Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Clinical Psychologist

The closing date is 01 December 2025

Job summary

Please note this role is currently only being advertised to staff members who are currently working within the Kent and Medway ICS

Part-time HCPC registered band clinical psychologist (up to band 8a dependant on experience) required for a bariatric (weight loss) surgery service based at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Additional sessions in critical care may be available.

Newly qualified psychologists who have already completed training will be considered for a preceptorship role.

Informal enquiries welcome.

Main duties of the job

Clinical psychologist working within a specialist, multi-disciplinary bariatric (weight loss) surgery service, based at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Kent.

At least two years relevant experience of working as qualified clinical psychologist in physical health preferred. Understanding of health psychology models of behavioural change and emotional eating highly desirable.

Must be able to demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, and a commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate and patient-focused care. Ability to work autonomously, with regular clinical supervision provided required.

About us

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.

We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.

Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.

Looking for flexible working?We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it's adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.

Click here to hear what our staff say.

Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:

  • At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
  • Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
  • Blue Light card eligibility
  • And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below

Details

Date posted

17 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

359-7535856-T3

Job locations

Tunbridge Wells Hospital

Tonbridge Road

Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

TN2 4QJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Weve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.

Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children). If a role involves regulated activity and requires a DBS check with a barred list check, you cannot apply if you are on the barred list.

All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Weve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.

Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children). If a role involves regulated activity and requires a DBS check with a barred list check, you cannot apply if you are on the barred list.

All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or equivalent qualification for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
  • Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice
  • Current registration with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist
  • Formal training in supervision of other psychologists

Desirable

  • Post qualification training/accreditation in assessment measures /methods.

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

  • Assessed experience of working as a qualified psychologist at a highly specialist level within a physical health setting.
  • Experience of supervision of trainee and qualified psychologists.
  • Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups within physical health.
  • Experience of providing relevant teaching and training .
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.

Desirable

  • Relevant knowledge and experience of psychological issues for patients in specialties applied to work in.
  • Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts

Skills

Essential

  • 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.
  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or equivalent qualification for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
  • Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice
  • Current registration with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist
  • Formal training in supervision of other psychologists

Desirable

  • Post qualification training/accreditation in assessment measures /methods.

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

  • Assessed experience of working as a qualified psychologist at a highly specialist level within a physical health setting.
  • Experience of supervision of trainee and qualified psychologists.
  • Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups within physical health.
  • Experience of providing relevant teaching and training .
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.

Desirable

  • Relevant knowledge and experience of psychological issues for patients in specialties applied to work in.
  • Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts

Skills

Essential

  • 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.
  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.

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

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Address

Tunbridge Wells Hospital

Tonbridge Road

Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

TN2 4QJ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Address

Tunbridge Wells Hospital

Tonbridge Road

Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

TN2 4QJ


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant/Lead Clinical Psychologist

Dr Elaine Johnston

elaine.johnston3@nhs.net

01892635278

Details

Date posted

17 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

359-7535856-T3

Job locations

Tunbridge Wells Hospital

Tonbridge Road

Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

TN2 4QJ


Supporting documents

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