Practitioner Psychologist, Psychotherapist or Psychological Therapist

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health service provider in the UK is seeking a Practitioner Psychologist to lead the clinical and psychotherapy efforts for the Assertive Outreach and Rehabilitation Teams. The role involves operational leadership, direct psychological interventions, and supervision of cognitive assessments to support individuals facing severe mental health challenges. Ideal candidates will have a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, HCPC registration, and experience in trauma-informed practices.

Benefits

Annual salary £72,921 to £83,362

Opportunity for professional development

Commitment to diversity and inclusion

Qualifications

• Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology required.
• Registered with the HCPC and evidence of professional development.
• Experience in supervising psychologists and facilitating reflective practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership to psychology and psychotherapy teams.
• Administer and supervise cognitive assessments.
• Lead team formulation meetings and implement trauma-informed care.

Skills

Cognitive Assessment Supervision

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Team Leadership

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Education

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

HCPC Registration as Practitioner Psychologist

Tools

WAIS-IV

Power Threat Meaning Framework

Job description

Go back South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Practitioner Psychologist, Psychotherapist or Psychological Therapist

The closing date is 11 November 2025

Band 8b Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist or Psychotherapist - Southwark Assertive Outreach and Rehabilitation Teams (AORT)

Lead Clinical/Counselling Psychologist for three AORT branches, including one Assertive Outreach Team and two Community Rehabilitation Teams.

The three branches provide enhanced support for people with a severe and enduring mental health problem, either due to their needs not being met within a traditional community team or because the service user has been placed within a block‑funded rehabilitation placement within the borough. A range of psychological therapies are offered by the psychology and psychotherapy team within AORT and although NICE guidelines constitute the core offer (e.g., CBT for psychosis, Family Interventions for service users with a schizophrenia‑spectrum diagnosis), flexibility, creativity and practice‑based evidence is supported. This includes psychodynamic psychotherapy, narrative practices and Open Dialogue. Use, and supervision of, cognitive assessment tools, such as the WAIS‑IV, is an important part of the role.

We are currently in the process of implementing a community services development plan. We are therefore looking for someone who can work effectively within a changing operational landscape.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide operational leadership to the psychology and psychotherapy team within AORT. In addition to operating as the lead for psychology and psychotherapy, the postholder will also hold a leadership and consultation role across the wider AORT multi‑disciplinary teams.

They will provide highly specialist direct and indirect psychological input within all three AORT branches. Direct work will include individual, family/network and group work. Of particular note, is the current need within the service for directly providing and/or supervising the administration, interpretation and feeding back of cognitive assessments, which the postholder will lead on within the service.

Each AORT branch has team formulation meetings underpinned by the Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF), which is a key part of the strategy to embed trauma‑informed care within the teams. The postholder will be expected to support and lead on this ambition within AORT. They will have the opportunity to take advantage of supervision groups and/or special interest groups within the Southwark directorate and/or wider Trust.

About us

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusthas a rich history, well‑established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.

We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good'.

We launched our five‑year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone's potential as change makers.

The Trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.

Job responsibilities

This role will be based within the Assertive Outreach and Rehabilitation Teams (AORT) in Southwark, which is part of our borough Complex Care Pathway. AORT is a multi‑disciplinary team that has a commitment to deliver excellent and responsive assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for people with severe and enduring mental health problems, who often present with a level of co‑existing complex needs, including substance misuse, significant risk, engagement and social exclusion and who at times may present with extremely challenging behaviours.

To develop, co‑ordinate and ensure the systematic provision of a specialist psychology and psychotherapy service to service users and carers within the Southwark Assertive Outreach and Rehabilitation Team (AORT), and personally provide highly specialist clinical input. This includes administering and supervising the administration of cognitive assessments.

To lead on further embedding trauma‑informed care and the Power Threat Meaning Framework within the service.

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 complex care.
• To ensure that systems are in place and working effectively for the clinical and professional supervision and support of other psychologists and psychotherapists within AORT.
• 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 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

• 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. Clinical psychologist: Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent; Counselling psychologist: MSc and PG Diploma in Counselling Psychology.
• Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.
• Additional training in CBT for psychosis (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.
• BABCP accreditation

Experience

• Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in CBT for Psychosis and Family interventions for psychosis
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature, including, but not limited to, psychosis and addictions
• Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training
• Experience of providing teaching and training to psychologists or other professional groups
• Post‑qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities
• Experience of facilitating team formulation meetings within a multi‑disciplinary context
• Experience of using the Power Threat Meaning Framework directly or indirectly with service users
• Experience of facilitating group interventions, for service users and/or carers
• Experience of facilitating reflective practice groups for staff teams

Knowledge

• Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for people with complex needs requiring high support; including, but not limited to, psychosis and addictions
• Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics
• Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis
• Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care
• Advanced knowledge of trauma informed care practice and/or the Power Threat Meaning Framework

Skills

• To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences.
• To be expert in the skilled administration of psychometric tests, including skilled manipulation of test materials; and to be able to supervise others in administration of psychometric tests.
• To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
• Well‑developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data.
• Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups.

Abilities

• Ability to work effectively within a multi‑disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
• Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self‑harming or aggressive behaviour.
• Ability to provide assertive outreach to people who are deemed as harder to reach.

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.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

£72,921 to £83,362 a yearper annum Incl. of HCAs