Job summary
- Main area
- Clinical Oncology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 282-SA1883
- Employer
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Marsden Hospital Sutton
- Town
- Sutton
- Salary
- £55,524 - £62,652 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 01/10/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Oncology Psychotherapist / Counsellor
NHS AfC: Band 7
Job overview
Are you a BACP / UKCP accredited counsellor or psychotherapist wanting to work as part of a MDT in a psych-oncology service
We are looking for a Sutton based Band 7 0.6wte Oncology Counsellor/ Psychotherapist to work in our ‘exploratory’ psychological therapy pathway ( integrative, existential, person centred and psychodynamic approaches).AS well as OP and IP work with patients this role will include providing supervision to nurses/ AHPs within the trust. Experience working in an oncology, hospice or other complex physical health setting is essential. Additional training in another health care profession is desirable, e.g. nurse/ AHP/ medic.
You will be joining a supportive team of qualified and trainee psychological and psychiatry professionals including counsellors and psychotherapists, psychology (clinical and counselling), psychosexual therapists psychiatry and mental health nursing. There is good CPD provision.
We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic groups, as well as people who have a disability.
We encourage you to contact us to discuss the role. Please contact
• Liz Carruthers, Senior Oncology Counsellor on [email protected] or 020 7808 2777
Please note the provisional interview date is Thursday 8th October.
Main duties of the job
- To work within our ‘exploratory’ pathway providing existential/ person centred/ psychodynamic/ integrative therapies (our other pathways are: directive, family, sex therapy, psychiatry/ mental health nursing)
- Provide a high-quality specialist counselling/ psychotherapy service to adult cancer patients within the context of the Adult Psychological Support Service, including assessment and evidence based interventions associated with the complex physical and psychological impacts of a cancer diagnosis
- Work autonomously, within professional guidelines, code of conduct and the overall framework of the team/trust policies and procedures.
- Provide specialist advice and consultation on patients’ psychological care to colleagues through psychosocial meetings, multidisciplinary team meetings and attendance at clinics if appropriate.
Working for our organisation
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals – one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey – as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.
At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.
At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical Responsibility – patient care
- To work as a clinician in the delivery of a counselling service to the Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust, working directly and indirectly with patients, and with members of the multi-disciplinary team involved in the care of cancer patients, to improve patients’ psychological wellbeing, quality of life and coping strategies.
- To provide specialist psychological assessments for patients referred to the Adult Psychological Support Service and make decisions about support options considering the individual needs and choice of the patient, their clinical treatment, prognosis and resources available; referring on to the most appropriate specialists if required.
Education and Development Responsibility – own as well as the development of other
- Maintain a personal programme of continuing professional development as required by professional body and participate in other activities designed to ensure the continuing development of specialized professional clinical skills. This should inform, update and expand practice and be disseminated as appropriate within the team.
- To provide clinical case supervision in both group and one to one format according to need for health care professionals within the organisation related to the psychological support of patients.
Policy and Service Development
In consultation with the Head of Pastoral Care Psychological Care and PALS as well as the Consultant Psychologist:
- Participate in the identification and recommendation of service priorities for psychological practice.
- Participate in appropriate developments in psychological practice.
- Participate in the development, evaluation and monitoring of the services’ operational policies through the deployment of professional skills in service evaluation and audit.
Research, Service Evaluation and Audit
- To routinely collect outcome data for service evaluation and monitoring purposes.
- To utilise theory, evidence based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work, work with other team members and to staff in the trust.
Administration and IT
- To undertake administrative duties appropriate to the tasks of the post including the specialized use of IT.
- To be familiar with computer use (e-mail, internet, Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Master’s level training in counselling or psychotherapy
- Accredited with BACP/ UKCP or other recognised counselling professional body
Desirable criteria
- Other health professional training, e.g. nurse, OT, physio, radiographer, medic
- Recognised supervision qualification/ training
- Training/ qualification in one or more specialised areas of clinical expertise
- ( Couples / Groups)
Experience
Essential criteria
- Psychological Therapies experience in in a physical health/ acute settings
- Experience working with individuals with long term life threatening physical illness
- Experience working in an exploratory therapeutic approach pure or integrated (existential/ person centred / CBT humanistic / psychodynamic)
- Experience of working within multi cultural settings
- Experience of providing clinical supervision in a group or 1:1
Desirable criteria
- Professional clinical experience working in Cancer care/ Palliative Care/ HIV/ Critical Care
- Evidence of research productivity
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Liz Carruthers
- Job title
- Senior Oncology Psychotherapist
- Email address
- [email protected]
List jobs with The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in Allied Health Professions or all sectors