Clinical / Counselling Psychologist - Urgent Care Pathway

NHS; Taunton; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity for a qualified Clinical or Counselling Psychologist at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, focusing on delivering psychological care within the Urgent Care Pathway. This role involves multi-disciplinary collaboration to provide meaningful interventions to individuals facing acute mental health challenges, with opportunities for supervision and professional development.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Generous annual leave allowance

NHS pension scheme

Career development support

Blue Light Card benefits

Qualifications

• Essential: HCPC registered Clinical or Counselling Psychologist.
• Desirable: Further training in a clinical specialism (e.g., CBT, CAT, EMDR).

Responsibilities

• Deliver specialist psychological assessments to adults with acute mental health issues.
• Provide clinical supervision and consultation to team members.
• Lead service development initiatives and quality improvement projects.

Skills

Knowledge of evidence-based psychological therapies

Good standard of written communication

Education

Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology

HCPC registration

Job description

Job summary

We are excited to offer an outstanding opportunity for a qualified and HCPC-registered Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join our dynamic and expanding psychology service within the Urgent Care Pathway at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. This Band 8a post will provide specialist psychological input across acute adult mental health inpatient wards and Home Treatment Teams (HTTs), offering meaningful interventions to individuals in some of the most challenging and vulnerable periods of their lives.

We welcome applications from newly qualified psychologists. You would initially be appointed at Band 7, with a supported preceptorship period, and progress to Band 8a upon successful completion.

This post plays a pivotal role in supporting service users with complex, co-occurring psychological and physical health needs. You will work across multi-professional teams to provide individual assessment, treatment, and consultation--ensuring psychological thinking is embedded in all aspects of care. Working flexibly and creatively, you'll influence the development of trauma-informed, recovery-focused practices across urgent care services.

You'll be joining a supportive network of experienced Psychologists, Assistant Psychologists, and Clinical Associates committed to collaborative working, service improvement and professional development.

Main duties of the job

As a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist within the Urgent Care Pathway, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality psychological care to adults experiencing acute mental health difficulties. Working across inpatient wards and Home Treatment Teams, you will provide specialist assessments and evidence-based interventions for individuals with complex needs, including trauma, comorbid physical health issues, and significant psychosocial challenges.

You will support and guide multidisciplinary colleagues through clinical supervision, reflective practice, and consultation, ensuring psychological thinking is embedded throughout care planning and delivery. Your input will help shape a cohesive bio-psycho-social approach to treatment and recovery.

In addition to direct clinical work, you'll contribute to service development and quality improvement, supporting the wider psychology team to deliver safe, effective, and compassionate care. You'll also have opportunities to supervise junior staff, engage in research and audit, and play an active role in shaping psychologically informed practices across the urgent care setting.

This is an ideal role for a motivated psychologist who thrives in fast-paced environments and is committed to trauma-informed, inclusive and person-centred care.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Details Date posted

04 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number

184-OL-GR-2596

Job locations

Trustwide

The Crescent

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 4DY

Rydon Ward

Cheddon Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA2 7AZ

Rowan Ward

56 Preston Road

Yeovil

Somerset

BA20 2BX

Job description Job responsibilities

• Deliver specialist psychological assessments and interventions to adults experiencing acute mental health crises, both on inpatient wards and within the Home Treatment Teams.
• Work closely with multidisciplinary team members to offer psychologically informed care planning, promoting trauma-informed and recovery-focused approaches.
• Offer clinical supervision, reflective practice and consultation to psychology colleagues and wider team members, building the capacity of teams to understand and respond effectively to psychological needs.
• Lead and contribute to service development initiatives, quality improvement projects, and clinical audits to enhance the effectiveness of psychological care within the urgent care setting.
• Formulate and manage plans of psychological treatment using evidence-based, NICE-recommended models tailored to individual needs.
• Maintain up-to-date clinical records and documentation in accordance with Trust policies and HCPC guidelines.
• Take an active role in promoting the use of psychologically informed practice across the urgent care pathway through training, joint working, and education.

Please see the attached job description for full duties.

Job description Job responsibilities

• Deliver specialist psychological assessments and interventions to adults experiencing acute mental health crises, both on inpatient wards and within the Home Treatment Teams.
• Work closely with multidisciplinary team members to offer psychologically informed care planning, promoting trauma-informed and recovery-focused approaches.
• Offer clinical supervision, reflective practice and consultation to psychology colleagues and wider team members, building the capacity of teams to understand and respond effectively to psychological needs.
• Lead and contribute to service development initiatives, quality improvement projects, and clinical audits to enhance the effectiveness of psychological care within the urgent care setting.
• Formulate and manage plans of psychological treatment using evidence-based, NICE-recommended models tailored to individual needs.
• Maintain up-to-date clinical records and documentation in accordance with Trust policies and HCPC guidelines.
• Take an active role in promoting the use of psychologically informed practice across the urgent care pathway through training, joint working, and education.

Please see the attached job description for full duties.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• HCPC registration as a Clinical or Counselling PsychologistDoctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology (or equivalent)

Desirable

• Further training in a clinical specialism (e.g. CBT, CAT, EMDR)

Experience Essential

• Experience of working in adult mental health servicesExperience of working with individuals with severe and complex mental health needsExperience of providing clinical supervision and/or reflective practiceExperience of teaching or training healthcare professionals

Desirable

• Experience of working with complex traumaExperience of neuropsychological assessmentExperience contributing to service development or quality improvement

Additional Criteria Essential

• Knowledge of evidence-based psychological therapies for serious mental illnessGood standard of written communication and literacy

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• HCPC registration as a Clinical or Counselling PsychologistDoctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology (or equivalent)

Desirable

• Further training in a clinical specialism (e.g. CBT, CAT, EMDR)

Experience Essential

• Experience of working in adult mental health servicesExperience of working with individuals with severe and complex mental health needsExperience of providing clinical supervision and/or reflective practiceExperience of teaching or training healthcare professionals

Desirable

• Experience of working with complex traumaExperience of neuropsychological assessmentExperience contributing to service development or quality improvement

Additional Criteria Essential

• Knowledge of evidence-based psychological therapies for serious mental illnessGood standard of written communication and literacy

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trustwide

The Crescent

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 4DY

Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trustwide

The Crescent

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 4DY

Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)