Clinical/Counselling Psychologist or CBT Therapist

NHS; England; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health service provider is seeking a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist or CBT Therapist to join their team in Bishops Stortford. This full-time position involves undertaking psychological assessments and delivering specialized therapies for adults with complex mental health issues. Candidates should possess relevant doctoral-level training and excellent communication skills. The role offers opportunities for further training and development within a supportive multi-disciplinary environment. Salary ranges from £50,008 to £56,908 annually, pro rata.

Qualifications

• Doctoral/Master's level training in clinical/counselling psychology.
• Professional qualification degree level including knowledge and application of research methodology.
• Additional specialist knowledge or training in psychological therapies including CBT.

Responsibilities

• Undertaking psychological assessments of adults experiencing complex mental health difficulties.
• Delivering specialist psychological therapies including CBT and others.
• Providing supervision to junior members of the psychological services team.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to communicate complex information

Positive problem-solving approach

Education

Doctoral/Master's level training in clinical/counselling psychology

Professional qualification degree level

Knowledge of research methodology

Job description

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical/Counselling Psychologist or CBT Therapist

The closing date is 28 December 2025

An opportunity has arisen for a Clinical / Counselling Psychologist or CBT Therapist to join our established psychological services team which is embedded within Bishops Stortford Adult Community Mental Health Service (ACMHS).

Psychological services are well regarded within the ACMHS and play a vital function in delivering highly specialist psychological therapy to adults with severe and complex mental health difficulties in accordance with NICE guidelines. In addition the team highly values the consultation and psychological support provided to the wider multi-disciplinary team. HPFT is committed to delivering trauma‑informed care with service users’ experience at the heart of what we do.

There is an opportunity for further training and development of skills within the service.

We would be open to applications from psychologists who are nearly qualified. Successful applicants in this position would start on band 6 until they receive their professional registration.

Main duties of the job

• Undertaking psychological assessments of adults experiencing complex mental health difficulties.
• Delivering specialist psychological therapies for adults with complex mental health difficulties. The range of therapies we offer includes but is not limited to: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Cognitive analytic therapy (CAT), EMDR, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, family interventions and schema therapy.
• Providing specialist psychological consultation, formulation, support and training to the wider multi‑disciplinary service.
• Providing supervision to junior members of the psychological services team, including assistant psychologists and trainee therapists.
• Working closely alongside the MDT and psychological therapy colleagues to support the delivery of psychological services across Southeast Hertfordshire.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ from the Care Quality Commission.

Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental illness, physical illness and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING

• Doctoral/Master's level training in clinical/counselling psychology, including specific models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology, as accredited by the BPS and current registration with HCPC. Or a registered qualification (e.g. nursing, social work, occupational therapy) and further postgraduate qualification training in evidence‑based psychological therapies, including CBT, and significant experience working as a psychological therapy practitioner, with BABCP registration and eligibility for BABCP accreditation.
• Professional qualification degree level, which should include knowledge and application of research methodology.
• Additional specialist knowledge or training in psychological therapies including CBT.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient settings, with at least six months clinical experience in adult mental health.
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups across the whole life span, presenting complex problems, maintaining high professionalism in the face of emotive distress, verbal abuse and threat of physical abuse.
• Knowledge of whole life span development and its impact on emotional, psychological and mental wellbeing.
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least one evidence‑based psychological therapy (e.g. CBT, Interpersonal Therapy, CAT, systemic family psychotherapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy) relevant to the treatment of adults with complex problems and families.
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within clinical fields of psychology.
• Experience of multidisciplinary team working and inter‑agency collaboration.
• Ability to provide consultation to other professional and non‑professional groups.
• Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multimedia materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
• Ability to take the appropriate action to address any issues or risks.
• Awareness of child and adult safeguarding procedures.
• Awareness of current NHS initiatives and developments.
• Knowledge of legislation and national agenda relating to adult mental health.
• Knowledge and awareness of specific clinical practices and issues related to clients with mental health problems.
• Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team.
• Experience of working in a community mental health setting.
• Experience of service quality monitoring (e.g. clinical audit, evaluative research).
• Experience of teaching, training and/or offering supervision.
• Experience of service development/project management.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
• Ability to work and communicate therapeutically with clients and their families consistent with their level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communicating.
• Ability to work and communicate as a responsible participating member of a multidisciplinary team and to encourage participation of all involved.
• Ability to keep accurate and complete records of activities and communications consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
• Ability to alert line manager/team when direction, policies and strategies are adversely affecting users or the public.
• Ability to time‑manage effectively and work under pressure and prioritise a clinical workload.

ANALYTICAL SKILLS

• Positive problem‑solving approach.
• Ability to critically evaluate and review developments made by others to determine if and how they could be applied within own area of work.

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.

Address

Oxford House, London Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 3LA

Salary

£50,008 to £56,908 a year, pro rata (inclusive of 5% HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full‑time

Reference number

367-ACMS-9928

Job locations

Oxford House, London Road, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM23 3LA