Practitioner Psychologist / Psychological Therapist: Sponsorship Available

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

Hours per week: 18.75.

An exciting opportunity to join a well-established CFS service at STSFT. You will work within the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
multidisciplinary team at Sunderland
Royal Hospital and contribute to the delivery of fatigue and energy management
strategies.

You will participate in the advanced
assessment and treatment of CFS patients who may have complex co morbidities /
multi-pathology / chronic presentations. You will play a key role
in the development, implementation and evaluation of specialist psychological interventions
for patients with CFS.

Main duties of the job

This
role is well suited to someone who has an interest in working within physical
health services and working as part of a wider MDT.

The Service provides specialist assessments and interventions for CFS. There are
opportunities for professional development and training. Clinical supervision
will be provided by an experienced psychologist within the Service.

There
are opportunities to form part of Specialist Interest Groups both regionally
and nationally, and you will be supported to develop within your
role.

There is flexibility with work patterns,
including part time work and condensed hours.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology and two or more distinct psychological therapies including CBT.
  • Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
  • Ability to use the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills both verbal and written.
  • To convey / receive highly-complex / sensitive information effectively requiring empathy and reassurance in a highly-emotive atmosphere.
  • Ability to make clinical and service-related judgements involving complex facts requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison of. Excellent organisational skills to manage a range of clinical activities
  • Knowledge of relevant legislation and its implications for clinical practice.
  • Knowledge of current issues in and opportunities for applying psychological interventions in a healthcare setting.
  • Ability to create effective working relationships.
  • Ability to work autonomously.

Desirable

  • Relevant additional clinical experience within clinical area.
  • Skills within service improvement / development.
  • Knowledge of the relevance of psychological factors in physical health services.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working within the NHS.
  • Experience of working within a multi-professional team.
  • Experience of working with adults who have mental health difficulties.
  • Experience of exercising clinical responsibility for patients psychological care and treatment, within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan with appropriate supervision.
  • An understanding of the importance and function of personal boundaries and how to manage and maintain them.

Desirable

  • Experience of teaching and training.
  • Experience of working with CFS.
  • Experience of application of psychology in different cultural settings.

Physical Skills

Essential

  • Ability to sit in constrained position for extended periods frequently.
  • The ability to work in a shared office space.
  • Requirement for speed and accuracy, keyboard skills.
  • Ability to travel between bases / sites as part of the role.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Honours Degree in Psychology or accredited conversion course.
  • Post-graduate Doctorate in Clinical / Counselling Psychology accredited by HCPC allowing registration as a Practitioner Psychologist (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996 as accredited by the BPS).
  • HCPC registered as a Practitioner Psychologist* or will be registered upon completion of training course *current 3rd year trainees will not be able to start as a Band 7 until HCPC registration is obtained. Applicants who have completed the training course but are awaiting HCPC registration will be Appointed on a Band 6 Trainee Clinical Psychologist until registration with the HCPC is achieved within an agreed timescale. Or professional knowledge acquired through Degree, postgraduate Master/Degree supplemented by short specialist courses, clinical supervision and further specialist training, experience.
  • Advanced training in CBT or CAT which meets the essential criteria to become accredited with the BABCP or ACAT.
  • Practitioner or Full Accreditation with the BABCP or ACAT.

Desirable

  • Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and / or other fields of applied psychology.

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: 5 November 2026

To apply for this job please visit www.jobs.nhs.uk.