Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologist/Psychotherapist

The Methodist Church in Britain; South Shields; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

High Cost Area allowance

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust is hiring a psychologist/psychotherapist for the acute mental health service. The role focuses on psychological assessments, formulations, and individual treatments for inpatients, plus facilitating DBT-informed groups and patient support sessions.

The post involves multidisciplinary ward work, reflective practice with staff, and liaison with families and carers to support transitions. Registration with HCPC or UKCP is required.

Qualifications

• HCPC or UKCP registration is required.
• Specialist psychological assessment and treatment across inpatient settings.
• Experience with DBT-informed groups and systemic approaches.

Responsibilities

• Deliver specialist psychological assessments and formulations for acute inpatient needs.
• Facilitate DBT-informed groups and structured patient support sessions.
• Provide psychological consultation to the multidisciplinary team.
• Lead reflective practice sessions and case discussions for ward staff.
• Contribute to service improvements and ward-based group processes.
• Support safe patient transitions with families and carers where appropriate.

Skills

Complex assessment

Inpatient care

Group facilitation

Communication skills

Job description

Psychologist or psychotherapist role in the acute mental health service at Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. The core work is psychological assessment, formulation and individual treatment for inpatients, plus facilitating groups, including DBT-informed skills work. The post sits in a ward setting alongside a multidisciplinary team, offers reflective practice to ward staff, and involves families, carers and liaison on patient transitions. HCPC or UKCP registration is required.

What the job involves

• Deliver specialist psychological assessments, individual treatments and formulations for acute inpatient needs
• Facilitate evidence-based group work, including DBT-informed skills groups and structured patient support sessions
• Offer psychological consultation, advice and systemic insight to the multidisciplinary team
• Lead reflective practice sessions and case discussions for ward staff
• Contribute evidence-based service improvements and new ideas to team processes and ward-based groups
• Build working relationships across internal and external teams to support safe patient transitions between services
• Provide psychological guidance and intervention formats involving families, carers and wider care networks where appropriate

What’s required

Registration & licences

• HCPC or UKCP registration

Experience

• Specialist psychological assessment and treatment across the full range of care settings

Skills & knowledge

• Skills in complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management
• Containing, exploring and formulating high levels of distress
• Excellent communication skills

Nice to have

• Doctoral level training in psychology
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for psychosis, EUPD and bipolar
• Experience of working with psychosis and EUPD
• Experience of working in an acute care setting

What’s offered

• High Cost Area allowance of 5% of basic salary, minimum £1,346 and maximum £2,270 a year, paid monthly
• Opportunity to develop therapeutic, systemic, leadership and consultation skills