Assistant Psychologist - Trafford CAMHS for Children in Care

Job summary
Are you an enthusiastic and skilled Psychology graduate who would be interested in working within our well established CAMHS for Children in Care team as an Assistant Psychologist? We are keen to find a new team members who is able to utilise their existing skills and competencies and to build upon them to support young people and their families / carers who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties.

Our team is made up of a wide variety of different professionals from health e.g. Mental Health Nursing, Psychology, and Social Work. This means we offer an opportunity to work alongside colleagues from different disciplines, giving you a variety of experience and opportunities. We have other Assistant Psychologists in the Trust and thus there is a wide network of Assistant Psychologists across the MFT footprint.

Main duties of the job
This post involves assisting in the delivery of the Trafford iSTART Pathway and supporting the wider CAMHS for Children in Care clinicians in their direct work with children and young people and their families / carers.

The post holder will assist with a wide range of duties at all stages of service delivery - assessment, formulation, intervention, and evaluation. Duties may include the development of resources, audit, service development and support to group delivery.

The post holder will also be expected to assist CAMHS clinicians in the preparation, delivery and evaluation of a variety of clinical, teaching and research tasks. They will act under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist and will receive regular supervision

About us
Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward-thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation, and continuous improvement.Whether you're beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working - empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.You'll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives.At MFT, you'll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions.Your journey at MFT is more than a job - it's an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We'll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.

Details
Date posted: 17 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 4
Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year per annum (pro rata)
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 349-SPH-8149527-RL4
Job locations: Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road, Stretford, Manchester, M32 0TH, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Documents to download heading.

Explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place
To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place . This welcoming onestop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. Youll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access Inside MFT Your Candidate Place , simply click on the relevant PDF document under the Documents to download heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

Closing vacancy listings early
We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application
Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other.As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.

What is a DBS Check?
A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:

• Standard DBS : Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.
• Enhanced DBS : Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police thats considered relevant to the role.
• Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the childrens and/or adults barred lists.

Who Needs a DBS Check
Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.

The Costs for a DBS
At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.

For more information about the cost of the various types of DBS, please visit:

DBS Update Service
Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.

Person Specification
Attributes
Essential

• A good knowledge of developmental psychology and abnormal psychology.
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with psychological/mental health difficulties and trauma.
• Some experience in working with children and with people with mental health problems.
• Experience in using computer software packages - SPSS, Microsoft Word
• Experience of descriptive statistical analysis
• Ability to search through complex data sources including case notes
• Able to work to tight deadlines
• Ability to work with people from different background and of different ages, and with people with mental health or psychological difficulties.
• Good communication and social skills (oral and written) Ability to establish effective relationships with children and adults
• Good organisational and time management skills including the ability to prioritize work according to fixed time-scales
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff across CAMHS
• A commitment to undertake further relevant training and self-directed study.
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required.
• A commitment to the inclusion of young people's, parent/carer views in service delivery, development and design.
• Willingness to contribute to team functioning, performance and the ongoing development of the service.
• Ability to travel across the MFT footprint and offer home visits.
• Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies.

Desirable

• Experience of audit

Qualifications
Essential

• Good Honours Degree in Psychology or equivalent (at least Class 2 division 1)

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).

Employer details
Employer name: Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road, Stretford, Manchester, M32 0TH, United Kingdom
Employer's website: (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Service Lead for Trafford CAMHS CIC, Mark Knowles, View email address on meeveem.com, View phone number on meeveem.com

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve.