Clinical/Counselling Psychologist: Sponsorship Available

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

We are seeking to recruit a Qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist for an exciting opportunity in Cancer Care at University Hospitals Dorset. We are looking to recruit an experienced qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist who is interested in an opportunity to develop leadership and project management skills, as well as work within a multidisciplinary environment to effect service change at Band 8a. We will also consider newly qualified candidates at a Band 7 who can demonstrate they have contributed to service development in a multidisciplinary physical healthcare environment.

You will lead on a new project to support and address psychological barriers to cancer treatment across all tumour groups for people living with cancer in Dorset. You will collaborate with the Team Lead on project development and receive support from an Assistant Psychologist. You will also support the wider team through providing assessment and intervention services to people referred to the Dorset Cancer Centre Counselling and Psychology Service.

This is a part-time position and funding is secured for 18 months, with potential to use project outcomes to expand psychologist provision, possibly extending the contract or making the role permanent.

Applicants who have less than 2 years experience as a qualified clinical psychologist may be offered a Band 7 role if appropriate.

Main duties of the job

You will develop relationships with the Cancer MDTs and ward based clinicians to identify and support people affected by cancer, as well as provide opportunities for improving psychological screening and support provided by other healthcare professionals. The work will involve supporting the emotional impact of the work on healthcare clinicians where necessary, and influencing the treatment environment to support trauma-informed care. You will provide a safe and effective evidence-based Level 4 psychological support service to individuals, couples and families who are affected by a diagnosis of cancer in line with NICE Guidance on Cancer Care Services, Improving Supportive and Palliative Care for Adults. You will work closely within our team comprised of Clinical Psychologists, Counsellors, and a Social Worker. We all work alongside multidisciplinary professionals providing nursing, medical and therapeutic care.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

This role requires HCPC Registration.

Base Locations: Forest Holme Hospice, Poole and Bournemouth Hospitals

Interview date: Monday, 2nd November 2026

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Post-graduate doctoral training in clinical or counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS
  • HCPC registered practitioner psychologist

Desirable

  • Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice

Experience

Essential

  • Assessed experience of working as a qualified clinical or counselling psychologist
  • Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients’ psychological care and treatment

Desirable

  • Post-qualification experience of working in clinical health psychology, preferably including cancer and palliative care
  • Experience of providing clinical supervision, teaching and training.

Technical Skills and Competencies

Essential

  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups

Desirable

  • Ability to work across the lifespan, with individuals, couples and groups

Knowledge

Desirable

  • Formal training in supervision of other psychologists

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This 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 Sponsorship

Applications 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 Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 18 October 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.