Clinical Psychologist/Counselling Psychologist | Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS organization in Greater London is seeking an enthusiastic clinical or counselling psychologist to join their Community Mental Health Hub. The role involves leading the Dialectical Behaviour Therapy programme, conducting comprehensive psychological assessments, and providing oversight and supervision to junior clinicians. The ideal candidate should hold a doctorate in clinical psychology, have substantial experience with complex mental health cases, and demonstrate strong leadership and consultation skills. This position offers opportunities for professional development and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Access to continuous training programs

Qualifications

• Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Experience working with complex mental health needs.
• Ability to function autonomously and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the DBT program and supervise team clinicians.
• Conduct thorough psychological assessments and develop treatment plans.
• Provide consultation and advice to team members and service users.

Skills

Clinical assessment

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

Supervision

Team leadership

Evidence-based practice

Education

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent

Job description

We are looking for an enthusiastic clinical or counselling psychologist to work in our Community Mental Health Hub as part of an integrated multi‑disciplinary service. The post‑holder will work in the North Kensington & Chelsea Mental Health Hub and in the South Hub as required.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) program for the Hub and oversee the Complex Emotional Needs (CEN) pathway clinicians, liaising with the specialist Waterview Service.
• Provide specialist psychological assessment and therapy for clients with complex and enduring mental health problems, and lead and coordinate group programmes including the DBT programme.
• Offer advice, training and consultation to team members and non‑professional carers, and support the team to assess psychological and social needs of patients in care planning.
• Supervise the CEN clinicians and contribute to the professional development of junior colleagues, including trainee clinical psychologists.
• Work autonomously within professional guidelines, dedicating one day per week to leading the CEN pathway across the north and south hubs.
• Attend weekly psychology and wider MDT team meetings and case discussion forums, manage referrals and plan clinical care, and contribute to developing recovery‑oriented treatment models.
• Ensure optimal use of psychological therapy resources to provide timely and accessible services.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Deliver specialist psychological assessments, integrating testing, observations, interviews, and self‑report measures.
• Formulate and implement treatment plans grounded in evidence‑based conceptual frameworks across all care settings.
• Design and deliver individual, carer, family and group interventions, refining formulations using diverse models.
• Supervise and lead the DBT programme and the CEN clinicians, overseeing the hub CEN offer.
• Evaluate and decide treatment options, considering theoretical, therapeutic and complex historical factors.
• Exercise autonomous responsibility for assessment, treatment and discharge of clients under psychologically‑based standard care plans.
• Provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals, informing diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Contribute to psychologically based care frameworks across all settings and agencies serving the client group.
• Manage risk assessment and risk management for clients, advising other professions on psychological aspects.
• Communicate sensitively about assessment, formulation and treatment plans and monitor progress in multidisciplinary care.

Teaching, Training and Supervision

• Receive regular clinical professional supervision from a senior clinical psychologist and attend DBT consultation.
• Gain additional specialist experience and develop postgraduate teaching, training and supervision skills, providing supervision to MDT staff.
• Supervise trainee and assistant clinical psychologists.
• Contribute to pre‑ and post‑qualification teaching of clinical and/or counselling psychology.
• Offer advice, consultation and training to staff working with the client group across a range of agencies and settings.

Management, Recruitment, Policy and Service Development

• Contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the team’s operational policies and services, using research, service valuation and audit.
• Advise service and professional management on psychological and organisational matters.
• Manage workloads of assistants and trainee clinical psychologists within team and Trust policies.
• Participate in shortlisting and interviewing assistant/graduate psychologists.

Research and Service Evaluation

• Use theory, evidence‑based literature and research to support evidence‑based practice.
• Conduct research and provide research advice to other staff.
• Manage projects, audits and service evaluations to improve service provision.

IT Responsibilities

• Maintain professional and personal records on computer.
• Enter data into local Trust IT systems and databases.
• Utilise e‑mail and the internet to access clinical and professional information and communicate with colleagues.

General

• Maintain the highest professional standards of practice through active participation in CPD training and development programmes.
• Develop best practice in psychology across the service, engaging in supervision, appraisal and current developments in the field.
• Maintain high standards of clinical record‑keeping, electronic data entry and reporting, in accordance with BPS codes, HPCA and Trust policies.
• Keep up to date with legislation, national and local policies, and issues relating to mental health and the specific client group.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) is one of the largest trusts in the UK, caring for people with a wide range of physical and mental health needs. We have approximately 7,000 staff who provide healthcare to a third of London’s population and across wider geographical areas, including Milton Keynes, Kent, Surrey and Hampshire and Central and North West London.

If you would like to see what it’s like to work for CNWL please visit https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work

This advert closes on Wednesday 31 Dec 2025.