7/8a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist – Rochford Inpatient Psychology: Sponsorship Available

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a 12 month fixed term 1.0 WTE Band 7/8a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join our Adult Inpatient Psychological Services Team in Rochford.

This is a maternity leave cover post and the successful candidate will help shape and enhance psychological provision within our two male and female acute wards.

The successful candidate will provide specialist assessment, formulation, therapy and consultation for people experiencing acute mental health crises.

As a new role, there is opportunity to shape its development and contribute to high-quality, psychologically informed care. You will join a supportive psychological team committed to improving outcomes for people in distress.

You will join a supportive, compassionate and forward-thinking psychological team committed to improving outcomes for people experiencing acute mental health difficulties, while also prioritising staff wellbeing, professional development and opportunities for innovation

We value staff wellbeing and offer a range of flexible working options, including compressed hours. Part-time applications are warmly welcomed.

If you are passionate about trauma-informed care, enjoy working in dynamic multidisciplinary teams, and want to help shape the future of inpatient mental health services in Essex, we would love to hear from you!

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will have a strong interest in inpatient mental health care and working with people experiencing acute mental health crises. They will be skilled in undertaking specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention with individuals presenting with a wide range of severe and complex mental health difficulties.

The post holder will work closely with multidisciplinary colleagues to develop psychologically informed understandings of crisis presentations, helping teams make sense of complexity and identify pathways towards recovery. The ability to formulate risk, make professional recommendations and contribute confidently to clinical decision-making alongside ward team is central to this role.

A key aspect of the role will be supporting and developing staff and will include supervision of junior staff. The post holder will also contribute to teaching, training, reflective practice groups, post-incident debriefs and psychologically informed consultations, helping to build the confidence and psychological skills of ward teams.

The successful candidate will represent psychology within a range of clinical, operational and strategic forums, offering psychological perspectives to case discussions, formulations, care planning and service developments. They will work in partnership with colleagues across inpatient services to promote best practice and enhance the quality of care for our patients.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

  • Post graduate doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996), including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the BPS
  • Training in supervision of other psychologists/psychological therapists
  • HCPC Registration and eligibility for BPS accreditation
  • Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.

Desirable

  • Post accreditation training in additional specialised areas of psychological practice e.g. CBT, CBTp, EMDR, DBT, CAT or other.

Knowledge/Skills and Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of mental health legislation, NHS Constitution, CPA and risk assessment and management.
  • Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration

Desirable

  • Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS for Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

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: 1 November 2026

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