University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Cognitive Behavioural Therapist

The closing date is 04 February 2026

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Neuropsychiatry team at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery which accepts UK wide referrals. We are looking for individuals interested in providing CBT psychological therapy using a range of therapeutic approaches (individuals and groups) to patients with complex neurological presentations and functional neurological disorders/medically unexplained symptoms. You will join an experienced and supportive multi-disciplinary team to deliver psychological treatment to a highly complex and diverse client group. There will be opportunities to develop your psychotherapy and research skills and develop your career in health settings.

Main duties of the job

1. To be a key member of the Neuropsychiatry Team. 2. To provide a highly specialist psychology service, assessing and treating suitable neuropsychiatric patients on both an in-patient and out-patient basis at NHNN. 3. To act in consultative capacity in matters relating to behavioural psychotherapy to Trust-wide medical and nursing staff. 4. To act as an education resource to the Trust-wide multidisciplinary team on matters relating to the above client groups.

About us

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

  • University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
  • National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
  • Royal National Throat,Nose and Ear Hospital
  • Eastman Dental Hospital
  • Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
  • University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
  • The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
  • University College Hospitals at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

At UCLH, we have a real 'One Team' ethos, and our values - safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.

Details

Date posted

21 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year Per annum inclusive of HCAS pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

309-UCLH-7329

Job locations

National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, UCLH

Queen Square

London

WC1N 3BG


Job description

Job responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Come and bea part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

*In the most recentNHS staff surveyUCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the second year in a row.

UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second yearrunning!University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Come and bea part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

*In the most recentNHS staff surveyUCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the second year in a row.

UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second yearrunning!University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential

  • Honours degree in psychology OR A recorded/registered qualification in psychology, nursing, social work or occupational therapy
  • Entry-level qualification in Psychotherapy that has been accepted by the BABCP for purposes of professional registration.
  • Qualification in CBT and/or psychology eg: ENB650, Diploma/Degree in CBT, MSc OR a combination of specialist short courses and/or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma or higher
  • Registered with the BABCP as a Psychotherapist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the BABCP.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of specialist psychotherapy assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature.

Desirable

  • Experience of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in Neuropsychiatry.

Skills, abilities and knowledge.

Essential

  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
  • Ability to select and administer specialist psychotherapy assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
  • Ability to communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
  • Ability to work effectively within a multi- disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
  • Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these
  • Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour.
  • Has well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families and/or carers and other professional colleagues.
  • Can carry out risk assessments within scope of practice.
Person Specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential

  • Honours degree in psychology OR A recorded/registered qualification in psychology, nursing, social work or occupational therapy
  • Entry-level qualification in Psychotherapy that has been accepted by the BABCP for purposes of professional registration.
  • Qualification in CBT and/or psychology eg: ENB650, Diploma/Degree in CBT, MSc OR a combination of specialist short courses and/or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma or higher
  • Registered with the BABCP as a Psychotherapist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the BABCP.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of specialist psychotherapy assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature.

Desirable

  • Experience of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in Neuropsychiatry.

Skills, abilities and knowledge.

Essential

  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
  • Ability to select and administer specialist psychotherapy assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
  • Ability to communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
  • Ability to work effectively within a multi- disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
  • Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these
  • Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour.
  • Has well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families and/or carers and other professional colleagues.
  • Can carry out risk assessments within scope of practice.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, UCLH

Queen Square

London

WC1N 3BG


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, UCLH

Queen Square

London

WC1N 3BG


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Neuropsychiatrist

Dr Panayiota Petrochilos

panayiota.petrochilos@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

21 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year Per annum inclusive of HCAS pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

309-UCLH-7329

Job locations

National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, UCLH

Queen Square

London

WC1N 3BG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)