Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Practitioner Psychologist - 8a (or band 7 - 8 preceptorship)

The closing date is 14 April 2026

Job summary

Senior Psychologist 8a (or 7-8a Preceptorship)

We are delighted to have been awarded funding to appoint to this new post for our inpatient wards at the Dept. of Psychiatry'. This is part of the trusts ongoing commitment to ensuring our service users have access to the best therapeutic and evidence-based inpatient support. We have two adult wards here and the successful candidate will join a large and growing psychological professions team across East Sussex and within our inpatient and urgent care services.

We are building a new hospital in Bexhill to replace our inpatient services at the Department of Psychiatry. This means that, if you are successful in your application, you will be transferred to the new facilities when it opens in 2026.

There is considerable scope to be part of exciting developments under way in East Sussex mental health services. We are developing pathways for psychosis and complex emotional needs with acute care and increasing the psychological formulation offer. We are currently spearheading the establishment of a dedicated Multiple Admissions Patient Pathway (MAPP) with consultant psychologist leadership based on the systemic principles of Open Dialogue.

Main duties of the job

This post will be providing senior psychological support for the department of psychiatry covering 2 wards, one male and one female.

They will work within the multi-disciplinary team and contribute to the development of psychological thinking, understanding and interventions/ approaches within the multi-disciplinary team. They will also be in a position to offer consultation, assessments and focused, short-term individual and group interventions.

We would also be happy to consider psychologists who could be appointed on a Band 7 to 8a development basis, where they would be supported to progress to the higher banding.

About us

The post holder will be a part of the wider East Sussex Psychological Professions group who work closely together and collaborate to promote and support the development and implementation of effective psychological services across our county. They will also be part of the Trust's Adult Acute Psychological network, which provides specialist guidance and support on governance and best practice, including specialty CPD days.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is a leading teaching and research mental health trust. We were granted teaching status in 2008 in recognition of our research background and our links with the Brighton and Sussex Medical School and other academic institutions. Currently we are in the top 12 mental health trusts in terms of research participants. Applicants with an interest in research will be welcomed.

Working here offers continued training and development, variety and a rewarding challenge, plus the benefits of living in Sussex, by the sea, in the beautiful South Downs or in any one of the exciting towns and cities we have to offer.

Details

Date posted

31 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £62,682 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

354-AE-21286

Job locations

Department of Psychiatry

Kings Drive

Eastbourne

BN21 2UD


Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide direct and indirect clinical psychological intervention to our adult inpatient wards at Department of Psychiatry.

To provide individual psychological interventions to those with complex presentations on the ward

To provide formulation and consultation to the MDT

To provide supervision to assistant psychologists and band 7 psychologists and other mental health professionals

To contribute to audit and service developments for the psychology service and wider MDT

To provide psychological leadership on the wards

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide direct and indirect clinical psychological intervention to our adult inpatient wards at Department of Psychiatry.

To provide individual psychological interventions to those with complex presentations on the ward

To provide formulation and consultation to the MDT

To provide supervision to assistant psychologists and band 7 psychologists and other mental health professionals

To contribute to audit and service developments for the psychology service and wider MDT

To provide psychological leadership on the wards

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology [or its equivalent for those trained before 1996 or outside the UK*] as approved by the HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology
  • For forensic psychologists working in forensic settings: Masters degree (with the award of the British Psychological Society qualification in forensic psychology or equivalent)
  • Professionally registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council (HCPC

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

  • Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings
  • Demonstrate specialist experience gained postqualification of working as an applied psychologist with evidence of having received a substantial amount of clinical supervision (normally in the region of approximately 50 hours)
  • Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology
  • Experience 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 the threat of physical abuse
  • Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology [or its equivalent for those trained before 1996 or outside the UK*] as approved by the HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology
  • For forensic psychologists working in forensic settings: Masters degree (with the award of the British Psychological Society qualification in forensic psychology or equivalent)
  • Professionally registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council (HCPC

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

  • Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings
  • Demonstrate specialist experience gained postqualification of working as an applied psychologist with evidence of having received a substantial amount of clinical supervision (normally in the region of approximately 50 hours)
  • Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology
  • Experience 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 the threat of physical abuse
  • Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.

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

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Department of Psychiatry

Kings Drive

Eastbourne

BN21 2UD


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Department of Psychiatry

Kings Drive

Eastbourne

BN21 2UD


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Jo Allen

jo.allen17@nhs.net

07974024931

Details

Date posted

31 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £62,682 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

354-AE-21286

Job locations

Department of Psychiatry

Kings Drive

Eastbourne

BN21 2UD


Supporting documents

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