Specialist Applied Psychologist

Job overview

Maternity cover - fixed term 12 months

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated Specialist Applied Psychologist to join our Psychologically Informed Community Services (PICs) as part of the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway across Durham and the Tees Valley.

This innovative service delivers psychologically informed formulation and consultation for individuals assessed as presenting with complex interpersonal, relational, and personality difficulties. Working closely with probation partners, the service supports psychologically informed practice across community offender management, enhancing risk management, rehabilitation, and relational safety.

The PICs team forms a key component of the regional OPD Pathway and works alongside OPD services in custody and community settings.

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

Main duties of the job

Clinical Formulation

Develop psychological formulations that integrate theory, evidence, and service‑user context.

Provide risk assessments (self-harm, suicide, violence, vulnerability) and contribute to risk management plans.

Consultation and Multidisciplinary Working

Offer psychologically-informed consultation to probation colleagues and the wider MDT

Contribute to supporting clinical decision‑making and care planning at MDT reviews.

Indirect Work and Service Development

Contribute to service improvement initiatives, pathway development, and quality assurance processes.

Participate in clinical governance, audits, and service evaluations.

Teaching, Training, and Supervision

Provide supervision other staff.

Deliver training sessions to probation colleagues on psychological models, trauma-informed practice, risk, formulation, etc.

Professional Leadership

Take responsibility for defined areas of clinical practice or small-scale service initiatives.

Support the implementation of Trust-wide psychological strategies (e.g., trauma-informed care, relational security).

Work autonomously within professional guidelines (HCPC, BPS) and Trust policies.

Research, Evaluation, and Evidence-Based Practice

Use outcome measures, service evaluation tools, and research evidence to inform practice.

Contribute to or lead small-scale research projects, audits, or service evaluations.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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.

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.

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