The HSE has defended using JobBridge to hire a clinical psychologist to work with its mental health services in Waterford.

An advert for the position was posted on the JobBridge website by the HSE earlier this week.

The advert for the position specifies that the successful candidate will have a degree in psychology and a post-graduate masters in a relevant clinical area.

The successful candidate will receive €50 per week on top of their dole payment for working 30 hours per week.

“The intern will gain practical experience in devising and collating data for clinical research projects, audit and service developments,” the advert read.

A HSE spokesperson said the position would provide the experience necessary to get work.

“For this particular post, the intern will be somebody who has a masters in psychology, but who is not clinically trained. The internship will provide a stepping stone for them to progress to the job of trainee clinical psychologist.

“In order to get a trainee job, they need relevant experience and this internship should provide that. They will not be doing the work of a qualified person. They will only be carrying out very specific tasks under supervision,” she said.

The professional body for Irish psychologists said it has guidelines for the use of voluntary positions by employers seeking assistant psychologists.

The Psychological Society of Ireland says any such voluntary assistants must not be employed to work full-time hours and should be remunerated for their work “where funds are available”.