Open Positions

 

Assistant Psychologist

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Do you want to work with children, young people and families and gain valuable experience of working within a clinical psychology service? This is an exciting opportunity to work as an assistant psychologist across two highly successful multidisciplinary teams, both based at our main office in Huddersfield.

 

The Socrates Multidisciplinary Assessment and Review Team (SMART) is an established team that specialises in undertaking assessments with children and young people with complex presentations. This includes autism spectrum conditions (ASC), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Sensory Processing Differences and learning difficulties. The team is committed to putting the best interests of the child/young person first and in gaining a better understanding of their needs through comprehensive assessment, diagnosis (if appropriate) and developing needs led plans. Our assessments follow best practice recommendations including NICE guidelines. The team includes a range of experienced professionals including clinical psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and an educational practitioner. We also undertake some assessments jointly with a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.

 

Socrates Developmental Assessment and Relational Trauma Service (DARTS) specialise in assessing children and young people with complex presentations related to developmental trauma. The team consists of consultant clinical psychologists, play therapists, IPT therapists, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists. Socrates Psychological Services has a long and established history of supporting children, their families and carers and the teams around children to thrive. We have specialised in supporting children who are looked after or who have experienced developmental trauma. We have also provided services to SEMH schools and residential schools within the west Yorkshire area, helping teaching staff within their role. We are proud that our outcomes include reduction of restrictive practices within these settings and an increased understanding of why children have SEMH needs within the services we support. Some of this comes from the dyadic developmental approach, therapeutic parenting approach and trauma informed schools approach.

 

The role will be split between the two teams, it is anticipated this will be three days in the SMART team and 2 days in the DARTS team.

 

This is a full-time position, salary will be dependent on experience.

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Main Duties of the Job

 

The role will involve supporting the teams to undertake high quality assessments. This will include undertaking social observations (usually in schools) interacting with children and young people in clinic, undertaking and scoring cognitive and psychometric assessments, gathering information and liaising with families, involvement in team diagnostic discussions and contributing to comprehensive written reports. You will also be involved in conducting literature searches, service evaluations or audits. Administrative duties will include organising school visits, collating clinical data, maintaining clinical files, case management and monitoring and maintaining resources.

 

Person Specification

 

Qualifications

 

Essential

An upper second class or higher BPS accredited degree in Psychology.

 

Desirable

Further postgraduate training in relevant areas of psychology.

 

Skills and Experience

 

Essential

 

• Able to work within professional guidelines.

• An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to working in a mental health/neurodevelopmental condition assessment team.

• Experience with children, young people and families.

• Excellent verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills and an ability to  communicate complex and sensitive information effectively in both oral and written formats.

• An ability to work as a member of a clinical team and work collaboratively, flexibly and supportively.

• Ability to work with a degree of independence with appropriate supervision and support from the team.

• Ability to organise and prioritise workloads with competing demands and goals.

• Ability to work in settings where the atmosphere may be highly emotive.

• Evidence of IT skills including use of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

• Ability to travel to other locations- a full UK driving licence and access to a car.  

 

Desirable

• Previous experience of working as an assistant psychologist or similar roles in health or social care settings.  

• Experience working with people with neurodevelopmental conditions, learning disabilities or mental health difficulties.

• Experience of working with children and young people who have experienced developmental trauma.

• Experience of working within multidisciplinary teams.   

• Familiarity with undertaking cognitive assessments and psychometric measures.

• Experience of undertaking service evaluation or audit.

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What we offer

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• Working in a friendly and supportive multidisciplinary team.

• Experience of working in a clinical psychology practice.  

• A specific workspace.

• Free car parking.

• Kitchen with good facilities.

• Team social events.

• Full training and supervision from a Consultant Clinical Psychologist.

• General team CPD events and training.

• Previous assistant psychologists with our team have gone on to gain places on the clinical psychology doctorate and counselling psychology doctoral courses. 

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You will be required to undergo enhanced DBS checking if you are successful at interview.

 

To apply for the role please send a copy of your CV and a covering letter to emarshall@socrates.org.uk

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The closing date is Monday 23rd February 2026.

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