Principal Bariatric Clinical Psychologist | East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust; Colchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in East England is looking for an experienced psychologist to join its new Complex Obesity Service. The role involves direct patient care, innovative psychological assessment, and collaboration within a multidisciplinary team. Opportunities for flexible working, training, and development are provided, with supervision by experienced consultants. Competitive benefits include a generous pension scheme and annual leave.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

27 days annual leave

NHS discounts

Qualifications

• Experienced psychologist seeking to progress within Bariatric/Weight Management services.
• Innovative in developing psychological assessment and treatment approaches.

Responsibilities

• Direct 1:1 patient care within the Weight Management Service.
• Conduct psychological assessments and treatment approaches.
• Involve in service development and multidisciplinary team discussions.

Skills

Experience in psychological assessment

Interest in bariatric/weight management

Education

Doctorate in Psychology

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. The service combines 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 highlighted a gap between desired activity and actual activity within Specialist Weight Management Services. The service has allocated funding and outline pathways for psychological assessment and treatment to provide a quality psychological element. The service seeks a psychologist to innovate and develop assessment and treatment approaches using the latest evidence and quality standards.

This post would be available full or part time with options for flexible working hours and remote working considered by mutual agreement.

Role and Responsibilities

• Direct 1:1 patient care within the Weight Management Service.
• Involvement in service development, advice to other MDT members, and potential for group patient sessions.
• Core member of Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings and collaborative discussion of each patient’s suitability for treatment to reach a shared decision with the MDT.
• Develop and deliver psychological assessment and treatment approaches; supervision provided by experienced Consultant Bariatric Psychologists.
• Position within the service is described as a Band 8b Principal Clinical Psychologist, with supervision by Consultant Bariatric Psychologists.
• As part of the role, involvement in clinical governance and quality improvement initiatives related to the Complex Obesity Service.

Qualifications and What We’re Looking For

• An experienced psychologist seeking to progress their career within Bariatric/Weight Management services.
• Interest in developing and delivering innovative psychological assessment and treatment approaches within a Tier 4 PLUS framework.
• Supervision will be provided by experienced Consultant Bariatric Psychologists.

Employers, Benefits and Location

We are ESNEFT and 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, and a generous pension scheme. Benefits include unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offers a variety of services. Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone, with digital transformation underway through a partnership with Epic to implement an advanced EPR system.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, we want to hear from you. Find out about living and working here at www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Application Details

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description. This advert closes on Thursday 9 Oct 2025.