Job requirements
Requirements from the employer’s person specification. These describe the role, not your personal match.
Essential
11 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Qualifications
Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology [or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996 or outside the UK] as approved by the HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
- Qualifications
Professionally registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council (HCPC)
- Knowledge/Experience
Significant assessed experience of working as a qualified psychologist
- Knowledge/Experience
Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, in-patient and residential care settings 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.
- Knowledge/Experience
Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients’ psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified care coordinator and also within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan
- Knowledge/Experience
Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology.
- Knowledge/Experience
Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group.
- Knowledge/Experience
Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups
- Knowledge/Experience
Knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialised psychological therapies and assessment methodologies
- Knowledge/Experience
Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC
- Knowledge/Experience
Formal training in supervision of other psychologists
Desirable
Not listed in the available specification.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Principal Practitioner Psychologist or Systemic Psychotherapist or Psychological Therapist to support the development of our Multiple Admissions Patient Pathway (MAP) Team. The MAP team was created as a pilot project to work with individuals who present with complex mental health needs, are high users of services and at risk of multiple admissions to hospital due to frequent cycles of crisis and difficulties engaging in community support. The team uses principles of open dialogue to provide support for people coming out of hospital to develop relationships with services and move towards recovery. We are looking for a dynamic individual who will support the extension of this project across East Sussex and provide leadership, supervision and consultation along with skilled clinical interventions for clients in the pathway.
Main duties of the job
The team is a multidisciplinary team who work using dialogical and systemic principles based on the open dialogue approach. They offer an enhanced level of support that is delivered via regular network meetings alongside other services to improve trust and engagement in the community offer of support. They work closely with carers/families and other agencies to ensure a joined up and consistent approach to care. All staff will be supported to complete training in open dialogue and training in working with complex mental health needs.
Training in Open dialogue desirable but not essential but candidates need experience working with complex mental health problems and interest in working with trauma.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We are looking for an experienced practitioner psychologist or psychological professional to lead the multiple admissions pathway in one area, provide clinical leadership, supervision and consultation to the pathway and grow our connections with other key stakeholders and work within the neighbourhood mental health teams. The role would also include facilitation of network meetings as well as the provision of psychological expertise in the pathway and direct and indirect therapy offer. You will be well supported by a vibrant PP workforce. There will be support from other principal psychologists in the area.
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 Principal Psychologist / Psychological Therapist-Acute and Urgent Care with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Haywards Heath, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is £66,582 - £77,368 Pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 09 Sep 2026.
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