Job summary
We are seeking to recruit an experienced, BPC (British Psychoanalytic Council) and/or UKCP accredited, psychodynamic and/or psychoanalytic psychotherapist to act as professional lead for psychodynamic psychotherapy across adult mental health services (excluding child and adolescent mental health services) in BDCT. We are eager to appoint a professional who is passionate about working and developing analytically informed practice in the NHS, through their own clinical practice and through supervising and training clinicians across the Trust. The post holder will be responsible for the safe and effective practice of psychodynamic/psychoanalytic psychotherapy by clinical staff in the Trust.
The post holder will work alongside a strong, multi-professional team of psychologically trained clinicians, who provide individual and group work, training, consultation, supervision and reflective practice to staff and patients. They will actively engage with a locality community mental health team, working with senior clinical staff to provide clinical consultations, formulations and treatment to service users; to provide leadership and to support staff in their complex work.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will represent this analytic work at Trust level through working with the other psychological therapies lead professionals and in the Psychological Therapies Council. They will take a lead role in developing robust clinical pathways for service users to access psychodynamic psychotherapy, as part of the range of therapies on offer in BDCT.
We offer a wide range of training opportunities and would specifically welcome people trained in or willing to train in mentalisation based therapy.
We seek someone to join our strong and welcoming teams, who are committed to reducing barriers and inequalities for our diverse and marginalised communities and for groups who suffer from intersectional difficulties and needs to receive high quality, multi disciplinary, person centred and trauma informed care.
The successful candidate will be experienced working with adults with complex mental health needs and familiar with working through a trauma informed lens to understand what has happened to people and ways to alleviate their distress. We welcome innovation, creativity and holistic ways of working to meet the needs of our diverse communities.
Closing Date: Midnight on 24th February 2026
Shortlisting Date: 25th February 2026
Interview Date: 5th March 2026
About us
Everything we do is underpinned by our core values: -
We Care- We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
We Listen- We understand people's views and respond to their individual needs
We Deliver- We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners
We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :
Increase mileage rates for > 3500
A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
Plus many more.
We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidate's best interest to apply as soon as possible
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT).
Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT).
Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctorate level training in clinical or applied psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical, psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the BPS, or a BPS Statement of Equivalence AND Eligibility for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status AND Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC AND Undertaken post-qualification further training in a specialised area of psychological practice, specifically Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. OR Specialist post graduate training to doctorate level or equivalent in a psychotherapeutic modality, specifically Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy AND Accreditation from a recognised Psychological Therapy body e.g. UKCP or equivalent.
Desirable
- Leadership training
- Teaching (clinical practice) qualification/certificate or equivalent experience
- Training in trauma informed care.
- Training in advanced clinical supervision
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in relevant area of mental health practise
- Application of evidenced based specialist psychological therapies relevant to the clinical service.
- Application of specialist psychological therapy within individual and group modality.
- Clinical/professional leadership experience.
- Experience of teaching, training, supervision and consultation
- Experience of working within a multicultural framework
- Experience applying specialist psychological therapy to patients who have complex difficulties.
- Involvement in clinical research programmes
Desirable
- Leadership of clinical research programmes.
- Experience of leading or participating in regular reflective practice around themes such as anti-racism in therapy, power in mental health, the impact of health inequality and cultural curiosity
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctorate level training in clinical or applied psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical, psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the BPS, or a BPS Statement of Equivalence AND Eligibility for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status AND Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC AND Undertaken post-qualification further training in a specialised area of psychological practice, specifically Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. OR Specialist post graduate training to doctorate level or equivalent in a psychotherapeutic modality, specifically Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy AND Accreditation from a recognised Psychological Therapy body e.g. UKCP or equivalent.
Desirable
- Leadership training
- Teaching (clinical practice) qualification/certificate or equivalent experience
- Training in trauma informed care.
- Training in advanced clinical supervision
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in relevant area of mental health practise
- Application of evidenced based specialist psychological therapies relevant to the clinical service.
- Application of specialist psychological therapy within individual and group modality.
- Clinical/professional leadership experience.
- Experience of teaching, training, supervision and consultation
- Experience of working within a multicultural framework
- Experience applying specialist psychological therapy to patients who have complex difficulties.
- Involvement in clinical research programmes
Desirable
- Leadership of clinical research programmes.
- Experience of leading or participating in regular reflective practice around themes such as anti-racism in therapy, power in mental health, the impact of health inequality and cultural curiosity
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).
