Job overview
This is a maternity cover post for a Clinical Psychologist to join the Adult Neuropsychology (ANP) service in Dorset and work as a member of the East Dorset Early Supported Discharge (ESD) Service across the community in East Dorset.
This post will work with stroke and neuro patients under the ESD service. The role will be supervised by the Clinical Neuro Psychologist for the East Stroke & Neuro pathway and work closely with the adult Neuropsychology service in Dorset Healthcare. The post holder will be expected to work at Canford House, outpatient clinics and community locations in East Dorset.
This is a fixed term role and for those with current NHS service, the role will be offered on a secondment basis only. Please obtain permission to be released on a secondment before submitting an application.
The post is being advertised as an 8a but applicants who are looking for a preceptorship role at band 7 will be considered as well (24.25 hours for band 7)
Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of.
Please note visa sponsorship for this role is unfortunately not available. Ensure you hold valid right to work in the UK and will not require sponsorship if successful.
Main duties of the job
The Clinical Psychologist in this post will be fully responsible for the delivery of psychological services to adults within the ESD service in East Dorset. They will be offering and implementing skilled assessments and clinical formulations to enhance the understanding of the nature of the stroke/neurological conditions for the patients, their carers and the rehabilitation team.
The Clinical Psychologist will develop and implement highly specialised clinical psychological programmes. These will be delivered directly to the patients as well as integrated within the rehabilitation offered by the multidisciplinary service.
The Clinical Psychologist will have autonomy to plan and prioritise their workload. This includes collaborations within the team, with related agencies and teaching organisations.
The Clinical Psychologist will offer consultancy activities to primary care and other professionals which will involve teaching, training and supervision. The psychologist will also support the training and supervision of clinical psychologists, trainee psychologists and assistants. They will benefit from our strong links with clinical psychology training programmes and neuropsychology courses at the universities linked with Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust.
The Clinical Psychologist will have opportunities & obligations to further their CPD in line with guidelines set down by the Trust and the BPS/HCPC.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post. We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidate’s individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role. All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application. As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net
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.
Person specification
Job Specific Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
- Experience of complex specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings.
Personal Qualities/Attributes
Essential
- Ability to communicate complex, sensitive information where there may be barriers to understanding or where professional opinions may differ and to form relationships where there may be barriers to these relationships being formed.
Knowledge, Skills and Training
Essential
- Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology as accredited by the BPS or HCPC
- Relevant specialist training (e.g. postdoctoral qualifications in clinical neuropsychology) or qualifications for Highly Specialist Psychologist
- Knowledge of clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the BPS.
- Experience of working with adults following an acquired brain injury/stroke
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological and neuropsychological assessments (including psychometric assessment), intervention and management, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Clinical Psychologist (band 8a or band 7) with Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust in Canford House. It is listed as a Band 8 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is £57,528 - £64,750 p.a. pro rata. The contract type is Fixed term: 12 months (maternity cover). The application deadline is 06 Sep 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 (21 Aug 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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