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Trainee Counselling Psychologist - Final year

This job is closed to applications

Location
Salary
£47,951 - £56,863 Pa Pro Rota annum
Profession
Psychologist
Grade
Band 6
Deadline
24 Jul 2026
Contract Type
12 months (Fixed Term)
Posted Date
10 Jul 2026
Medical Protection — the side of locally employed doctors from £83

Job overview

This is a unique 12 month training role for Counselling Psychologists in the final year of the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology. This pilot position aims to increase the number of counselling psychologists working in Eating Disorder Services. The position requires the post holder to be working towards Doctorate level qualification in counselling psychology and due to commence the final year of training.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work in our new Community Eating Disorder Service which serves residents across our 3 London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets, City & Hackney, and Newham. The post-holder will provide assessments, interventions, and be part of existing QI projects whilst completing their Doctoral Programme of study. The postholder will work with other Counselling Psychologists, CBT Therapists, Assistant Psychologists, Dietetics, Clinical Associates in Psychology, People Participation Leads, and Service Users on placement in the service. This role will equip the post holder to provide interventions based on Counselling Psychology care principles and evidence-based interventions (CBT, FT-AN, CFT) consistent with their training course needs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Under supervision and with support, to develop knowledge and practice skills in:

  • Mental health assessments and evidence based interventions for adults who are suffering with Eating Disorders, families, groups and/or carers.
  • Assessment and management of mental health crises when they arise with support from senior staff
  • Formulation, implementation and evaluation of therapy programmes for service users in our community team
  • To take an active role in service development and Quality Improvement (QI) work undertaken by the team
  • To be part of a rota of duty clinicians managing referrals and providing a rapid response to urgent clinical situations.

Please state on your personal statement that you are moving in to your final year of  Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology (DPsych or DCounsPsych).

Person specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with a range of mental health problems- including eating disorders
  • Previous clinical experience of using CBT and/or CFT as a therapeutic model to support residents.
  • Experience of working in a culturally diverse, inner city service Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary way
  • Experience of care planning
  • Experience of working with adults, families, parents/carers

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in Eating Disorders

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Evidence of clinical skills relevant to working with adults with mental health difficulties
  • A good degree of self-awareness and an ability to reflect on personal and professional attitudes and accept feedback
  • Awareness of current national guidelines and policies in the field of Eating Disorders
  • A knowledge of Eating Disorder issues including assessment and interventions
  • A working knowledge of safeguarding guidelines.
  • Able to manage own time and caseload.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Able to work effectively across organisational boundaries
  • Keyboard/computer skills
  • Specialist clinical skills within specific therapeutic modalities
  • Skills in assessing and supporting mental health crises & risk

Desirable

  • Knowledge of specific inner city issues which impact on care delivery
  • Knowledge of development inter agency partnership

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

  • A minimum of upper second-class Bachelor’s degree from a UK University or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a Relevant subject e.g. psychology.
  • The candidate is currently undertaking a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and is due to commence the final year of training.

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Applying for this NHS job

This advert is for Trainee Counselling Psychologist - Final year with East London NHS Foundation Trust in London, London, England. It is listed as a Band 6 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is £47,951 - £56,863 Pa Pro Rota annum. The contract type is 12 months (Fixed Term). The application deadline is 24 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 (10 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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