Practitioner Psychologist, Psychotherapist or Psychological Therapist

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative NHS Trust seeks a Band 8a Highly Specialist Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to lead a multi-disciplinary team in providing trauma-informed care to homeless individuals. This vital role includes clinical leadership, supervision, and training for staff while championing new standards in psychological service delivery across Lambeth and Westminster.

Benefits

Generous pay and pensions packages

Flexible working options

Career development opportunities

Keyworker accommodation

NHS discounts

Counselling services

Wellbeing events

Long service awards

Cycle to work scheme

Childcare vouchers

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in psychological assessment and treatment.
• Registered psychology practitioner with relevant qualifications.
• Training in trauma-informed care.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership and psychological input to multi-disciplinary teams.
• Support development of care pathways for excluded populations.
• Clinically lead the provision of trauma-informed care.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Clinical expertise

Psychological assessment

Training

Teamwork

Education

Professional Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology

Registered with professional body

Job description

Job summary

The SLaM Psychology in Hostels (PIH) Service is an innovative multi award-winning specialist homeless psychology service. For 12 years PIH has led in the development of 'Psychologically Informed Environments' (PIEs) delivering 'Trauma Informed Approaches' and developing best practice for working with socially excluded populations across Lambeth and Westminster in partnership with the third sector.We are seeking a Band 8a Highly Specialist Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to work across the Psychology in Hostels (PIH) Team and the Integrated Health Network (IHN) in Lambeth.

The post holder will primarily be based with the IHN, providing clinical leadership and psychological input to a multi-disciplinary team delivering trauma-informed, wraparound care for people experiencing multiple disadvantage. One day per week will be spent with the PIH team to support fellow clinical psychologists, promote psychologically-informed approaches to homelessness, and engage in reflective practice.

Main duties of the job

As Clinical Lead for the IHN, you will hold an operational leadership role within IHN, and supporting PiH Leadership. You will provide clinical leadership (not line management) to a multi-disciplinary team comprising: 1x psychologist, 3x drug and alcohol workers, 2x peer support workers, and 2x nurses. You will will supervise junior Psychologists within PiH.

You will develop effective relationships with managers and leadership of non-SLAM NHS and Social Services teams in Lambeth, supporting the development of new ways of working together and ensuring high levels of cooperation in the interests of our clients.; and take a lead on developing operational policies, procedures, operating and governance structures, service design and embedding.

You will provide both direct psychological support--including assessment and evidence-based interventions--and indirect support, such as reflective practice, training, consultation, and service development work with partners and commissioners.

About us

About the location:

This post will be based across Lambeth, working at and within sites operated by our partners delivering homelessness sector services.

Our Trust headquarters is located at Denmark Hill less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2). We also provide services and operate across other locations, such as London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; and substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Lambeth, Greenwich and Wandsworth.

Benefits:

We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package, feel valued and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance.

Some of our benefits include:

• Generous pay, pensions and leavepackages dependent on the role and length of service.
• Work life balance,flexible working and supporting a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
• Career developmentwith plenty CPD opportunities such as mentoring, coaching, collective leadership and other talent programmes.
• Accommodation,our staff benefit fromkeyworker housing at selected sites.
• NHS discountsvia theHealth Service Discounts website.

Other benefits include:

• Counselling services
• Wellbeing events
• Long service awards
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Childcare vouchers
• Staff restaurants

Details Date posted

10 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£61,927 to £68,676 a year per annum inclusive of HCAs

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

10 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

334-CLI-7239149

Job locations

Psychology in Hostels Office and Partner sites around Lambeth

308 Brixton Road

London

SW9 6AA

Job description Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical

• To provide a high level of clinical expertise in supporting the psychological needs of clients.
• To ensure services are fair and equitable and meet the needs of the diverse populations we support.
• To support the development of care pathways for an excluded population.

Teaching, training, and supervision

• To provide specialist training in psychological and trauma-informed approaches to care for other professionals.
• To provide clinical supervision for psychological work undertaken by qualified psychologists and others.

Management, recruitment, policy and service development

• To hold an operational leadership role withinPIH.

  • To develop effective relationships with managers and leadership of non-SLAM NHS and Social Services teams in Westminster, supporting the development of new ways of working together and contributing to the development of service level agreements, ensuring high levels of cooperation in the interests of our clients.

  • To work with the leads/managers of PIH and MDT homeless partners, including CMHTs, acute mental health services and other NHS services to develop care pathways and to plan and deliver services that are integrated around the needs of service users

  • To take a lead on developing operational policies, procedures, operating and governance structures, service design and embedding.

  • To utilise change management and partnership development models; ensuring rapid and successful development of new services model across sites and partner organisations.

  • To identify any aspects of the service which could be improved and contribute to the service development on an ongoing basis.

Research and service evaluation

• To contribute to the development of services through undertaking service evaluation and audit.

