Job vacancy: Specialist Clinical/Counselling Psychologist, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London

Job summary

Main area: Cancer Support
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 309-UCLH-6686

Employer: University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre & Grafton Way Building
Town: London
Salary: £56,276 - £63,176 Per annum inclusive of HCAS pro Rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 18/08/2025 23:59

Specialist Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

NHS AfC: Band 7

The use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it, then they are required to declare this in their supporting statement.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff – To find out more, visit: Flexible working. 

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential criteria

Doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology including two or more distinct psychological therapies
Accredited by the BPS and HCPC registration as a practitioner psychologist
Specialist training or experience in the field of clinical health psychology
Knowledge and experience of time-limited NHS psychology services

Desirable criteria

BABCP Accreditation as CBT practitioner
AFT accreditation in systemic, couple and family work
Specialist training and experience in trauma-informed therapeutic approaches

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience in the assessment and treatment of people with common mental health problems of varying severity and complexity, using evidence based psychological therapies
Experience of working with people living with serious and long-term physical health problems
Experience of working in acute health care settings
Evidence of NHS multidisciplinary teamwork
Experience of supervised psychological practice in time limited NHS settings
Experience of using risk and mental health screening to inform clinical practice
Experience of using and communicating advanced psychological formulations
Experience of using routine outcome monitoring for the purposes of service evaluation
Experience of the application of clinical and counselling psychology in different cultural contexts
Experience of working within a multicultural framework
Experience of working with individuals, couples and families to facilitate psychological support

Desirable criteria

Experience of working in cancer, non-malignant haematology and haemo-globinopathy services
Experience of working with interpreters
Experience of providing psychological treatment for people who are socially disadvantaged
Experience of facilitating groups
Experience of teaching, training, supervision and consultation

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

Skilled in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management
Skills in providing consultation to other professional groups working in acute care
Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC / BABCP/ UKCP
An ability to work effectively, efficiently and independently to manage high clinical caseloads in a safe and effective manner
Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive work
Ability to work creatively, cooperatively, reliably and consistently both independently and in multidisciplinary settings
Advanced skills in IT
Ability to undertake audit and evaluation
Skilled in teaching, presentation and training

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised group and individual psychological therapies including advanced level training in CBT, IPT, ACT, CFT, systemic therapy
Knowledge of the literature concerning common psychological issues in cancer, non-malignant haematology and haemo-globinopathy patient groups

Communication

Essential criteria

Excellent communication skills
Experience of presenting complex, difficult and sensitive information to patients and colleagues
Well-developed ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information

Personal and People Development

Essential criteria

Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
Enthusiastic about working directly with people with serious health problems alongside a diverse programme of supportive care from a range of professional disciplines.
Highly motivated with good communication skills, psychological insight and a warm empathic manner

Values

Essential criteria

• Demonstrate ability to meet Trust Values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improving

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential criteria

• A detailed understanding of staff responsibilities and an ongoing commitment to promoting Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion within the NHS
• Knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties

At UCLH, we have a real ‘One Team’ ethos, and our values – safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.

At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. It is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote a diverse mix of people who are representative of our local communities. Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to support our world class research, innovation and creativity.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff and has a dedicated policy which allows staff to apply for flexible working right from the beginning of employment. For more information please go to: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/work-with-us/why-choose-uclh/flexible-working.

We offer our permanent staff an interest free season ticket loan for travel, all our staff have access to free independent and confidential support, large retail discounts, a staff discount platform, cycle to work scheme and on-site accommodation to name a few.

Additionally, UCLH Arts and Heritage’s staff wellbeing programme, Creative Comfort, offers a variety of ways to engage with the arts as a member of UCLH staff. You can try out the weekly choir, weekly art club and join the Culture Club for exclusive access to free and discounted tickets for opera, exhibitions, theatre and more.

We recognise, reward and thank colleagues by nominating them for our annual Celebrating Excellence Awards, which are funded by UCLH Charity.

We are also members of www.mytrustbenefits.co.uk/ which offers discounts on high street retail stores, offers on travel deals, and also to take advantage of cash back schemes.

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

Please note that all correspondence regarding your application will be via email. The emails will be sent to you via TRAC.jobs and not via NHS Jobs, we encourage you to check your inbox regularly.

Please note that if you are at present in a training position on the 2016 new junior doctor’s contract and are applying for a Trust doctor role your salary will not be pay protected.

You will be placed on the appropriate point of the Trust Doctor pay scale based on your previous experience.

Please note that if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date of the advert to assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

For further support on submitting an application please refer to the NLPSS Applicant Toolkit: https://royalfree.pagetiger.com/cuuomnr/1

London Living Wage is a voluntary commitment made by employers, who can become accredited with the Living Wage Foundation

Stonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name: Ruth Anderson
Job title: Senior Counselling Psychologist Lead
Email address: [email protected]
Additional information: For further details and discussion, please contact either Ruth Anderson at [email protected] or Laura McDermott at [email protected]

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Job summary

Employer heading

Specialist Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

NHS AfC: Band 7

Job overview

Main duties of the job

Working for our organisation

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Experience

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Communication

Essential criteria

Personal and People Development

Essential criteria

Values

Essential criteria

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential criteria

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

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