Clinical Associate in Psychology

Clinical Associate in Psychology
Location: St Andrew's Healthcare, Birmingham, 70 Dogpool Lane, Stirchley, B30 2XR
Hours: Permanent, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £37,969
Grade: Band 6
Specialty: Adult Mental Health
Closing date for applications: 1st November 2026
Interviews: 12th November 2026 (in person)

We are delighted to offer an opportunity for a qualified Clinical Associate Psychologist, trained in adult mental health to join our warm and welcoming Psychology department at St Andrew's Healthcare, Birmingham.

As a Clinical Associate Psychologist, you will play an important role in supporting our patients with longstanding and complex mental health difficulties, using psychological theory and evidence-based interventions to deliver effective care. You will undertake psychological assessments, develop clinical and risk formulations, deliver interventions, facilitate training and participate in research and service development projects to inform and enhance clinical practice. You will work as a semi-autonomous practitioner, managing your day-to-day clinical work independently whilst receiving regular supervision and support from a HCPC registered Psychologist. This is a patient facing role and you will be expected to work on site.

Main duties of the job

• Undertake psychological assessments including risk assessments with individuals who may present with complex and enduring forensic and mental health needs.
• Contribute to the development of psychological formulations to inform care planning and treatment delivery.
• Deliver structured, evidence-based and psychologically informed interventions, both on an individual basis and in groups.
• Assess and manage clinical and forensic risk in consultation with the supervising psychologist and the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Develop and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues (Psychiatrists, Social Workers, Nurses and Occupational Therapists) and statutory agencies to support positive outcomes of patients' recovery journey.
• Contribute to audit, research, service evaluation and quality improvement initiatives.
• Deliver training and provide psychological consultation to colleagues and other professionals.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and produce professional reports and correspondence in line with the Charity's standards.

Person specification
Qualifications (Essential):

• Completion of Masters Clinical Associate in Psychology (Adult).
• Registered with, or eligible for registration with, the BPS Wider Psychological Workforce register.

Experience (Essential):

• Experience of working as a CAP in adult mental health.
• Relevant supervised experience of delivering psychological assessments and interventions in Adult Mental Health services.
• Experience of working with adults presenting with mental health difficulties.
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience of working effectively under supervision from a registered Practitioner Psychologist.
• A commitment to maintaining Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in line with BPS Wider Psychological Workforce Register requirements.
• Research and audit skills to evidence the efficacy of specialist interventions.

Experience (Desirable):

• Experience of working or training in a forensic setting (e.g. prison/inpatient/community).
• Experience of contributing to the delivery of specific psychological interventions such as DBT.
• Experience of developing therapeutic relationships with people who have significant barriers to engagement.
• Experience of delivering training.
• Experience of writing professional report and risk assessment reports, including the Care Programme Approach (CPA) and HCR-20 reports.

Knowledge (Essential):

• Masters level knowledge of psychological theory and research, including psychological assessment, formulation, intervention and evaluation.
• Masters level knowledge of mental health within the adult population.
• Masters level knowledge of applied research design and methodology.
• Knowledge of the role of psychological services within the healthcare sector.
• Ability to draw upon a specific theoretical knowledge base in the analysis of facts or situations to arrive at appropriate formulations, under clinical supervision.
• Knowledge of psychological theory relating to the impact of adverse experiences and environment on mental health and well-being.
• Awareness of their own competence and expertise within their scope of practice.
• Awareness of the expectations of professional and ethical behaviour and act in accordance with these.

Skills (Essential):

• Skills in conceptualising, analysing and communicating complex information.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to build rapport, communicate empathically and sensitively.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Good IT skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a team and with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.
• An ability to contain and work effectively with both individual and organisational stress.
• An ability to work with and manage distressing or highly emotional circumstances, and behaviours that can be challenging from patients.
• Respectful and collaborative approach to patients, families, colleagues and other professionals.
• Good organisational skills and an ability to work well under pressure including meeting deadlines.

Contractual and Physical Requirements (Essential):

• Maintenance of Charity's essential training.
• Has the ability to perform the full range of duties.

Additional Information
This post may close earlier than the indicated closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. Successful shortlisted candidates will be contacted by email. The selection process may involve more than one interview or assessment. DBS disclosure and references are mandatory before commencement of employment. The successful candidate will undergo an induction programme, with Fundamental (Statutory and Mandatory) training delivered through a combination of in-person and e-learning. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

About us
We are St Andrew's Healthcare, a mental health charity with a clear purpose: to inspire hope for people living with complex mental health needs. Our Birmingham site is on an ambitious improvement journey. St Andrew's Birmingham is a 121 bedded secure adult mental healthcare facility comprising eight units that cover medium and low security for both men and women, located in Stirchley, a vibrant area in South Birmingham. The site plays a vital role in providing secure services that combine recovery-focused treatment in partnership with REACH OUT, the West Midlands Provider Collaborative, alongside NHS partners Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Rewards and Benefits

• Pension
• Sickness policy on par with the NHS
• Access to the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts schemes
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing after 10 years' service
• Life cover
• Electric car lease scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Healthcare cash plan
• Free parking
• Paid DBS application

Employer details: For more information about this opportunity please contact Dr Helena Markall (Therapy Services Lead, Lead Psychologist) at hmarkall@stah.org