Assistant Psychologist - Aspiring Clinical Psychologist Scheme

As part of our ongoing commitment to address issues of diversity and inclusion within Clinical Psychology, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has secured funding from NHS England to provide paid assistant psychologist experience to psychology graduates from low-income backgrounds.

1. Graduated within the last 18 months with psychology undergraduate degree (minimum 2:1 OR 2:2 with evidence of additional academic abilities) OR with a master's degree completed only as a conversion degree.

2. Meet the criteria of otherwise being excluded from entering the profession through unpaid work experience. This could be for many reasons, such as:

a) Family being on a low income or supported by means tested benefits.

b) Receiving grants, bursaries or award via your university or government maintenance grants, that is any sum of money not required to be paid back.

c) Being a care leaver or student not supported by their family or parents.

3. Must not be salaried or post graduate trainee in university programmes

4. Must not be studying or have completed a master's degree (with the exception of a master's degree completed as a conversion degree for applicants with a non-psychology undergraduate degree OR a combined undergraduate MSci degree on the basis that the financial position is the same as an undergraduate degree and different from an MSc)

5. Must not have held any substantial previous paid Assistant Psychologist post or similar. This is because this scheme for candidates who have not been able to gain relevant work experience. Previous relevant paid work experience at a very limited period of employment (e.g as an assistant psychologist for less than four weeks in total), will be accepted.

We are immensely proud of our Psychology & Psychotherapy workforce which compromises over 20 different Psychological Professions and over 1200 staff. These professionals work across all of the different services and teams offered with the Trust delivering high quality, evidence-based and trauma-informed psychological therapies for some of the most diverse communities in the country. We know the importance of understanding our service users and work with them in partnership to meet their needs.

There are 3 posts available working across different mental health services. Working for 2.5 days a week, for a duration of six months, the successful applicants will support and enhance psychological practice within the service.