Oxford Health NHS Trust

Clin/Coun Psychologist or Psychological Therapist/Systemic Therapist

The closing date is 09 January 2026

Job summary

Are you a newly qualified/soon to qualify Psychological professional looking for a new role in adult mental health? Or someone Psychological professional wanting to develop your systemic therapy skills?

We are recruiting a part-time Clinical/Counselling Psychologistor Psychological Therapist with training in Systemic Psychotherapy or willingness to train in systemic therapy, to provide psychological assessments and interventions for adults with severe and/or complex mental health problems, their families and carers. This role is part-time working 30 hours per week.

We also welcome applications from Clinical/Counselling Psychologists, or Psychological Therapists who are due to qualify soon.

Our enthusiastic, skilled and supportive team provides a range of therapies. You would contribute to the work of the team by joining the highly valued family therapy clinic and undertaking group and individual therapy with people seeking formulation-based CBT for developmental trauma and other complex difficulties.

Main duties of the job

You should be able to demonstrate your use of evidence-based practice in specialist adult mental health settings, including competence in cognitive-behavioural and third wave approaches and systemic interventions. If not already accredited, you will be willing to work towards accreditation with an accrediting body such as BABCP and/or AFT for which you will be fully supported.

As a member of Specialist Psychological Therapies you will work closely with colleagues in our adult mental health community and in-patient teams. You will also liaise with and support psychological therapists working at earlier steps in the Buckinghamshire Psychological Therapies Pathway. You will work with the Clinical Lead, Locality Leads, Team Manager and your team to ensure that the Buckinghamshire Psychological Therapies Pathway achieves its key objectives of delivering integrated, safe, accessible, responsive, effective and caring services to people in Buckinghamshire. You will ensure the service you provide is of a high quality and meets national guidance as well as meeting local and nationally agreed targets.

Please note if you are based outside of the UK you will need to hold HCPC registration in order to be considered for this role. The ability to travel independently between sites within the Trust is essential for this role.

About us

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

o Excellent opportunities for career progressiono Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and developmento 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous serviceo NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailerso Competitive pension schemeo Lease car schemeo Cycle to work schemeo Employee Assistance Programmeo Mental Health First Aiderso Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)o Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Details

Date posted

18 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum | pro-rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

267-BM7664730

Job locations

Whiteleaf Centre

Aylesbury

HP20 1EG


Job description

Job responsibilities

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.

Job description

Job responsibilities

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • oKnowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies with clients with severe and complex mental health problems
  • oDoctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology and psychotherapy

Desirable

  • oKnowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health

Qualifications

Essential

  • oDoctoral level training in clinical/ counselling psychology including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology
  • oRegistration with HCPC or equivalent

Desirable

  • oPre-qualification training and qualifications or experience in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology
  • oTraining and qualification in systemic family therapy

Further Training or Job Related Aptitude and Skills

Essential

  • oSkills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
  • oSkills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
  • oGood organisational and time management skills, ability to plan and prioritise own workload

Experience

Essential

  • oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, day services and inpatient settings
  • oExperience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and threat of physical abuse

Desirable

  • oExperience of running/co-running groups
  • oExperience of systemic family therapy practice
  • oExperience of offering CBT and third wave therapies to adults with complex psychological difficulties

personal qualities

Essential

  • oAbility 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 material and challenging behaviour
  • oA positive approach to working with adults with mental health difficulties

Desirable

  • oAn awareness of own strengths and limitations
Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • oKnowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies with clients with severe and complex mental health problems
  • oDoctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology and psychotherapy

Desirable

  • oKnowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health

Qualifications

Essential

  • oDoctoral level training in clinical/ counselling psychology including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology
  • oRegistration with HCPC or equivalent

Desirable

  • oPre-qualification training and qualifications or experience in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology
  • oTraining and qualification in systemic family therapy

Further Training or Job Related Aptitude and Skills

Essential

  • oSkills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
  • oSkills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
  • oGood organisational and time management skills, ability to plan and prioritise own workload

Experience

Essential

  • oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, day services and inpatient settings
  • oExperience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and threat of physical abuse

Desirable

  • oExperience of running/co-running groups
  • oExperience of systemic family therapy practice
  • oExperience of offering CBT and third wave therapies to adults with complex psychological difficulties

personal qualities

Essential

  • oAbility 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 material and challenging behaviour
  • oA positive approach to working with adults with mental health difficulties

Desirable

  • oAn awareness of own strengths and limitations

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

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

Whiteleaf Centre

Aylesbury

HP20 1EG


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

Whiteleaf Centre

Aylesbury

HP20 1EG


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Anne Schmidt

Anne.Schmidt@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

01865901620

Details

Date posted

18 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum | pro-rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

267-BM7664730

Job locations

Whiteleaf Centre

Aylesbury

HP20 1EG


Supporting documents

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