Principal Bariatric Clinical Psychologist

NHS; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A large healthcare organization in the UK is seeking an experienced Bariatric Psychologist. This role involves developing and delivering psychological assessments within the new Complex Obesity Service. Candidates should have significant experience and relevant qualifications. Flexible working options and support for professional development are offered.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

NHS discounts

Generous pension scheme

27 days annual leave on commencement

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a senior clinical psychologist at band 8a or above.
• Expert knowledge in psychological models applicable to bariatrics.
• Experience delivering psychological interventions in physical health.
• Full clinical responsibility for patients within multidisciplinary care.

Responsibilities

• Conduct 1:1 patient care and direct services in the Weight Management Service.
• Engage in team meetings to discuss patient treatment plans.
• Develop and deliver assessments using evidence-based approaches.

Skills

Clinical psychology expertise

Bariatrics knowledge

Therapeutic interventions

Complex risk assessment

Team collaboration

Education

Doctoral level qualification in Psychology

HCPC registration as Clinical Psychologist

Job description

Overview

ESNEFT is a large NHS Foundation Trust serving a population of approximately 1 million people in the Suffolk and North Essex area. ESNEFT is starting a new Complex Obesity Service which will deliver bariatric/metabolic surgery, endoscopic and medical weight management treatments to the Suffolk and North Essex population. We have designed our service with many innovations to fit the current obesity landscape. We have combined the traditional Tier 3 and Tier 4 into a single comprehensive service (Tier 4 PLUS) and will offer all treatments including IWMP, GLP-1 medications, endoscopic and surgical bariatric procedures.

A national BOMSS survey of bariatric psychologists in 2022 found disparities between desired activity and actual activity in Specialist Weight Management Services. Psychologists spent much time assessing patients for bariatric surgery or other treatments whereas the focus they desired was on ongoing psychological treatment. Funding and outline pathways for psychological assessment and treatment have been allocated to provide a quality psychological element to the service. We seek a psychologist who can innovate and develop these assessment and treatment approaches using the latest evidence and quality standards.

Role and Responsibilities

This post is available full or part time with options for flexible working hours and remote working by mutual agreement. The role within the Weight Management Service will involve direct 1:1 patient care, service development, advice to other MDT members and potential group patient sessions. You will be a core member of the Multidisciplinary Team meetings and will discuss each patient’s suitability for treatment to agree with other MDT members a shared decision for treatment for each patient.

We are recruiting Bariatric Psychologists to develop and deliver this new service, seeking an experienced psychologist looking to progress their career in a Band 8b Principal Clinical Psychologist position. Supervision will be provided by experienced Consultant Bariatric Psychologists.

Any psychologists interested in discussing these roles and the Complex Obesity Service are invited to contact Mr Hywel Room, Consultant Bariatric Surgeon - [e-mail]

About us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes. We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff. We offer training and development opportunities, flexible working options, a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offers a variety of services. Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone, and we are investing in digital transformation with Epic to bring a leading EPR system to ESNEFT.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, we want to hear from you.

Details

Date posted: 18 September 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for Change

Band: Band 8b

Salary: £64,455 to £74,896 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number: 432-HR719-25

Job locations: Colchester, Turner Road, Colchester, CO4 5JL

Requirements

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a DBS check will be required.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information, please see NHS Careers website.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working as a senior clinical psychologist at band 8a or above in relevant settings and services (e.g., physical health and/or mental health).
• Evidence of training, experience and expert knowledge in psychological models and therapeutic approaches with an evidence base in bariatrics or physical health settings.
• Experience delivering psychological interventions in physical health settings.
• Experience in assessment and therapeutic work with adults with mental health/psychological needs including complex risk assessment.
• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for patients’ psychological care and treatment within multidisciplinary care.
• Experience of working autonomously within BPS and HCPC guidelines.
• Experience representing psychology in multidisciplinary settings.

Desirable

• Experience of using ACT, CBT, CFT and/or other therapies.
• Experience delivering specialist psychological interventions in weight management services and/or eating disorders.
• Experience developing intervention programmes and recording outcomes.
• Experience in delivering teaching and training to multidisciplinary groups.
• Experience supervising junior staff.
• Experience working with diverse client groups in multidisciplinary settings.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in Psychology at doctoral level (or equivalent for those trained before 1996) as accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
• Registration as a Clinical Psychologist with the HCPC.
• Post-doctoral training in additional specialised areas of psychological practice, including supervision skills.

Desirable Qualifications

• Post-doctoral training in additional specialised areas (e.g., within physical health).
• Formal training in supervision of other psychologists.

Knowledge

• Skills in complex psychological assessment, formulation, intervention and management.
• Excellent application of theory and clinical skills in psychological therapies.
• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and evaluation.
• Knowledge of applying legislation and national guidance in physical health.

Desirable Knowledge

• High level knowledge of two or more specialised therapies (e.g., ACT, CFT, DBT, CBT).
• Knowledge of therapies/models relevant to physical health settings and behaviour change theories.

Skills

• Ability to work under pressure with distressed staff or clients and within teams with differing opinions.
• Ability to work efficiently and pragmatically.
• Ability to sit for long periods for client therapy and computer work.