Applied Psychologist/Highly Specialist Psychologist


Location
Darlington, England
Salary
£49387.00 to £64750.00
Profession
Psychologist
Grade
Band 7, Band 8
Deadline
01 Nov 2026
Contract Type
12 months (Fixed Term/Secondment for 12 months- Maternity leave cover)
Posted Date
16 Oct 2026
Medical Protection — the side of locally employed doctors from £83

Job requirements

Essential

26 listed

Requirements the employer expects applicants to meet.

  • General

    Ability to travel independently across region covered by community teams

  • Knowledge

    Working with mental health/learning disability clients (depending on designated service area)

  • Knowledge

    Multi-disciplinary team working

  • Knowledge

    Experience of research and audit

  • Knowledge

    Doctoral level knowledge of: Evidence- based practice relevant to the role

  • Knowledge

    Risk assessment and risk management

  • Knowledge

    Clinical governance

  • Knowledge

    Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.

  • Knowledge

    Audit and research methodology

  • Knowledge

    Social Inclusion agenda

  • Qualifications

    Post-graduate training (doctoral level equivalent) in clinical / counselling / forensic psychology (or its equivalent prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS.

  • Qualifications

    HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist

  • Qualifications

    Trained in clinical supervision and the supervision (within agreed timescale)

  • Qualifications

    Trained in care co-ordination (within agreed timescale)

  • Qualifications

    Evidence of continuing professional development

  • Knowledge/Skills/Experience

    Awareness of: The Trust’s Quality Improvement System

  • Knowledge/Skills/Experience

    Must be able to: Communicate complex and highly sensitive information effectively, to a wide range of people

  • Knowledge/Skills/Experience

    Adapt creatively the evidence base for interventions in mental health for clients with communication difficulties / learning disabilities

  • Knowledge/Skills/Experience

    Provide (within agreed timescale) effective teaching, training and clinical supervision

  • Knowledge/Skills/Experience

    Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake care co-ordination/lead practitioner responsibilities

  • Knowledge/Skills/Experience

    Undertake complex multiagency working and liaise with multiple systems

  • Knowledge/Skills/Experience

    Utilise psychometric tests competently

  • Knowledge/Skills/Experience

    Identify, provide and promote appropriate interventions / means of support for carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviours.

  • Knowledge/Skills/Experience

    Utilise appropriate clinical governance mechanisms within own work

  • Knowledge/Skills/Experience

    Use approved breakaway techniques

  • Knowledge/Skills/Experience

    Demonstrate effective keyboard skills

Desirable

3 listed

Additional qualities the employer would prefer.

  • Qualifications

    Registration with BPS

  • Knowledge/Skills/Experience

    Experience of CBT, DBT, Psychodynamics, systematic therapy

  • Knowledge/Skills/Experience

    Skills in using multimedia materials in presentations

Job overview

We are seeking to appoint a Clinical Psychologist. The vacancy is open to either a newly qualified Psychologist or an experienced Psychologist, with appropriate job description and banding being applied accordingly to the successful candidate. Dependant on candidates experience they may start at any of the following increments: Band 7, Band 7-8a developmental or Band 8a. The post holder will have a key role in providing psychological assessments as well as a therapeutic, consultative and advisory service in relation to adults with learning disabilities, their families and carers, according to identified clinical need. In addition to direct clinical work, providing consultation and where necessary clinical supervision to other team members in regard to patients is an important element of the role. Applicants should have experience in working within Learning Disability services and show strong patient-centred values. The successful applicant will be enthusiastic, motivated, and demonstrate a commitment to delivering excellent mental health care and evidence based interventions. Opportunities to develop special interests and co-work will be encouraged, as will opportunities to undertake service development activities.

Main duties of the job

This post offers exciting opportunities within the Tees Adult Learning Disability Service within South Tees multidisciplinary community team based at Flatts Lane Centre Middlesbrough The multidisciplinary teams offer specialist health services to adults with a learning disability, their families and carers. The teams also work closely with statutory agencies and others who provide services to people with a learning disability.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

If recruited to a band 7 post, this will be a developmental post with progression to an 8a banding upon meeting the criteria within the 8a job description.

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.

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

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 on NHS Jobs. You can find more information about the NHS Leadership Academy’s Healthcare Leadership Model and the profiles at their website. We encourage you to look at these resources as they will play a part in the interview process.

The post holder will have a key role in providing psychological assessments as well as a therapeutic, consultative and advisory service in relation to adults with learning disabilities, their families and carers, according to identified clinical need. In addition to direct clinical work, providing consultation and where necessary clinical supervision to other team members in regard to patients is an important element of the role.

Applicants should have experience in working within Learning Disability services and show strong patient-centred values. The successful applicant will be enthusiastic, motivated, and demonstrate a commitment to delivering excellent mental health care and evidence-based interventions. Opportunities to develop special interests and co-work will be encouraged, as will opportunities to undertake service development activities.

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

This job advert may close early if a high volume of applications have been received. If interested, please apply for this post as soon as possible.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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Applying for this NHS job

This advert is for Applied Psychologist/Highly Specialist Psychologist with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust in Darlington, England. It is listed as a Band 7, Band 8 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is £49387.00 to £64750.00. The contract type is 12 months (Fixed Term/Secondment for 12 months- Maternity leave cover). The application deadline is 01 Nov 2026.

Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (16 Oct 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.

For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.