Highly Specialist [Applied] Psychologist

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

Job summary

The NHS is seeking a Band 8a or Band 7-8a Preceptorship Clinical/Counselling Psychologist in Milton Keynes. This role focuses on delivering specialist psychological assessment, treatment, and support for individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosis. Ideal candidates will have HCPC registration and a dedication to patient-focused care, with opportunities for professional development available through specialized training.

Qualifications

• Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist.
• Completed clinical supervision training.
• Entry-level qualification accepted by HCPC for professional registration.

Responsibilities

• Provide highly specialist psychology services for clients with first episode psychosis.
• Contribute to creating a psychologically safe environment.
• Provide clinical supervision to assistant and trainee psychologists.

Skills

Specialist psychological assessment

Treatment planning

Clinical supervision

Education

Registered with HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist

Entry-level qualification in Applied Clinical or Counselling Psychology

Job description

Job summary

Band 8a or Band 7-8a Preceptorship Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Are you a clinician passionate about working with service users with psychosis?

Do you enjoy working with carers and families?

Are you an independent practitioner who can promote psychology in a small team?

We are looking for applications from highly motivated and enthusiastic Senior Clinical or Counselling Psychologists who are committed to delivering patient-focused care and treatment.

We are keen to invest in the development of new practitioners joining our service to enhance their knowledge, skills, clinical practice, leadership and confidence in working in this area. We are therefore looking for applicants who either have experience in Early Intervention Psychosis (EIP) or have a good foundation of transferable skills and an interest to develop in this area.

There is a strong sense of camaraderie within the Milton Keynes EIP team, and a strong partnership between operational and clinical staff. There are opportunities to access funded specialist training in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for psychosis and family interventions. There may also be an opportunity to spend one clinic session per week in another team/speciality to maintain additional skills.

Main duties of the job

The Milton Keynes Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) Service is a multi-disciplinary team providing treatment and support for people who are experiencing symptoms of psychosis for the first time, and during the first three years following a first episode of psychosis. The service has a strong focus on providing psychological inventions alongside care-coordination, help, advice and support. The team helps service users make sense of their experiences, provides treatment and interventions to enable them to get back to, or continue to, work or study, whilst liaising with other services and agencies to sort out benefits and finances, and help solve any housing problems.

A key part of the role will be acting as liaison and Principal Investigator for research trials (e.g. virtual reality CBT) from different universities.

Our staff demonstrate an interest in providing a high level of service for service users and carers as well as an interest in service development. We are looking for motivated and committed clinical or counselling psychologists who are passionate to lead the development of psychological therapies and the therapy pathways within our service.

Where the applicant will be newly qualified on appointment they will join a number of other recent recruits in Milton Keynes and undergo a well- established, thorough preceptorship programme ensuring they are equipped with the competencies required of an 8a post holder before they progress.

About us

Click here to find out more about working at CNWL! CNWL Psychological Professions

Hear directly from our leaders and their vision for psychological professions in the Trust here.

Learn more about working in Milton Keynes by following the link below.

Welcome to Psychological Therapies at Milton Keynes Mental Health Services :: Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (cnwl.nhs.uk)Here at CNWL we encourage our psychological professions staff to pursue leadership opportunities in senior roles. Various prominent leadership roles within the Trust are currently held by Psychologists including: Director of Strategy and Integration, Chief Information Officer, 3 Clinical Directors. We try to facilitate the development of our psychological professions staff across all areas.

Details Date posted

27 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

333-D-MK-MH-1258

Job locations

Neath Hill Health Centre

Tower Crescent

Milton Keynes

MK14 6JY

Job description Job responsibilities

To provide a highly specialist psychology service to clients with first episode psychosis, including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.

To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.

To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead specialist in EIP

To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.

To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.

To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved.

Job description Job responsibilities

To provide a highly specialist psychology service to clients with first episode psychosis, including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.

To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.

To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead specialist in EIP

To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.

To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.

To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.
• Completed training course in clinical supervision.
• Entry-level qualification in Applied Clinical or Counselling Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration.
• Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice or model of therapy through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma.

Desirable

• BABCP Accreditation.
• CBTp training.

Experience Essential

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with psychosis.
• Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in EI or acute services.
• Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training.
• Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities.
• Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects.

Knowledge Essential

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for people with complex mental health problems.
• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatments.
• Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics.
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
• Doctorate level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.
• Completed training course in clinical supervision.
• Entry-level qualification in Applied Clinical or Counselling Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration.
• Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice or model of therapy through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma.

Desirable

• BABCP Accreditation.
• CBTp training.

Experience Essential

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with psychosis.
• Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in EI or acute services.
• Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training.
• Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities.
• Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects.

Knowledge Essential

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for people with complex mental health problems.
• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatments.
• Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics.
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
• Doctorate level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis.

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

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Neath Hill Health Centre

Tower Crescent

Milton Keynes

MK14 6JY

Employer's website

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

Employer details Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Neath Hill Health Centre

Tower Crescent

Milton Keynes

MK14 6JY

Employer's website

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