Applied Psychologist/Highly Specialist Psychologist

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an Applied or Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist to work with adults with learning disabilities in the Teesside area. The role offers progression from Band 7 to 8a subject to criteria and registration with HCPC.

The post emphasises psychological assessments, therapeutic work, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Applicants should be newly qualified or experienced, with a strong commitment to evidence-based mental health care and

Qualifications

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical/counselling/forensic psychology (or equivalent) as accredited by the BPS.
• HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist.
• Trained in clinical supervision and supervision within agreed timescale.
• Trained in care co-ordination within agreed timescale.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Registration with BPS.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychological assessments and therapeutic, consultative and advisory services for adults with learning disabilities and their families.
• Provide supervision to other team members where necessary.
• Engage in service development and opportunities for special interests.
• Support delivery of evidence-based interventions and high-quality mental health care.

Skills

Clinical psychology

CBT/DBT approaches

Psychodynamic therapy

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Clinical supervision

Care coordination

Risk assessment

Research & audit

Communication skills

Education/training

Education

Doctoral level training in psychology

HCPC registration

Tools

Presentation software

Psychometric testing

Job description

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Applied Psychologist/Highly Specialist Psychologist

The closing date is 01 November 2026

We are seeking to appoint a Clinical Psychologist. The vacancy is open to either a newly qualified Psychologist or an experienced Psychologist, with appropriate job description and banding being applied accordingly to the successful candidate. Dependant on candidates experience they may start at any of the following increments: Band 7, Band 7-8a developmental or Band 8a. The post holder will have a key role in providing psychological assessments as well as a therapeutic, consultative and advisory service in relation to adults with learning disabilities, their families and carers, according to identified clinical need. In addition to direct clinical work, providing consultation and where necessary clinical supervision to other team members in regard to patients is an important element of the role. Applicants should have experience in working within Learning Disability services and show strong patient-centred values. The successful applicant will be enthusiastic, motivated, and demonstrate a commitment to delivering excellent mental health care and evidence based interventions. Opportunities to develop special interests and co-work will be encouraged, as will opportunities to undertake service development activities.

Main duties of the job

This post offers exciting opportunities within the Tees Adult Learning Disability Service within South Tees multidisciplinary community team based at Flatts Lane Centre Middlesbrough The multidisciplinary teams offer specialist health services to adults with a learning disability, their families and carers. The teams also work closely with statutory agencies and others who provide services to people with a learning disability.

About us

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care --our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won't rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Job responsibilities

If recruited to a band 7 post, this will be a developmental post with progression to an 8a banding upon meeting the criteria within the 8a job description.

We welcome applications from staff who are currently coming to the end of their training in Clinical or counselling psychology that on successful completion will achieve the required qualification and registration with HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist. Trainee counselling psychologists are eligible to apply for and to be shortlisted for interview and to be offered qualified posts when they are in their 3rd year of the doctoral training and have the following confirmed as completed by the university. This information may be requested prior to interview: a. All clinical competencies. b. 80% of the 450 supervised clinical practice hours (360 hours)

Trainee clinical psychologists are eligible to apply for and to be shortlisted for interview and to be offered qualified posts when they are in their third year of training, as they will have completed their core clinical competencies by this stage of the course.

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Psychologists & Psychological Therapists provide key leadership roles within the Trust. To support this we have developed leadership profiles for each psychology band and the profile card associated with this post is attached on NHS Jobs. You can find more information about the NHS Leadership Academys Healthcare Leadership Model and the profiles at their website. We encourage you to look at these resources as they will play a part in the interview process.

The post holder will have a key role in providing psychological assessments as well as a therapeutic, consultative and advisory service in relation to adults with learning disabilities, their families and carers, according to identified clinical need. In addition to direct clinical work, providing consultation and where necessary clinical supervision to other team members in regard to patients is an important element of the role.

Applicants should have experience in working within Learning Disability services and show strong patient-centred values. The successful applicant will be enthusiastic, motivated, and demonstrate a commitment to delivering excellent mental health care and evidence-based interventions. Opportunities to develop special interests and co-work will be encouraged, as will opportunities to undertake service development activities.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Post-graduate training (doctoral level equivalent) in clinical / counselling / forensic psychology (or its equivalent prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS.
• HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist
• Trained in clinical supervision and the supervision (within agreed timescale)
• Trained in care co-ordination (within agreed timescale)
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Registration with BPS

Knowledge/Skills/Experience

• Awareness of: The Trust's Quality Improvement System
• Must be able to: Communicate complex and highly sensitive information effectively, to a wide range of people
• Adapt creatively the evidence base for interventions in mental health for clients with communication difficulties / learning disabilities
• Provide (within agreed timescale) effective teaching, training and clinical supervision
• Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake care co-ordination/lead practitioner responsibilities
• Undertake complex multiagency working and liaise with multiple systems
• Utilise psychometric tests competently
• Identify, provide and promote appropriate interventions / means of support for carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviours.
• Utilise appropriate clinical governance mechanisms within own work
• Use approved breakaway techniques
• Experience of CBT, DBT, Psychodynamics, systematic therapy
• Skills in using multimedia materials in presentations

Knowledge

• Working with mental health/learning disability clients (depending on designated service area)
• Multi-disciplinary team working
• Experience of research and audit
• Doctoral level knowledge of: Evidence- based practice relevant to the role
• Risk assessment and risk management
• Clinical governance
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
• Audit and research methodology
• Social Inclusion agenda

General

• Ability to travel independent across region covered by community teams

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.

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust