
Working for your organisation
At Sussex Partnership we are committed to providing opportunities for flexible working. If you would like to work differently or different hours to as advertised, please get in touch to discuss this in more detail.
If you havent thought about living and working in East Sussex before then you should consider the following:
Journey from the coast to the countryside in minutes
Enjoy a lifestyle where there are renowned cycle routes and picturesque walks, including the famous South Downs Way in the South Downs National Park!
Embrace taking time to discover all the miles of scenic coastline
Easy access to airports - Gatwick and Heathrow are both within 90 minutes of the county, providing links to Europe and beyond
London is also within easy reach via local and national bus routes and national mainline stations
This is a full time post. Part-time hours can be considered but would require commitment of a minimum 30hrs per week.
For further information or discussion please contact Kim Merrick, Principal Clinical Psychologist, SWIFT Service for Adopted Young People, at kim.merrickcs@eastsussex.gov.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will contribute to and support the provision of psychological assessments of children, young people and their families, including clinical assessments, cognitive assessments and assessments of risk, under the supervision of the qualified clinical psychologist in the team focusing on adopted children and young people.
You will also contribute to specialist complex neurodevelopmental assessments (I.e., Autism Spectrum Condition, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder & Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) for children and young people.
These assessments may include undertaking observations and interviews and administering and scoring psychometrics. Experience of using the WAIS, WISC and ABAS is desirable, but not essential as training and support will be provided.
Previous experience working with children and families is highly desirable given the complexity of young person and family presentation and need.
You will contribute to service development, service evaluation and research to support the work of the psychologists and the wider multidisciplinary team. This may include supporting the collection, collation and maintenance of data relating to service provision.
You will be expected to attend team and service wide meetings and professional development sessions. You will also be provided with your own independent study time. You will be supervised by a qualified clinical psychologist within the team who will support your professional development.
Working for your organisation
At Sussex Partnership we are committed to providing opportunities for flexible working. If you would like to work differently or different hours to as advertised, please get in touch to discuss this in more detail.
If you havent thought about living and working in East Sussex before then you should consider the following:
Journey from the coast to the countryside in minutes
Enjoy a lifestyle where there are renowned cycle routes and picturesque walks, including the famous South Downs Way in the South Downs National Park!
Embrace taking time to discover all the miles of scenic coastline
Easy access to airports - Gatwick and Heathrow are both within 90 minutes of the county, providing links to Europe and beyond
London is also within easy reach via local and national bus routes and national mainline stations
This is a full time post. Part-time hours can be considered but would require commitment of a minimum 30hrs per week.
For further information or discussion please contact Kim Merrick, Principal Clinical Psychologist, SWIFT Service for Adopted Young People, at kim.merrickcs@eastsussex.gov.uk
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Honours degree at 2:1 or above in Psychology, or equivalent. Eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartership with the BPS
Knowledge/Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people with complex needs
- Experience of working with people with disabilities, in a health or Mental Health setting and or work with people with complex needs
- Relevant clinical and research skills
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Basic knowledge of databases, research skills and methodology
- Experience of group work and individual therapeutic contact
- Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a health context
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Honours degree at 2:1 or above in Psychology, or equivalent. Eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartership with the BPS
Knowledge/Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people with complex needs
- Experience of working with people with disabilities, in a health or Mental Health setting and or work with people with complex needs
- Relevant clinical and research skills
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Basic knowledge of databases, research skills and methodology
- Experience of group work and individual therapeutic contact
- Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a health context
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Swift Specialist Family Services
102 Holly Place
Eastbourne
BN22 0UT
Employer's website
https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Swift Specialist Family Services
102 Holly Place
Eastbourne
BN22 0UT
Employer's website
https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)