Job vacancy: Clinical/Counselling Psychologist, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, Milton Keynes

Job summary

Main area: Psychology
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract: Fixed term: 12 months (12 months ftc maternity cover)
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 333-D-MK-CM-1162

Employer: Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Milton Keynes Mental Health Hub
Town: Milton Keynes
Salary: £47,810 - £54,710 per annum (pro rata if P/T)
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 25/08/2025 23:59

Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

NHS AfC: Band 7

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To provide specialist psychological/therapeutic assessments of service-users referred to the Therapies pathway upon appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources. This will include the use of routine psychometric assessments and measures, observations and interviews where appropriate
To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the formulation and implementation of plans for the formal psychological treatment and or management of a client’s problems based upon an appropriate conceptual understanding of the service-users problems in the context of the family and wider system
To receive regular specialist supervision from the principal clinical psychologist and where appropriate other senior professional colleagues.
To develop skills in the area of professional post-graduate teaching, training and supervision.

Person specification

Qualifications & Experience

Essential criteria

Doctoral level training in clinical/counselling psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuro-psychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies development psychology as accredited by the BPS.
OR A registered qualification in health care at graduate level in nursing, social work or allied health profession PLUS post- graduate qualification (diploma equivalent) i.e., cognitive behaviour therapy
To be registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) or equivalent i.e., BACP
Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of specialist psychological assessment and formulation of complex mental health presentations including Trauma presentations.
Experience of working psychologically with people who have complex mental health problems, including trauma and personality disorder
Experience of teaching, training and supervision.
Experience of skills in group work.
Experience of work with care - givers/families
To be able to conduct routine assessments of IQ and memory screening.
Maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
Experience of working in MDT settings in particular the demonstrated ability to work jointly in assessment interventions with multidisciplinary team members .
Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts
Experience of working within a multicultural framework
Experience in the use of risk assessment and the management of risk and crisis

Desirable criteria

Experience of working in an NHS community mental health settings in secondary and tertiary care.

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessment and intervention for people with mental health presentations
Well developed skills in the ability to work and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and to other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
Knowledge of current developments and policies relevant to mental health services.
Ability to work under pressure.
Sound time management skills
Sound IT skills to manage an electronic case record.

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of legislation and NICE guidance in relation to this client group
Knowledge of clinical caseload management within a team setting
Skills in providing consultation and supervision to other professional and non - professional groups and assistants.

Key Skills/Abilities

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.
Valid drivers licence and the ability to drive to different bases.

Desirable criteria

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 material and challenging behaviour.

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.

If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Bronze

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

Michele Head

Job title

Clinical Lead

Email address

[email protected]

Telephone number

01908 725800

Additional information

Ceylon Dell

Team Manager

[email protected]

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Job summary

Employer heading

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

Qualifications & Experience

Essential criteria

Experience

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Key Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria

Desirable criteria

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

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