Job overview
Here at HPFT we have a long history of delivering outstanding care, and we are taking our inpatient psychological therapies service to the next level. Through an extensive expansion of our psychology provision, we are in a period of skill development with the wider workforce and embedding trauma informed approaches across all wards. This is an exciting time of change.
We are looking for a caring and committed 8b Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to lead the teams supporting change. If you have the relevant skills, are energetic, imaginative and, above all, care passionately about working with individuals and families towards recovery, and leading an outstanding psychology service then we want to hear from you!
The role will be based across 3 sites in Stevenage, St. Albans and Radlett. You may also be required to spend time in our other sites across the trust. You will form part of a vibrant, passionate, and supportive inpatient psychology service.
We don’t want you to miss out so we’d like you to know that if we have a high level of interest in this role, the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date - Apply now!
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will:
- Be a HCPC registered Clinical / Counselling Psychologist
- Have strong post qualification experience in mental health, with extensive experience of working in acute settings.
- Have a solid understanding of recovery principles and Trauma Informed Approaches
- Have extensive skill in working flexibly and in collaboration as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Have experience of leading a team and driving through change.
In return we can offer:
- Regular opportunities for ongoing professional development
- Leadership and management training
- On top of basic salary, high cost allowance supplement £2,122 per annum pro rata
- 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service) plus bank holidays (pro rata where applicable)
- One of the UK's best pension schemes.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Trauma Informed Approaches look to recognise and acknowledge the impact of adverse childhood events and how these can cause or contribute to the development of mental health problems in adults, including how we are able to seek and use help when offered.
It understands trauma in a broad sense that includes the impact of discrimination and marginalisation on both staff and those who use our services.
HPFT is committed to developing policies and practises to reflect this trauma awareness, ensuring that the key message of ‘what has happened to you’ rather than ‘what is wrong with you’ runs through everything we do.
On the wards and in our crisis services we seek to create conditions that promote emotional safety and reduce harm through our interactions that recognise safety, empowerment, collaboration, choice and trustworthiness.
Please see attached Job Description for full details of the role
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
AREAS OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Assessed experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of adults of working age with a wide range of presentations of varying severity.
- Experience of working with moderate to severe mental health problems, including: psychosis and personality difficulties.
- Demonstrate further specialist clinical experience and training, through a minimum of 50 hours clinical supervision of working as a specialist clinical psychologist
- Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for client’s psychological care and treatment.
- Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision, including supervision of clinical psychology trainee(s) and Band 7-8a Clinical/Counselling Psychologists
- Experience working within a multidisciplinary service.
- Doctoral level knowledge of clinical psychology including highly developed models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology.
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management with clients with complex problems, including specialised psychological interventions for difficult to treat groups (eg multiple mental health and/or physical health problems). Ability to demonstrate an area of special interest/skill in assessment, therapeutic intervention or research/evaluation.
- Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS and HPC.
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively and well, orally and in writing, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, caress and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
- Able to plan own workload; and coordinate with other relevant staff in the delivery of clinical service
- Able to work at a high level of professional autonomy and responsibility, in a collaborative multi-disciplinary environment and also as a lone worker in circumstances where there may be exposure to verbal and sometimes physical aggression.
- Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical psychology.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and its implications for clinical practice in relation to adult mental health acute care.
- Experience of working within a multi cultural framework.
- Experience of working in an adult mental health inpatient setting
Desirable
- Experience of having published in either peer reviewed academic or professional journals and/or booksExperience of having published in either peer reviewed academic or professional journals and/or books
KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Good honours degree in psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
- Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, or fully completed training as a Counselling Psychologist.
- Strong post-registration experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment with clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature.
- Full registration with Health Professions Council
- Related academic qualifications to masters or doctorate level.
- Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice.
- Experience and or training in neuropsychological assessment
- Specific Training in Family/Systemic Interventions, CBT-P, DBT, MBT, EMDR, ASD/ADHD assessment/intervention.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist with Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust in Kingsley Green, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is £68,852 - £79,638 Per annum, Pro rata (5% HCAS Included). The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 10 Sep 2026.
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