Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologist

National health service; Canterbury; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust in Canterbury seeks a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to work within an Acute Mental Health service. You will join a dynamic team, applying evidence-based practice and developing therapeutic and systemic skills in a ward environment.

The role encourages leadership, reflective practice and staff development across formal groups and MDT sessions. The post offers regular supervision, CPD opportunities and a chance to contribute to service improvement within

Qualifications

• Essential: HCPC registration.
• Essential: Doctoral level training in psychology, including models of psychopathology, and two or more distinct psychological therapies.
• Desirable: Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.

Responsibilities

• Support and assist the core aims within the service, both in direct clinical work and as a member of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Provide psychological assessment and treatment, plus formulations and consultation to the MDT.
• Offer supervision, advice and support on site to the assistant psychologists and trainee CAPS.

Skills

HCPC registration

Education

Doctoral level training in psychology

Research methodology qualifications (Desirable)

Job description

Person Specification

• Essential: HCPC registration.
• Essential: Doctoral level training in psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, two or more distinct psychological therapies.
• Desirable: Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.

Experience

• Essential: Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in-patient settings.
• Desirable: Experience of working with psychosis.
• Experience of working in an acute care service.

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 Registration.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see.

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and energetic Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to work in Acute Mental Health. You will be working in a very dynamic environment, which will provide you with many opportunities to learn and develop your therapeutic and systemic skills. There will also be an opportunity to be creative and innovative within the role, bringing new ideas, incorporating evidence-based practice into how the service is delivered. Within the ward environment, you will have the opportunity to develop skills and expertise in the application of psychology not just at an individual level, but at the team and group level. A strong interest in pursuing consultation and leadership roles and developing skills in assessment and practice within a group context is desired. Running reflective practice sessions for staff, consider your position in the team and wider systemic issues, together with an interest in developing the skills to intervene via a range of formats, e.g., ward groups, staff consultation, families/carers and the MDT.

You will be well supported through regular clinical and managerial supervision as well as training to develop both professionally and personally within the role. There are many CPD opportunities as well as opportunities to join specialist supervision groups, such as the Trauma Clinical Network Group and other groups. Experience in an Acute Setting is not required for this role and we would consider newly qualified psychologists.

Main duties of the job

You will support and assist the core aims within the service, both in direct clinical work and as a positive member of the multi-disciplinary team and wider service, having an important liaison function supporting the transition of patients between services.

You will provide psychological assessment and treatment, as well as psychological formulations and consultation to the multi-disciplinary team. You will also provide evidence-based group interventions such as DBT informed skills and support groups, as well as reflective practice/case discussions for staff.

You will also be a qualified practitioner on site to offer supervision, advice, support and to work with the assistant psychologists and trainee CAPS.

About us

We are the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway. Our teams support adults with a wide range of mental health needs. Because we cover the whole county and both hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the 1.8 million people of Kent and Medway. Rated 'Good' by the CQC, we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year.

Our vision is simple: We are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. And everything we do is guided by our values caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us - if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's doing well together.

Details

Date posted: 16 March 2026

Pay scheme Agenda for changeBandBand 7Salary 47,810 to 54,710 a year

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 Registration.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see.

Employer details

NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Eastern & Coastal Area Office, Canterbury

Littlebourne Road

Canterbury CT1 1AZ

Employer's website

Employer's website