Lead Practitioner Psychologist, Sickle Cell Disorder and Thalassemia

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a practitioner psychologist within the NHS to provide specialized psychological support for adults with sickle cell disease or thalassaemia. The successful candidate will lead clinical management, contribute to research, and innovate care practices within a large, renowned healthcare system.

Qualifications

• Experience with chronic health conditions and multidisciplinary teams.
• Evidence of service improvement implementation.
• Registered with HCPC and ongoing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Leading psychological support for adults with sickle cell disease or thalassaemia.
• Providing specialist psychological assessment and interventions.
• Collaborating with healthcare providers to ensure adequate patient-provider relationships.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Psychological assessment

Education

Professional Doctorate in Applied Psychology

HPC registration as Practitioner Psychologist

Training course in clinical supervision

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has become available for an enthusiastic and experienced practitioner psychologist within our Department of Haematology.

The successful candidate will lead in the provision of specialist inpatient and outpatient psychological support to adults with sickle cell disease or thalassaemia.

We are looking for a practitioner psychologist who is passionate about tackling health inequalities and improving access to care and patient experience for those who are least well served by health services, and who has experience in working with patients with chronic health conditions.

Within the role, there is scope to contribute to research, or policy work in psychological care for people with Sickle Cell & Thalassemia as well as opportunities for service development and providing care in an innovative way. There are also opportunities for CPD and a chance to develop clinical skills.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be based primarily at the Royal London Hospital; a regional hub providing specialist services for adults with disorders affecting red blood cells. An important aspect of the role will be in providing management to a colleague whose focus is community based support, as well as close liaison with a colleague working in the paediatric sickle cell service, to assist with adolescents transitioning to adult care.

The role will have a focus on supporting the systems around patients to promote psychology and mental health well-being as an integral part of chronic disease management. Service users crucially need to maintain an adequate relationship with healthcare providers, and the psychologist serves to support that relationship, working with both service users and staff.

Direct work involves meeting with service users individually and/or in groups, providing specialist psychological assessment, support and intervention. Much of the work with service users will involve helping people manage symptoms or complications related to their condition, such as sickle cell pain crisis and addressing the psychosocial and occupational challenges of having a long term health condition.

In addition to joining the Haematology service, Barts Health has an established and growing infrastructure for clinical health psychology, so you will join a professional network committed to mutual support and development.

About us

Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.

The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.

Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.

We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.

Details Date posted

18 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£70,387 to £80,465 a year per annum inc

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

23 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

259-7288371RLH

Job locations

Royal London Hospital

London

E1 1FR

Job description Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.

We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.

Job description Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.

We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.

Person Specification Experience Essential

• Experience of having worked with people with medical conditions as a clinical specialist.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary team working joint work and inter-agency collaboration
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of complex psychological and physical health needs.
• Experience in implementing service improvements

Skills Essential

• Evidence of leadership skills; including the strategic development of services and proven success in project management of quality initiatives.
• Evidence of the ability to effectively collaborate with colleagues, family, carers, and service users to deliver the best possible services with available resources.

Knowledge Essential

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions, including for those living with complex medical conditions
• Understand of models of health psychology in addition to models of psychopathology.
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues.

Qualifications Essential

• 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.
• Completed training course in clinical supervision
• Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.

Person Specification Experience Essential

• Experience of having worked with people with medical conditions as a clinical specialist.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary team working joint work and inter-agency collaboration
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of complex psychological and physical health needs.
• Experience in implementing service improvements

Skills Essential

• Evidence of leadership skills; including the strategic development of services and proven success in project management of quality initiatives.
• Evidence of the ability to effectively collaborate with colleagues, family, carers, and service users to deliver the best possible services with available resources.

Knowledge Essential

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions, including for those living with complex medical conditions
• Understand of models of health psychology in addition to models of psychopathology.
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues.

Qualifications Essential

• 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.
• Completed training course in clinical supervision
• Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.

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

Barts Health NHS Trust

Address

Royal London Hospital

London

E1 1FR

Employer's website

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

Employer details Employer name

Barts Health NHS Trust

Address

Royal London Hospital

London

E1 1FR

Employer's website

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