Band 7 Practitioner Psychologist/Psychological Therapist

Avon And Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Nhs Trust; Weston-super-Mare; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health service is seeking a qualified Band 7 Psychologist or Psychological Therapist to provide psychological therapy and assessments for veterans in the Plymouth and Paignton areas. This role emphasizes evidence-based practice, collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams, and a commitment to delivering high-quality care. Candidates should possess relevant qualifications and experience in trauma-informed care. The role offers a supportive environment promoting professional development.

Benefits

Supportive work environment

Opportunities for professional development

Diversity and inclusion encouraged

Qualifications

• Experience in complex clinical settings, especially for veterans.
• Commitment to professional development and ethical practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychological therapy in community settings.
• Conduct assessments and maintain records.
• Deliver high-intensity psychological interventions.
• Provide clinical supervision to less experienced staff.
• Participate in clinical audits and evaluations.

Skills

Psychological assessments

Evidence-based therapies

Effective communication

Strong interpersonal skills

Trauma-informed care

Education

Relevant postgraduate qualification in psychology or therapy

Job description

About the Role

OpCourage, the community veterans mental health service in the South West, is seeking a Band 7 Psychologist or Psychological Therapist to join our dedicated team in the Plymouth and Paignton. This vital role involves providing psychological assessments, evidence‑based therapies, and tailored interventions to veterans experiencing mental health issues, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

The successful candidate will collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams, fostering a supportive environment for veterans and their families. Responsibilities include conducting comprehensive psychological evaluations, developing personalized treatment plans, and delivering individual or group therapy sessions. Effective communication and strong interpersonal skills are essential for engaging with veterans and stakeholders, ensuring a community‑centered approach to care.

Qualifications

Candidates should possess a relevant postgraduate qualification in psychology or psychological therapy, demonstrating experience in complex clinical settings, particularly with trauma‑informed care for veterans or similar populations. A commitment to professional development and adherence to ethical guidelines in practice is required.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide face‑to‑face, evidence‑based psychological therapy at an AWP/NHS site or other community setting in the Plymouth and Paignton area. Offer therapy to veterans in a wider geographical area via an online platform.
• Assess and treat a specialist caseload of clients (military veterans with complex mental health needs) and maintain associated records on the electronic case record system.
• Provide high‑intensity, evidence‑based psychological interventions (CBT and/or EMDR for complex presentations, Step 3 and above) as part of the NHSE Op Courage Integrated Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, South West.
• Provide consultation, liaison, and, where appropriate, clinical supervision to other professionals, including less experienced therapists, Assistant Psychologists, and Trainee Clinical Psychologists.
• Undertake clinical audit and service evaluation activities to support the development of services relevant to client needs.
• Develop best‑practice knowledge in working with veterans and promote expertise in this area, including supporting research projects where appropriate, with the guidance of the psychology lead.
• Provide comprehensive psychosocial assessments as required, taking into account issues of safety and suitability for psychological therapy, to formulate, implement, and evaluate treatment or support programmes for clients.
• Provide a psychological therapy service for individuals and groups as appropriate (e.g., mindfulness workshops).
• Educate and involve family members and others in treatment and support, as appropriate.
• Adhere to an agreed activity contract/job plan relating to the number of client contacts offered and clinical sessions carried out per week, in order to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
• Ensure timely and accurate recording of all data required by the Trust, and maintain accurate records on the electronic patient record system.
• Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times.
• Monitor clinical workload using agreed systems.
• Complete all requirements relating to data collection within the service.
• Provide a specialist consultancy service to multidisciplinary teams and other agencies providing care for the client group (military veterans).
• Participate in clinical and caseload supervision arrangements provided by the service.
• Attend and, where appropriate, chair multidisciplinary/professional meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment.
• Carry out clinical audits of service performance, including service user surveys and evaluations, and help collate and disseminate the results for feedback.

About OpCourage and AWP

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust), a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community‑based mental health care. We serve approximately 1.8 million people across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Wiltshire, and parts of Dorset. Our culture promotes mental health and wellbeing, research and evidence‑based practice, and a person‑centred approach.

AWP actively encourages applicants from all backgrounds, especially those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities and the LGBTQ+ community. We value diversity and encourage unique experiences and perspectives.