Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologist

The closing date is 27 February 2026

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Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and energetic Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to work in Acute Mental Health. You will be working in a very dynamic environment, which will provide you with many opportunities to learn and develop your therapeutic and systemic skills. There will also be an opportunity to be creative and innovative within the role, bringing new ideas, incorporating evidence-based practice into how the service is delivered.

Within the ward environment, you will have the opportunity to develop skills and expertise in the application of psychology not just at an individual level, but at the team and group level. A strong interest in pursuing consultation and leadership roles and developing skills in assessment and practice within a group context is desired. Running reflective practice sessions for staff, consider your position in the team and wider systemic issues, together with an interest in developing the skills to intervene via a range of formats, e.g., ward groups, staff consultation, families/carers and the MDT.

You will be well supported through regular clinical and managerial supervision as well as training to develop both professionally and personally within the role. There are many CPD opportunities as well as opportunities to join specialist supervision groups, such as the Trauma Clinical Network Group and other groups.

Experience in an Acute Setting is not required for this role and we would consider newly qualified psychologists.

Main duties of the job

You will support and assist the core aims within the service, both in direct clinical work and as a positive member of the multi-disciplinary team and wider service, having an important liaison function supporting the transition of patients between services.

You will provide psychological assessment and treatment, as well as psychological formulations and consultation to the multi-disciplinary team. You will also provide evidence-based group interventions such as DBT informed skills and support groups, as well as reflective practice/case discussions for staff.

You will also be a qualified practitioner on site to offer supervision, advice, support and to work with the assistant psychologists and trainee CAPS.

About us

We are the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway. Our teams support adults with a wide range of mental health needs. Because we cover the whole county and both hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the 1.8 million people of Kent and Medway. Rated 'Good' by the CQC, we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year.

Our vision is simple: We are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. And everything we do is guided by our values caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us - if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's doing well together.

Details

Date posted

13 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per anum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

380-AC0727-B

Job locations

Eastern & Coastal Area Office, Canterbury

Littlebourne Road

Canterbury

CT1 1AZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached job description for full details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role.

At KMPT, we are serious about diversity and inclusion, and we are working hard to build this into our DNA. We warmly welcome applications for any of our roles from people from diverse backgrounds, and we are proactively encouraging applications from under-represented communities for our more senior roles, like this one.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached job description for full details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role.

At KMPT, we are serious about diversity and inclusion, and we are working hard to build this into our DNA. We warmly welcome applications for any of our roles from people from diverse backgrounds, and we are proactively encouraging applications from under-represented communities for our more senior roles, like this one.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • HCPC registration
  • Doctoral level training in psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, two or more distinct psychological therapies

Desirable

  • Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.

Experince

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.

Desirable

  • Experience of working with psychosis.
  • Experience of working in an acute care service.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • HCPC registration
  • Doctoral level training in psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, two or more distinct psychological therapies

Desirable

  • Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.

Experince

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.

Desirable

  • Experience of working with psychosis.
  • Experience of working in an acute care service.

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

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Address

Eastern & Coastal Area Office, Canterbury

Littlebourne Road

Canterbury

CT1 1AZ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Address

Eastern & Coastal Area Office, Canterbury

Littlebourne Road

Canterbury

CT1 1AZ


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Psychologist

James Tomalin

james.tomalin@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

13 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per anum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

380-AC0727-B

Job locations

Eastern & Coastal Area Office, Canterbury

Littlebourne Road

Canterbury

CT1 1AZ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)