Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Psychological Therapist

The closing date is 29 January 2026

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, enthusiastic and resilient Senior psychologist or psychological therapist to join the Personality Disorder Hub team. The role will suit candidates who thrive in roles which include variety, complexity and challenge alongside opportunities for growth.

The Hub Team is central to a well-developed and cohesive series of wider pathway developments for service users with personality difficulties. It is part of a clear and embedded Trust strategy which works closely with partnership agencies and key stakeholders within and out with of the Trust.

The post holder will be a suitably qualified psychologist or specialist psychological therapist with appropriate professional registration.

Main duties of the job

  • providing specialist assessment, consultation and adapted treatment to adult service users with severe personality difficulties, complexity and high levels of risk to self
  • developing and embedding complex formulations with service users and team members
  • enhancing and embedding trauma informed care for individuals with co-morbid personality difficulties, complex trauma and dissociative disorders.
  • enhancing and embedding adaptations for clients with comorbid neurodiversity
  • providing clinical supervision to community practitioners within the team
  • providing supervision, advice and consultation to colleagues in other services, and to other non-professional carers, on psychological aspects of assessment, formulation, care and treatment of people with personality difficulties
  • assisting the clinical leadership develop team training, supervision models and wellbeing/reflective practice
  • assisting with service evaluation, development and appropriate service work streams

About us

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.

Details

Date posted

15 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number

263-SCG26-004-LB

Job locations

Benfield House

Benfield Road

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE6 4PF


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 15th January 2026

Closing date : 29th January 2026

We welcome your application.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 15th January 2026

Closing date : 29th January 2026

We welcome your application.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • An Honours Degree in Psychology recognised for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society, or RMN, or equivalent degree level qualification in mental health
  • Post-graduate qualifications in psychological assessment and psychological therapy (e.g. Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, Postgraduate diploma in CBT, IAPT High Intensity CBT diploma)
  • HCPC registered practitioner psychologist or equivalent e.g. BABCP registered CBT practitioner. Or Member of an appropriate professional body

Knowledge and expereince

Essential

  • Knowledge of the theory and practice of one or more specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups relevant to the community pathway
  • Substantial post qualification experience of specialist model specific psychological assessment, formulation and treatment of clients across a wide range of care settings
  • Demonstrate further specialist training and experience through having received a minimum of 50 hours clinical supervision of working as a psychological therapist over a minimum of 18 months or an alternative agreed by the Psychological Services Professional Lead.
  • Experience of providing clinical supervision.

Desirable

  • Experience of the application of psychological therapy in different cultural contexts.
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.

Skills and Competencies

Essential

  • Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management.
  • Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinical sensitive information to clients, their family, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
  • Skills in providing clinical supervision and consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
  • Skills in managing emotional impact of dealing with highly emotive and distressing situations through self management and use of the clinical supervision process.
  • Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi media materials for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
  • Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive behaviour.
Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • An Honours Degree in Psychology recognised for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society, or RMN, or equivalent degree level qualification in mental health
  • Post-graduate qualifications in psychological assessment and psychological therapy (e.g. Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, Postgraduate diploma in CBT, IAPT High Intensity CBT diploma)
  • HCPC registered practitioner psychologist or equivalent e.g. BABCP registered CBT practitioner. Or Member of an appropriate professional body

Knowledge and expereince

Essential

  • Knowledge of the theory and practice of one or more specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups relevant to the community pathway
  • Substantial post qualification experience of specialist model specific psychological assessment, formulation and treatment of clients across a wide range of care settings
  • Demonstrate further specialist training and experience through having received a minimum of 50 hours clinical supervision of working as a psychological therapist over a minimum of 18 months or an alternative agreed by the Psychological Services Professional Lead.
  • Experience of providing clinical supervision.

Desirable

  • Experience of the application of psychological therapy in different cultural contexts.
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.

Skills and Competencies

Essential

  • Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management.
  • Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinical sensitive information to clients, their family, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
  • Skills in providing clinical supervision and consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
  • Skills in managing emotional impact of dealing with highly emotive and distressing situations through self management and use of the clinical supervision process.
  • Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi media materials for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
  • Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive behaviour.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Benfield House

Benfield Road

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE6 4PF


Employer's website

https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Benfield House

Benfield Road

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE6 4PF


Employer's website

https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Principle Clinical Psychologist

Rob Watts

robert.watts@cntw.nhs.uk

01912876156

Details

Date posted

15 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number

263-SCG26-004-LB

Job locations

Benfield House

Benfield Road

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE6 4PF


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)