Honorary assistant psychologist Review

I worked as an honorary assistant psychologist for a year in a West Midlands NHS trust. I worked alongside qualified clinical psychologists with patients, administration and other day to day duties. This varied according to who I was with at the time. I could be shadowing clinicians with patients in the morning and writing reports in the afternoon.

My writing skills improved particularly as I was writing reports for parents and doctors, so I had to adapt. My communication skills were also enhanced as this was a core skill with the placement.

It was really worthwhile and helped me get a job after finishing my degree in the area I wanted

The NHS is excellent even though it gets a bad wrap in the media. They do support you and give you plenty of opportunity for CPD.

Excellent. Placement years are the norm where I was and so the whole programme was well organised from start to finish.

You receive enough to get you through the placement.

I received a lot of support from my employers and my colleagues to develop and enhance my skills. They became my friends as well as my colleagues.

This was an unpaid placement year so I had to have a part time job. This is the norm in certain placement positions within the NHS.

Yes there is, look on the NHS jobs website, and privately too outside of the public sector.

Yes

It's a supportive place to work and I am proud to work for a wonderful institution.

Read the person specification, and tailor your application to it. Be prepared to work hard but to be rewarded as well.