Senior Clinical/Counselling Psychologist – EIP (SE Essex ESTEP): Sponsorship Available

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

The ESTEP team is a community Early Intervention in Psychosis service for people aged 14-65 experiencing a first episode of psychosis.

Psychological practitioners work autonomously within professional guidelines to provide specialist, evidence-based assessment, formulation and intervention for service users and their families, in line with NICE and Department of Health guidance. The role involves developing comprehensive psychological formulations, delivering tailored individual and group interventions, and creating collaborative care plans that are communicated effectively to service users, carers and the multidisciplinary team.

The postholder will work closely with colleagues and partner services to provide high-quality, cost-effective psychological care, contribute to referral management through MDTs, and support clinical decision-making by developing working hypotheses and informing care pathways. They will also provide specialist psychological consultation to professionals across services.

In addition, the role includes contributing to service development, audit and evaluation, advising managers on the effectiveness of psychological interventions and models of care, and helping to shape innovative, psychologically informed practice. All duties are undertaken in accordance with Trust values, HCPC and BPS standards, and a commitment to compassionate, person-centred care.

Main duties of the job

Clinical

  • Deliver specialist psychological assessment, formulation and evidence-based interventions for individuals/groups.
  • Hold autonomous responsibility for caseload management, treatment, discharge, care planning, risk and safeguarding.
  • Provide specialist psychological consultation to MDT colleagues and support psychologically informed care.
  • Teaching, training, supervision & CPD
  • Maintain professional development through supervision, appraisal and CPD in line with HCPC, BPS, Trust standards.
  • Provide supervision, consultation and teaching to junior psychologists and MDT staff.
  • Management, policy & service development
  • Contribute to service development, audit, evaluation and quality improvement.
  • Advise on psychological and organisational issues to support MDT leadership, recruitment, supervision and investigations.

IT

  • Maintain accurate clinical records and use relevant IT, research and assessment systems in accordance with information governance and Trust policies.
  • Research & service evaluation
  • Apply research evidence to practice and contribute to research, audit, service evaluation and clinical governance to improve quality and outcomes.

General

  • Maintain high professional standards, confidentiality and accurate record keeping in line with HCPC, BPS and Trust requirements.
  • Build effective relationships with service users, carers and colleagues and remain up to date with legislation, guidance and mandatory training.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Professional qualification in the form of a Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology.
  • HCPC Registered

Desirable

  • Post accreditation training in additional specialised areas of psychological practice e.g. CBTp or FIp.

Skills & Experience

Essential

  • Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
  • Experience of working in adult mental health and with complex and serious mental health problems

Desirable

  • Formal training in supervision of other psychologists/psychological therapists
  • Previous experience working in EIP team

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: 20 September 2026

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