General Responsibilities

• To ensure own Continuing Professional Development
• To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of key legislation

A full Job Description and Person Specification is attached to the advert.

Job description Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical

• To provide a high level of clinical expertise in supporting the psychological needs of clients.
• To ensure services are fair and equitable and meet the needs of the diverse populations we support.
• To support the development of care pathways for an excluded population.

Teaching, training, and supervision

• To provide specialist training in psychological and trauma-informed approaches to care for other professionals.
• To provide clinical supervision for psychological work undertaken by qualified psychologists and others.

Management, recruitment, policy and service development

• To hold an operational leadership role withinPIH.

  • To develop effective relationships with managers and leadership of non-SLAM NHS and Social Services teams in Westminster, supporting the development of new ways of working together and contributing to the development of service level agreements, ensuring high levels of cooperation in the interests of our clients.

  • To work with the leads/managers of PIH and MDT homeless partners, including CMHTs, acute mental health services and other NHS services to develop care pathways and to plan and deliver services that are integrated around the needs of service users

  • To take a lead on developing operational policies, procedures, operating and governance structures, service design and embedding.

  • To utilise change management and partnership development models; ensuring rapid and successful development of new services model across sites and partner organisations.

  • To identify any aspects of the service which could be improved and contribute to the service development on an ongoing basis.

Research and service evaluation

• To contribute to the development of services through undertaking service evaluation and audit.

General Responsibilities

• To ensure own Continuing Professional Development
• To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of key legislation

A full Job Description and Person Specification is attached to the advert.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession and extensive demonstrable practice in this field (e.g. professional Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology or other relevant professional doctorate or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/ supervised practice/ additional training) that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration.
• Registered with professional body as appropriate to discipline HCPC/APC/ BPC/UKCP/BACP/ BABCP/ADMP-UK.
• Additional training beyond entry-level qualification in a specialised area of psychological practice through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent) OR a combination of specialist short courses and/an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by a registered body and/or an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma or higher.

Desirable

• Additional training in relevant specialist psychological models (Psychodynamic, MBT, DBT, CAT, Systemic, Narrative).

Experience Essential

• Experience of post qualification highly specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in relevant speciality and/or client group e.g. Addictions/homelessness/complex trauma/psychosis/personality disorder/ mood disorder.
• Experience of consulting to, and supervising with other staff (incl. psychologists, MDT professionals and third/housing sector workers).
• Experience of specialist work with trauma and complex trauma
• Experience of working within CMHT and Acute MH Ward settings
• Experience of advocating for and delivering health care systems change for people experiencing homelessness

Skills & Abilities Essential

• Specialist practitioner skills at level 3 in at least one or more models of relevant psychological therapy (MBT, CBT/DBT, psychodynamic).
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex, highly technical and sensitive
• Skills in operational and project development and leadership

Knowledge Essential

• Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis.
• Evidence of post-qualification continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS and/or HPCP.

Desirable

• Specialist knowledge relevant to work in outreach, supported housing and homelessness
• Knowledge of 'Psychologically Informed Environments' and 'Trauma informed Care'

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession and extensive demonstrable practice in this field (e.g. professional Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology or other relevant professional doctorate or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/ supervised practice/ additional training) that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration.
• Registered with professional body as appropriate to discipline HCPC/APC/ BPC/UKCP/BACP/ BABCP/ADMP-UK.
• Additional training beyond entry-level qualification in a specialised area of psychological practice through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent) OR a combination of specialist short courses and/an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by a registered body and/or an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma or higher.

Desirable

• Additional training in relevant specialist psychological models (Psychodynamic, MBT, DBT, CAT, Systemic, Narrative).

Experience Essential

• Experience of post qualification highly specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in relevant speciality and/or client group e.g. Addictions/homelessness/complex trauma/psychosis/personality disorder/ mood disorder.
• Experience of consulting to, and supervising with other staff (incl. psychologists, MDT professionals and third/housing sector workers).
• Experience of specialist work with trauma and complex trauma
• Experience of working within CMHT and Acute MH Ward settings
• Experience of advocating for and delivering health care systems change for people experiencing homelessness

Skills & Abilities Essential

• Specialist practitioner skills at level 3 in at least one or more models of relevant psychological therapy (MBT, CBT/DBT, psychodynamic).
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex, highly technical and sensitive
• Skills in operational and project development and leadership

Knowledge Essential

• Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis.
• Evidence of post-qualification continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS and/or HPCP.

Desirable

• Specialist knowledge relevant to work in outreach, supported housing and homelessness
• Knowledge of 'Psychologically Informed Environments' and 'Trauma informed Care'

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

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Psychology in Hostels Office and Partner sites around Lambeth

308 Brixton Road

London

SW9 6AA

Employer's website

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

Employer details Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Psychology in Hostels Office and Partner sites around Lambeth

308 Brixton Road

London

SW9 6AA

Employer's website

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