Psychologist/CBT Therapist/Psychological Practitioner or preceptorship: Sponsorship Available

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

The post holder will work within the Persistent Physical Symptoms Service (PPSS) part of the Department of Physical Health Rehabilitation Psychology.

The Department offers specialist psychological input across Cumbria to patients with health problems, and associated psychological difficulty.

PHRP aims to promote psychological wellbeing for patients with LTCs, for example COPD, Coronary disease, diabetes, cancer and palliative care needs. There are also pathways in Maternal mental health, Neurological difficulties, Chronic Pain and Persistent symptoms.

This post holder will work within this comprehensive pathway built on a biopsychosocial model. The pathway will work across secondary and primary care with interface with acute services, providing therapy and indirect care to patients with a combination of physical health problems and psychological problems.

This post will contribute to this service aim and promote:

  • Integrated working in primary and secondary care, across the health economy/ICC

  • Collaborative work with other professionals

  • Teaching,Training and Supervision

Main duties of the job

As a specialist clinician and expert within your discipline the post holder will be required to:

  • Provide a highly specialised psychological therapy and assessment
  • Offer clinical supervision and support to other psychological practitioners working within the service
  • Develop and engage in audit and research and service evaluation

The service places a high value on compassion towards self, colleagues and service users. The potholder would be expected to work in accordance with this.

Work is guided by precedent and clearly defined policies, protocols, procedures and codes of conduct. The post holder is expected to work independently, using their discretion about when to refer to their manager.

Band 7 job description is included in this advert.

Candidates can be appointed to this post as a Band 6 to 7 Preceptorship, with clearly structured development and competency programme.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered with the regulatory body eg. BABCP, NMC or HCPC. Either: Clinical Psychologist HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist. BPS Accredited Clinical Psychology Training. Or : Health or Counselling Psychologist HCPC registered Health or Counselling Practitioner Psychologist, with experience in clinical practice in working with patients with health problems and long term conditions Or: Cognitive Behavioural Therapist With completed appropriate training in CBT therapy, eg Diploma, accredited by the BABCP, and equivalent to a Doctoral degree or higher level of professional knowledge, training and experience
  • Further training or experience in the specialist field.
  • Prepared to undertake a substantial Post-qualification training in one or more additional specialized areas of psychological practice, at least equivalent to a post-graduate diploma, or equivalent professional development.

Desirable

  • Training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychological interventions.
  • Post-qualification training in evidence based therapies eg. EMDR, CFT, ACT.
  • Core Profession (eg. Mental Health Nurse, Practitioner Psychologist or Mental Health Social Worker.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in clients with physical health difficulties and emotional distress
  • Highly specialist knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies, for example EMDR, ACT, CFT or CBT
  • Knowledge of research methodology, research design and data analysis in psychological intervention.Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across a range of care settings, e.g. outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings.
  • Experience of working with patients with wide range of psychological problems, e.g. community mental health, long term health conditions.
  • Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, typically across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
  • Knowledge of the biopsychosocial model and its application in a clinical setting.
  • Knowledge of current local and national drivers and models for services and developments within the NHSExperience of teaching, training and/or supervision
  • Experience in the area of service of this post
  • Experience of the application of psychological approaches in different cultural contexts
  • Experience of working with groups of service users
  • Experience of team working

Skills & Aptitudes

Essential

  • Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
  • Well-developed skills in spoken and written communication of complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional individuals and groups.
  • A commitment to working in a compassionate way with colleagues and clients alike.
  • Awareness of one’s own psychological health and the capacity to take responsibility for appropriate preventative and/or therapeutic strategies.
  • Ability to use computers efficiently for word processing and Email. Knowledge of Microsoft Office functions and a willingness to further develop these as required.
  • Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.

Desirable

  • Ability to use computers to generate spreadsheets, graphs, etc.

Other Requirements

Essential

  • Awareness of own strengths and limitations
  • Ability and willingness to work flexibly across all service locations in Cumbria as appropriate and required by the service
  • Ability to travel without recourse to public transport.

Desirable

  • Driving licence and access to car preferred.

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: 21 October 2026

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