Highly Specialist Practitioner Psychologist

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust seeks a Highly Specialist Practitioner Psychologist to join their Integrated Psychosocial Service for Cardiorespiratory. This part-time role requires providing psychological assessments and interventions tailored to patients with complex medical and psychosocial issues. Candidates should hold a doctorate in Applied Psychology and be skilled in clinical supervision and working within multidisciplinary teams. The position offers competitive salary and the chance to contribute to innovative psycho-social care.

Qualifications

• Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.
• Experience of working with patients with COPD and heart failure.

Responsibilities

• Provide highly specialist psychological assessments and interventions.
• Contribute to the development of a psychologically informed framework.
• Supervise the work of junior psychologists and trainees.

Skills

Clinical supervision

Psychological assessment

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cultural competency

Education

Doctorate in Applied Psychology or equivalent

Training in clinical supervision

Job description

Go back King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Specialist Practitioner Psychologist

The closing date is 06 February 2026

Are you looking for a exciting role that aims to bring the physical, psychological and social aspects of care together in an integrated way? We are delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to join the Integrated Psychosocial Service for Cardiorespiratory (IPS-CR). This role would suit an existing 8a psychologist (looking to develop and enhance their skills working within a specialist area) or an enthusiastic and capable band 7 psychologist (looking to progress to an 8a role in an exciting area of clinical practice). This part-time, permanent position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to an innovative model of psycho-social care that has demonstrated strong outcomes since its inception. We are looking for a dynamic, compassionate and enthusiastic psychologist to become part of this friendly and innovative team serving a diverse inner-city population with an unparalleled case mix. Support structures are in place with the post holder benefitting from clinical and professional supervision from a consultant clinical psychologist (with a long-standing special interest in cardiorespiratory patient populations), expert input and support from a consultant psychiatrist, close working relationships and specialist support from within the integrated respiratory and heart failure teams, collaborations with numerous medical departments and peer support from a friendly and innovative group of psychologists, psychotherapists, wider mental health and social work colleagues.

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

To provide a highly specialist psychological provision to the Integrated Psychosocial Service for Cardiorespiratory (IPS-CR) 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 the psychological aspects of the care and treatment of people with COPD and heart failure.

To undertake service evaluation, audit, research and policy development.

To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by principles, policies and procedures of the employing organisation (King's College Hospital), partner organisations (South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust) and the cardiorespiratory services (specifically the Integrated Respiratory and Heart Failure Teams), taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.

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

About us

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of £1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Job responsibilities

KR 1 Clinical and Client Care

To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients in the cardiorespiratory service including developing and delivering psychological interventions tailored to the needs of people living with complex medical and psychosocial problems; particularly those associated with their diagnosis of COPD and/or heart failure.

To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.

To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.

To work with colleagues to co‑ordinate the services delivered by the integrated psychosocial service for cardiorespiratory (IPS‑CR).

KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning

To contribute to the effective working of the team/service and to help contribute to the development and facilitation of a psychologically informed framework for the service.

To participate in a duty rota with responsibility for triage of referrals and requests for advice.

To contribute to Multidisciplinary Team Meetings that are held on Wednesdays.

To contribute to the team or services delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.

To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services.

To advise other members of the service on specialist psychological care of clients.

To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans.

To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

KR 3 Policy and service development

To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes.

To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.

To participate in the ongoing implementation of new initiatives (e.g. national guidelines) across the service.

To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.

KR 4 Care or management of resources

To take care of, and use carefully, the Trusts equipment and physical resources.

To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed.

KR 5 Management and supervision

To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of more junior psychologists and any assistant psychologists based within the team with support from a more senior psychologist.

To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism.

To contribute to the appraisal of more junior psychologists, as appropriate.

To contribute to the recruitment of more junior psychologists, as appropriate.

To provide supervision for the psychological work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate.

KR 6 Teaching and Training

To undertake occasional teaching and training of pre and post‑qualification psychologists and specialised training to other professions as appropriate.

To undertake occasional teaching and specialised training to professionals in the wider service/MDT as appropriate.

To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the service/MDT by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and the wider cardiorespiratory services and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.

To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.

KR 7 Record‑keeping and Information Governance

To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures.

To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.

KR 8 Research and development

To initiate, undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits.

To initiate and carry out appropriate research (NB: not a major job requirement [major = 20% or more of job]).

To provide expertise in a specialist research area which will contribute to service.

To initiate and implement the development of outcome measurement and assessment and assist other staff in the implementation of same.

KR 9 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development

To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC and Trust guidelines.

To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with BPS and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and the HCPC Standards for Continuing Professional Development.

To maintain an up‑to‑date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies.

To comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency, and ensure professional development in line with these.

To adhere to the BPSs Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.

KR10 General

To travel to sites across the Trust and the area it serves as appropriate and when required.

To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow trust policies relating to its management.

To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations including those associated with critically unwell patients and those approaching end of life care and to support others involved in such situations where appropriate.

Person Specification

• Entry-level qualification in Applied 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 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.
• Completed training course in clinical supervision.
• Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.
• Evidence of having worked with people with medical conditions as a clinical specialist under supervision.
• Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams with colleagues from a range of disciplines.
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of complex psychological and physical health needs.
• Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training.
• Experience of providing teaching and training to psychologists or other professional groups.
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions including for those living with complex medical conditions.
• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment.
• 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.
• Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis.
• Competence and/or specialist training in models of health psychology and/or behaviour change (e.g., motivational interviewing).
• CBT qualification and evidence of CBT interventions in clinical practice with people with long term medical conditions.
• Experience of working with people living with the conditions which are the primary focus of the Integrated Psychosocial Service for Cardiorespiratory (e.g., COPD and heart failure).
• Interest and/or experience in implementing service improvements.
• Good working knowledge of models of health psychology in addition to models of psychopathology.

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.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

£55,690 to £62,682 a yearpro rata per annum inc HCAS