Job summary
This role provides specialist psychological input across both the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) and A2I Services. The post holder delivers evidence based psychological therapies, develops complex formulations, and offers supervision and reflective practice to colleagues. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the role supports compassionate, recovery focused care for people with complex mental health needs.
The position includes responsibility for maintaining high standards of psychological practice, offering autonomous clinical work within professional guidelines, and contributing to service governance. The post holder also plays an active role in service development through audit, research, and the implementation of policy changes. A key aspect of the role is supporting and guiding other clinicians who provide psychologically informed interventions, ensuring that psychological thinking is embedded across the service.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide a high quality, evidence based psychological therapy service to individuals with complex mental health needs within the Community Mental Health Team and associated services. A key part of the role is the processing and clinical assessment of referrals for psychological therapy, ensuring that all interventions align with NICE guidelines and are delivered in a timely, recovery focused manner.
Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the role involves close liaison with colleagues to support coordinated care and optimal clinical outcomes. The post holder is responsible and accountable for delivering effective psychological interventions, using agreed outcome measures to evaluate progress and maintain high clinical standards. They will contribute to managing waiting times through proactive case management and efficient service delivery.
Alongside direct clinical work, the role supports the ongoing development of the Community Mental Health Service, participating in service improvement, professional development, and the evolution of psychological practice within the team.
About us
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides joined-up mental and physical healthcare for around two million people across our communities. With over 13,000 staff working in the community and local hospitals, we deliver care at every stage of life, helping people live their best and healthiest lives.
Our mental health services include community-based support and early intervention in psychosis (EIP) for both adults and young people, alongside a network of specialist inpatient wards covering forensic, learning disability, eating disorder and older person's care.
We deliver extensive physical health services too, from urgent community response teams helping frail and older patients remain safely at home, to hospitals at home teams providing acute-level care in familiar surroundings. Our neurological services offer rehabilitation and treatment for conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Head Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Stroke. Across Hampshire, our community hospitals provide inpatient rehabilitation as a step down from acute care, and our dedicated teams also staff Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Portsmouth, offering expert, compassionate support.
Everything we do is underpinned by our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect and excellence
Job description
Job responsibilities
Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.
We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.
We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- RMN, Dip, SW, Dip, OT, BSc OT, HCPC registered Psychologist, BACP Psychotherapist, EMDR Therapist
- Post-qualification training to at least post graduate diploma level e.g. CBT/EMDR/DBT/CAT
- Accreditation with BABCP.
- Post qualification training in clinical supervision from an accredited training provider.
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
- Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS.
- Ability to analyse highly complex information in which expert opinion may differ to allow the formulation of the appropriate treatment plan. Skills in the ability to organise ongoing and complex activities including managing own caseload.
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
- Knowledge of key legislation in relation to mental health and learning disabilities with particular reference to these most relevant to Adult Mental Health.
- Evidence of continuing professional development as required by appropriate registration body.
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical and clinically sensitive or highly contentious information to patients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
- Applied use of psychometric test equipment.
- Commitment to providing evidence-based therapies in line with NICE guidelines.
- Commitment to finding positive and creative solutions to demand management.
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice.
- Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.
Desirable
- Clinical supervision training for MHWPs
- Being qualified as Clinical Supervisor by the BABCP, or other recognised regulatory authority.
- Well developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies.
- Knowledge of highly specialised psychological therapies and assessment methodologies.
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services.
- Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets.
- Ability to manage own caseload and time.
- Demonstrates high standards in written communication
- Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers.
- Experience of working with people with complex mental health problems as part of an MDT.
- Experience of providing evidence based Psychological Therapies to people such as EMDR, CBT, DBT.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- The post holder will have excellent interpersonal skills, listening skills and communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively across multi- disciplinary groups.
- The post holder will have the ability to work effectively in urgent/crisis situations in order to assess service user's needs and implement appropriate support and/or treatment options.
- The post holder will ensure service user feedback is routinely collected, evaluated and actioned.
- The post holder will be innovative, creative and demonstrate a willingness to try new ideas for the benefit of improving the service.
- Experience of working with people with complex mental health problems as part of an MDT.
- Experience of providing evidence based Psychological Therapies to people such as EMDR, CBT, DBT.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- RMN, Dip, SW, Dip, OT, BSc OT, HCPC registered Psychologist, BACP Psychotherapist, EMDR Therapist
- Post-qualification training to at least post graduate diploma level e.g. CBT/EMDR/DBT/CAT
- Accreditation with BABCP.
- Post qualification training in clinical supervision from an accredited training provider.
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
- Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS.
- Ability to analyse highly complex information in which expert opinion may differ to allow the formulation of the appropriate treatment plan. Skills in the ability to organise ongoing and complex activities including managing own caseload.
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
- Knowledge of key legislation in relation to mental health and learning disabilities with particular reference to these most relevant to Adult Mental Health.
- Evidence of continuing professional development as required by appropriate registration body.
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical and clinically sensitive or highly contentious information to patients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
- Applied use of psychometric test equipment.
- Commitment to providing evidence-based therapies in line with NICE guidelines.
- Commitment to finding positive and creative solutions to demand management.
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice.
- Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.
Desirable
- Clinical supervision training for MHWPs
- Being qualified as Clinical Supervisor by the BABCP, or other recognised regulatory authority.
- Well developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies.
- Knowledge of highly specialised psychological therapies and assessment methodologies.
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of working in mental health services.
- Ability to meet agreed/specified service targets.
- Ability to manage own caseload and time.
- Demonstrates high standards in written communication
- Able to write clear reports and letters to referrers.
- Experience of working with people with complex mental health problems as part of an MDT.
- Experience of providing evidence based Psychological Therapies to people such as EMDR, CBT, DBT.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- The post holder will have excellent interpersonal skills, listening skills and communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively across multi- disciplinary groups.
- The post holder will have the ability to work effectively in urgent/crisis situations in order to assess service user's needs and implement appropriate support and/or treatment options.
- The post holder will ensure service user feedback is routinely collected, evaluated and actioned.
- The post holder will be innovative, creative and demonstrate a willingness to try new ideas for the benefit of improving the service.
- Experience of working with people with complex mental health problems as part of an MDT.
- Experience of providing evidence based Psychological Therapies to people such as EMDR, CBT, DBT.
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).
