Assistant Psychologist
Location: Based across Liverpool and Knowsley (travel required)
Salary: £27,924.41 per annum
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Job Type: Permanent/Fixed Term
Shortlisting: w/c 5th January
Interview: Assessment Day: 16th January – Interview 19th January
Application closing date: 2 January 2026
Why this role would be great for you
We are seeking an Assistant Psychologist to join our psychology team at YMCA Together. The team currently comprises of Assistant Psychologists, Clinical Psychologist and CAT Practitioner. We work across the whole of the organisation, supporting our people within Drug and Alcohol, Domestic Abuse, Mental Health and Homelessness services. As part of this team, you would be required to hold a caseload of clients and deliver low level psychological intervention, but to also work more systemically across the organisation through delivering reflective practice groups, consultation and training.
This work across the organisation is particularly exciting, as we adopt a Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) framework to hold the “how” of all our work. We use CAT both as a case management tool with people in service, teams and the organisation and as a direct intervention where needed. We require someone who is willing to hold this model alongside their own practice; being able to creatively draw up their experiences, skills, learnings and preferences to deliver high-quality psychologically informed work. This role will be dynamic and is ideal for someone who can bring themselves, both as a practitioner and as a person, into their work. You do not need to be CAT trained to apply for this role as we would support you in adopting CAT alongside your current ways of working.
What your week may look like
- You will be working in partnership with the psychology team to embed psychologically informed working within a Cognitive Analytic Therapy framework across the organization; through reflective practice and in-the-moment team support.
- You will deliver evidence-based psychological interventions in individual and group settings under supervision.
- Development and delivery of educational workshops to support skills development of staff teams.
- Carry out both direct and in-direct assessment to support psychological formulation and support planning.
- You will feedback in verbal and written format and contribute to team and MDT discussions.
- You will support people we work with to achieve their goals and targets as defined and agreed with within their support plans. Ensuring the people we work with shape their own support and their voices are heard.
- Work alongside and signpost to partner agencies and community services as appropriate.
- Take appropriate action to keep people safe in a crisis or safeguarding situation, whilst maintaining least restrictive practice principles in line with YMCAT policy and procedure.
- Promptly deal with complaints and protection from abuse disclosures by reporting to senior staff in line with YMCAT policy and procedure.
- Provide clear, accurate and good quality information in line with agreed procedures ensuring that appropriate information is shared with line/ service managers.
- Adhere to all risk management protocols. Report, log and communicate serious incidents to the appropriate people.
- Develop and deliver activity-based interventions to people with complexity.
- Delivery of Psychometric measures and assessment tools, under supervision as required.
- You will attend CAT focused supervision with your peers to develop your skills as a CAT informed practitioner.
- You will attend and contribute to clinical supervision to scaffold both professional and personal development.
- You will maintain good professional practice whilst being responsible for the security of personal and confidential information of the people you support.
- Work flexibly to meet the changing needs of the organization.
- Uphold and nurture YMCAT’s Equal Opportunities policy of anti-discrimination across all services.
- Ensure compliance with BPS code of conduct and YMCAT values, always including professional boundaries and confidentiality.
What can we offer you
Working with YMCA Together comes will a whole host of benefits. We hope that people will find deep personal fulfilment and purpose by working with alongside people in our services. Our teams are compassionate and supportive, fostering a strong sense of community. With opportunities for professional growth, YMCA together offers training to support your role and personal development.
For a full list of benefits see here: Careers Page | YMCA Together
The skills we are looking for:
QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum 2:1 degree in Psychology.
EXPERIENCE
- Experience working in a mental health, social care or third sector services offering support and interventions.
- Experience of psychological theory in practice.
- Interest in how people think and behave.
- Experience of how to relate to a wide range of people, both service users and colleagues.
- Sympathetic and patient attitude.
- Good communication, writing and organisation skills.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
- Working knowledge of providing support.
- IT literate, including proficiency in use of Word or Excel.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to relate well to people we work with, family members, professional and colleagues.
- Understanding of how to work alongside people in distress and those who may present as challenging or chaotic.
- Ability to act with confidentiality, tact and discretion.
- Ability to be flexible and to adapt to changing and challenging circumstances, operating calmly and effectively.
- Ability to work supportively and co-operatively as part of a team.
- Ability to show initiative, be self-motivating, formulate ideas and solutions and present them effectively.
- Knowledge of safeguarding protocols.
- Knowledge of risk assessment, management and/or safety planning.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
- Excellent negotiation and mediation skills.
- An ability to build strong relationships with team members and individuals.
- To be able to work independently and autonomously, whilst asking for help when needed.
- An ability to make good use of supervision to support your practice.
- To be able to give and receive feedback in a helpful and constructive way.
COMMITMENT
- Commitment to improving the lives of people living complex lives.
- Committed to own personal development and CPD planning.
- Creative and dynamic approach with the ability to ‘think outside the box’ when providing solutions.
- Energetic, highly motivated with a reputation of being help in high regard by peers.
- Committed to relationally informed ways of working.
- Commitment to the YMCAT ethos, philosophy and company values (SHREK – strength, humility, respect, empathy and kindness).
- To have a commitment to be flexible in your thinking and willing to work adaptably to meet the needs of those we work alongside.
What is a nice to have
- MSc Psychology OR further post-graduate training in a relevant area such as Developmental Trauma, Relational Psychotherapy or Attachment Theory.
- Previous experience as an Assistant Psychologist.
- Previous experience in Mental Health or Social Care.
- Previous experience of facilitating reflective practice.
- Knowledge/ experience of working within a mental health/psychology/therapy and/or legal service.
- Knowledge of the Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) framework.
- A desire to learn, grow and develop in your role.
- Experience of delivery training.
- Knowledge of psychometrics and statistics.
Even if you don’t feel that you have all the relevant skills and “nice to haves” we would still like to hear from you and invite you to fill out our application form.
YMCA Together is an equal opportunities employer, values diversity and is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation.
