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Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join NLFT Unplanned Care Inpatient Psychology Service. We are an expanding team of psychologists and CAPs working across inpatient services at Highgate Mental Health Centre West.
We are delighted to advertise this post in recognition of the Trust's commitment to improving access to psychological interventions and continuing to develop Trauma Informed Care within inpatient settings for adult service users.
The post-holder will be the lead psychologist for two wards, one adult treatment ward, and one PICU (Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit).
We are looking for a psychologist with excellent clinical skills and with demonstrated expertise and knowledge of working with adults experiencing mental health difficulties and presenting in acute distress.
Enthusiasm, personal resilience and the ability to work flexibly are essential qualities needed for this post. Those currently working at Band 7 who are ready for career progression are encouraged to apply.
Newly qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologists, or those expecting to qualify in 2026, are encouraged to apply as posts could be offered as a Preceptorship. We offer a tailored programme of Continued Professional Development (CPD) and other developmental opportunities to support your progression and career development.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work within the inpatient service based at Highgate Mental Health Centre. They will be the lead psychologist for two wards working within the ward MDTs who greatly value psychological interventions.
There will also be opportunities to collaborate with psychology colleagues within the inpatient service on clinical initiatives and developing research projects.
This post will work with ward MDTs and manage psychology referrals for direct clinical work including assessment, brief formulation-driven interventions and group work. Systemic interventions will also be encouraged to support families and significant others involved with our service users.
The post holder will also focus on providing consultation, reflective practice and training to teams across the inpatient service and have opportunities for service development focused on developing Trauma Informed approaches and improving clinical care.
There is a growing initiative to support research skills for audit, policy and service development/quality improvement.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Main responsibilities are outlined in details in the job description document attached. Person specification would be different for a newly qualified clinician applying for a band 7 role and for an experienced clinician applying for a band 8a role.
Person specification
Skills/ Abilities
Essential
- Experience in working with a wide variety of client groups across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries and form positive therapeutic relationship with service users and carers
- Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers, and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
Desirable
- Experience of working within a multicultural framework
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Enthusiasm and commitment to the psychological treatment of those in the acute care pathway
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries and form positive therapeutic relationship with service users and carers
Desirable
- Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals
Experience/ Knowledge
Essential
- Multi-disciplinary team working and involvement in developing risk management plans and supporting care of service users
- Experience of supporting reflective practice
- Experience of participating in or supporting post-incident debriefs
Desirable
- A commitment to the evaluation of services, and enthusiasm for both multi-professional audit
Qualifications/ Registrations
Essential
- Doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology
- Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as clinical psychologist or a counselling psychologist
- Experience in working in acute inpatient setting
Desirable
- Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision
- A commitment to the evaluation of services, and enthusiasm for multi-professional audit
- Experience in facilitating group sessions
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Clinical/Counselling Psychologist with Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust in London, London, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is £58,133 - £73,496 Opportunity for preceptorship (Band 7). The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 15 Jul 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 (01 Jul 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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