Research Assistant Psychologist

Job summaryAre you a psychology graduate with a strong interest in staff wellbeing, research, and conflict resolution? Are you motivated to develop your skills within a supportive, multidisciplinary NHS service?University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is seeking an enthusiastic and organised Research Assistant Psychologist (Band 5) to join the Staff Psychology and Wellbeing Service (SPWS). This is an exciting opportunity to support high quality staff wellbeing, mediation and conflict resolution work at a leading NHS Trust, while gaining valuable experience in research, service evaluation and psychological service delivery.You will work closely with the Research Associate on grant application and funding, as well as the Mediation Coordinator on a day to day basis supporting the conflict resolution pathway.

Beyond this the postholder will have regular contact with Clinical and Counselling Psychologists, mediators and wider colleagues across the Trust, supporting staff through psychologically informed pathways and contributing to the ongoing development and evaluation of services. The service has a large cohort of clinical and counselling trainees as well as other assistant psychologists. This role would suit a psychology graduate aiming to pursue further training in clinical, counselling or health psychology, or a related career in NHS service development and research.For informal discussions, please contact Dr Lisa Monaghan - [email protected] duties of the jobThe postholder will support the delivery and development of service research and evaluation capabilities, staff psychology, wellbeing and mediation services across UCLH.

Key aspects of the role include supporting research, audit and service evaluation activity; collecting, managing and analysing clinical and service data; and coordinating administrative processes that underpin effective service delivery.You will assist qualified psychologists and mediators in delivering individual and group based wellbeing and conflict resolution interventions, including workshops and seminars for staff. The role involves coordinating referrals, appointments and group activity, maintaining accurate electronic records, and supporting the dissemination of resources, reports and service updates.You will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and liaise with colleagues across the Trust, communicating sensitively and professionally, particularly when working with staff experiencing distress or workplace conflict. Regular supervision and professional development are integral parts of all aspects of the role.The role is varied and we have had great success in our AP's getting onto doctoral clinical psychology courses and PhD / Clinical Associate roles.About usUniversity College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population.

We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:o University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)o National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgeryo Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitalso University College Hospital Grafton Way Buildingo Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicineo University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centreo The Hospital for Tropical Diseaseso University College Hospital at Westmoreland StreetWe are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease.

It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.DetailsDate posted: 18 August 2026Pay scheme: Agenda for changeBand: Band 5Salary: £38,488 to £46,852 a yearPer annum inclusive of HCASContract: Fixed termDuration: 24 monthsWorking pattern: Full-timeReference number: 309-UCLH-8234185Job locations: UCLH, John Astor House, 3 Foley Street, London, W1W 6DN, United KingdomJob responsibilitiesFor the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.The Staff Psychology and Wellbeing Service (SPWS) is a well established, respected and growing service at UCLH, providing specialist psychological, wellbeing and system level support to our diverse workforce. We work closely with colleagues across the Trust, including Mediation and Conflict Resolution, Occupational Health, Staff Experience and Human Resources.UCLH is a signatory to the NHS Sexual Safety Charter, and takes a strong approach to supporting staff impacted by incidents of violence and aggression, committing to a zero tolerance approach to unwanted, inappropriate or harmful sexual behaviours at work.

SPWS plays a key role in supporting this commitment through trauma informed, psychologically safe and inclusive approaches to staff support.We are a friendly, values led multidisciplinary team that prioritises kindness, collaboration and continuous improvement. We offer excellent supervision, active support for professional development, and flexible hybrid working in line with Trust policy. We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and welcome applications from all backgrounds.SPWS provides psychologically informed support to staff across UCLH, including individual and group interventions, mediation and organisational wellbeing initiatives.

The postholder will support the delivery of these services by contributing to data collection, service evaluation, research and administrative coordination.The role involves assisting qualified psychologists and mediators with assessments, outcome monitoring, group facilitation and wellbeing activity, under appropriate supervision. The postholder will support the coordination of referrals, appointments, workshops and mediation activity, ensuring accurate record keeping and effective communication with staff and stakeholders.You will contribute to audits, evaluations and service improvement projects, helping to produce reports and learning that inform service development. Current projects included the impact of VR use on staff stress levels, reasonable adjustments support for staff with neurodiversity, and eco-therapy projects.

The role provides a valuable opportunity to develop research, evaluation and applied psychology skills within a large, supportive NHS service.We particularly welcome applications from candidates who reflect the diversity of our workforce and the communities we serve.Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff** UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff. To find out more, visit: Flexible working.To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?Person SpecificationKnowledge and QualificationsEssentialDegree in Psychology (2:1 or above), or equivalent relevant degree (e.g. social science, health sciences)Eligibility for Graduate Membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS)Knowledge of psychological assessment principles and outcome measurementKnowledge of research methods, service evaluation and auditWorking knowledge of statistical or data analysis tools (e.g. Excel, SPSS or similar)Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and ability to learn new databases/systemsKnowledge of staff wellbeing, common mental health difficulties and healthcare contextsDesirablePostgraduate study or relevant experience in psychology, wellbeing, research or service evaluationKnowledge of conflict resolution, mediation or workplace conflict processesExperienceEssentialExperience of working effectively as part of a teamExperience of working with people with wellbeing, mental or physical health needsExperience of working in NHS, healthcare, public sector or similar organisationsExperience using databases, electronic records or structured data entry systemsExperience handling sensitive and confidential informationExperience managing multiple tasks and meeting deadlinesExperience coordinating appointments, groups, workshops or service activityDesirableExperience of research, audit or service evaluation activityExperience supporting group based or facilitated interventionsSkills and AbilitiesEssentialAbility to work flexibly in a fast paced environment with changing prioritiesHigh attention to detail and accuracyAbility to prioritise workload and work under pressureWell developed listening and interpersonal skillsAbility to communicate sensitively, particularly in conflict related contextsAbility to work independently while seeking support appropriatelyAbility to set up, maintain and accurately use databases or spreadsheetsAbility to collect, collate and interpret service and evaluation dataAbility to support psychological and wellbeing interventions under supervisionAbility to support implementation of new systems and service processesCommunicationEssentialExcellent verbal and written communication skillsAbility to communicate clearly with staff at all levels and external stakeholdersAbility to produce clear written reports, summaries and management informationPersonal and People DevelopmentEssentialAbility to work with multidisciplinary teamsCalm, empathic, warm and professional approachReliability, consistency and motivation to learnWillingness to participate in CPD, supervision and trainingInterest in research practice integration and service improvementDesirableAbility to identify own development needs and support induction of othersValuesEssentialDemonstrates Trust values: safety, kindness, teamwork and improvementEquality, Diversity and InclusionEssentialUnderstanding of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and NHS Equality Act dutiesInfection Prevention and ControlEssentialCommitment to adhering to IPC policies and trainingSpecific RequirementsEssentialAbility to participate in supervision effectivelyExperience or understanding of trauma informed practiceAbility to work in a hybrid model (onsite and remote)Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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).UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration.

For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.