Specialist / Highly Specialist Applied Psychologist

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust Specialist / Highly Specialist Applied Psychologist

The closing date is 09 December 2025

This post is advertised as an 8a post, we are willing to consider applications from Psychologists who do not yet meet the essential criteria for a Band 8a, but who would be interested in undertaking the post at a Band 7 initially, with a supportive plan for development and progression in due course.

We welcome applications from staff who are currently coming to the end of their training in Clinical or counselling psychology that on successful completion will achieve the required qualification and registration with HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist. Trainee counselling psychologists are eligible to apply for and to be shortlisted for interview and to be offered qualified posts when they are in their 3rd year of the doctoral training and have the following confirmed as completed by the university. This information may be requested prior to interview: a. All clinical competencies. b. 80% of the 450 supervised clinical practice hours (360 hours)

Trainee clinical psychologists are eligible to apply for and to be shortlisted for interview and to be offered qualified posts when they are in their third year of training, as they will have completed their core clinical competencies by this stage of the course.

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to take up a dynamic role within LDCAMHS in the Durham and Darlington community. You will be joining an enthusiastic and dynamic team, composed of different professionals including nursing, support workers, psychiatry, speech and language and occupational therapy. We have strong links with the IPBS Team and the Holly Unit, as well as our colleagues in generic CAMHS. There is a great emphasis on team working and supporting our collective wellbeing. You will also benefit from the wealth of experience from the other established staff members in the team. As a psychologist, you will be supported to develop professionally through opportunities for further training and effective supervision. The role is both varied and interesting, drawing upon a wide range of skills and experiences. It allows you to develop your therapeutic creativity in engaging with a diverse population of children and young people. You will have the opportunity to work systemically with families and our partner agencies. There are opportunities to pursue interests in research, audit, governance issues and leadership. You will also be joining a supportive network of psychological practitioners across the whole of Durham and Tees Valley, offering more opportunities for support, learning, and continuing professional development.

About us

There is a strong Psychology network across the Trust and within the CAMHS directorate. We provide training placements for the local DClinPsy and DCounsPsy courses and encourage Psychology staff to contribute to relevant research opportunities.

Psychologists & Psychological Therapists provide key leadership roles within the Trust. To support this we have developed leadership profiles for each psychology band and the profile card associated with this post is attached. You can find more information about the NHS Leadership Academy's Healthcare Leadership Model and the profiles at their website.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Post-graduate training (doctoral level equivalent) in clinical / counselling / forensic psychology (or its equivalent prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS.
• HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist
• Trained in clinical supervision (within agreed timescale)
• Trained in care co-ordination (within agreed timescale)
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Post-graduate qualification showing evidence of supervised practice in an evidence-based psychological therapeutic model
• Registration with BPS

Experience

• Must have experience/interest in:
  • Working with mental health/learning disability clients (depending on designated service area)
• Multi-disciplinary team working
• Experience of CBT, DBT, Psychodynamics, systematic therapy
• Experience of research and audit

Knowledge

• Doctoral level knowledge of: Evidence- based practice relevant to the role
• Risk assessment and risk management
• Clinical governance
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
• Audit and research methodology
• Social Inclusion agenda
• Awareness of:
  • The Trust's Quality Improvement System

Skills

• Must be able to: Communicate complex and highly sensitive information effectively, to a wide range of people
• Adapt creatively the evidence base for interventions in mental health for clients with communication difficulties / learning disabilities.
• Provide (within agreed timescale) effective teaching, training and clinical supervision
• Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake care co-ordination/lead practitioner responsibilities
• Undertake complex multiagency working and liaise with multiple systems
• Utilise psychometric tests competently
• Identify, provide and promote appropriate interventions / means of support for carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviours.
• Utilise appropriate clinical governance mechanisms within own work
• Use approved breakaway techniques
• Skills in using multimedia materials in presentations

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.

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

£47,810 to £62,682 a year
This is a B7-8a vacancy dependant on experience (see info)