Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Senior Clinical/Counselling Psychologist - Development Role

The closing date is 12 April 2026

Job summary

We are pleased to offer this development role (Band 8a to Band 8b preceptorship) to an enthusiastic and experienced psychologist who is motivated to improve the care and support of people experiencing psychosis and bipolar disorder. A development plan will help you progress to an 8b grade across an 18 month to 2 year time period.

You will be based in our well-established Early Intervention in Psychosis service where you will be an essential part of the leadership team and supervise a senior psychological therapist.

In addition, you will input to our Neighbourhood Mental Health Teams to provide access to specialist psychological intervention and promote psychologically informed ways of working with people with psychosis or bipolar disorder.

Psychologists in Herefordshire are integrated within MDTs and are also part of a wider supportive network of psychological professionals.

The post is advertised as 1 wte but we would consider 0.8 wte or job share. At least 0.5wte would be dedicated to EIP working.

We welcome enquires so please contact the recruiting manager (details at the top right-hand side of the advert) for informal discussion.

The post is also offered as a Band 8b position Please see separate advert to apply.

Main duties of the job

This post is integral to the provision of NICE recommended psychological interventions for people with diagnoses of psychosis or bipolar disorder.

You will provide specialist assessment, formulation, and intervention (including but not limited to CBTpbd and Family Interventions) and support the MDT through supervision, reflective practice, training and consultation.

You will contribute to clinical leadership within the EIP service and be supported to develop quality improvement initiatives promoting trauma informed care and coproduction, as well as engaging in audit and research as appropriate, in line with key national and local priorities and with local partners.

Your personal and professional development will be key, fostered within a culture of strong, compassionate working relationships. Leadership skills and experience working in the field of Psychosis/Bipolar Disorder will be an advantage, as well as the ability to work within different MDTs and clinical settings.

About us

At Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, we are working together to deliver outstanding care. We run community hospitals and community health services across Worcestershire and provide mental health and learning disability services across both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Our people (all 4500+ of them) provide services for people of all ages, experiencing both physical and/or mental health conditions from over 100 sites.

We will support you to thrive; offer flexible working options for a great work-life balance, help you fulfil your ambitions, and empower you to make positive changes within your team or service. We value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities.

What we offer;

  • 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
  • Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours
  • Flexible and agile working opportunities
  • Great maternity, paternity, and adoption support
  • Wide range of supportive staff networks
  • Health and wellbeing opportunities

If you would like to know more, please visit our website.

We encourage you to read the attached applicant guidance notes.

Sharing your data - As a data controller we may sometimes need to process your data to pursue our legitimate business interests, for example to request a survey from you (optional), to support the Trusts understanding of where you gained interest in working for the Trust.

Details

Date posted

12 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year Pay award pending

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9798-2103-B8a

Job locations

25 - 27A St Owen Street

Hereford

Herefordshire

HR1 2JB


Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will:

Behave consistently with and promote the values and beliefs of the organisation.

Use their initiative, be responsible and accountable for providing a systematic psychology service, specialist psychological interventions, clinical and research supervision and training to other health and care staff as agreed with the service lead/manager.

Work with managers and team leaders to develop services and improve quality in consultation with the service lead.

Participate in national and regional professional speciality meetings and seminars as appropriate.

Meet and maintain targets within the adult mental health service.

Evaluate referrals, undertake the assessment, treatment and management of patients with psychological difficulties with a varying range of complexity and aetiology with reference to clinical need and service capacity.

For full details of the duties and criteria for the role please refer tothe job description and person specification attached.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will:

Behave consistently with and promote the values and beliefs of the organisation.

Use their initiative, be responsible and accountable for providing a systematic psychology service, specialist psychological interventions, clinical and research supervision and training to other health and care staff as agreed with the service lead/manager.

Work with managers and team leaders to develop services and improve quality in consultation with the service lead.

Participate in national and regional professional speciality meetings and seminars as appropriate.

Meet and maintain targets within the adult mental health service.

Evaluate referrals, undertake the assessment, treatment and management of patients with psychological difficulties with a varying range of complexity and aetiology with reference to clinical need and service capacity.

For full details of the duties and criteria for the role please refer tothe job description and person specification attached.

Person Specification

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Able to meet the travel requirements of the post

Experience

Essential

  • Experience required specific to the role and clinical area.
  • A minimum of 4 years of experience working as a qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist within the relevant area.
  • Experience of leading in relation to the development and organisation of psychological interventions within a given clinical area.
  • Sufficient training and experience to be recognised by the Division of Clinical/Counselling Psychology as a suitably qualified psychologist to offer clinical placements to trainee Clinical/Counselling Psychologists.
  • Training and experience in the application of psychological knowledge across range of mental health presentations, including organic illness, functional mental health, and physical health.
  • Experience of assessing and providing a wide range of psychological interventions to patients presenting with the full degree of clinical severity and across a range of clinical mental health presentations across the life span and care settings.
  • Experience of multi-agency/ multidisciplinary working.
  • Therapeutic expertise in working with carers/families/couples.
  • Experience of conducting clinically relevant research.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of relevant legislation and national guidance and their implication for clinical practice.

Qualifications

Essential

  • BSc/BA Honours degree at 2:1 or above in psychology.
  • Post graduate Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
  • Post qualification training in specific, evidence based techniques for use with clients with complex psychological presentations and/or physical health difficulties, across the age span.
  • Evidence of regular further professional training and experience as required by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the BPS.
  • Eligible for registration as a Chartered Psychologist (Clinical or Counselling) by the BPS.
  • Eligible for registration as a Practitioner member of the BPS Division of Clinical/Counselling Psychology.
  • Registered with HCPC as a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist.
  • I understand that I will be asked to provide original certificates to verify my qualifications at point of offer.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Highly developed and effective communication skills, both oral and written, including ability to communicate complex, highly personal and sensitive information.
Person Specification

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Able to meet the travel requirements of the post

Experience

Essential

  • Experience required specific to the role and clinical area.
  • A minimum of 4 years of experience working as a qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist within the relevant area.
  • Experience of leading in relation to the development and organisation of psychological interventions within a given clinical area.
  • Sufficient training and experience to be recognised by the Division of Clinical/Counselling Psychology as a suitably qualified psychologist to offer clinical placements to trainee Clinical/Counselling Psychologists.
  • Training and experience in the application of psychological knowledge across range of mental health presentations, including organic illness, functional mental health, and physical health.
  • Experience of assessing and providing a wide range of psychological interventions to patients presenting with the full degree of clinical severity and across a range of clinical mental health presentations across the life span and care settings.
  • Experience of multi-agency/ multidisciplinary working.
  • Therapeutic expertise in working with carers/families/couples.
  • Experience of conducting clinically relevant research.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of relevant legislation and national guidance and their implication for clinical practice.

Qualifications

Essential

  • BSc/BA Honours degree at 2:1 or above in psychology.
  • Post graduate Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
  • Post qualification training in specific, evidence based techniques for use with clients with complex psychological presentations and/or physical health difficulties, across the age span.
  • Evidence of regular further professional training and experience as required by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the BPS.
  • Eligible for registration as a Chartered Psychologist (Clinical or Counselling) by the BPS.
  • Eligible for registration as a Practitioner member of the BPS Division of Clinical/Counselling Psychology.
  • Registered with HCPC as a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist.
  • I understand that I will be asked to provide original certificates to verify my qualifications at point of offer.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Highly developed and effective communication skills, both oral and written, including ability to communicate complex, highly personal and sensitive 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).

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

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Address

25 - 27A St Owen Street

Hereford

Herefordshire

HR1 2JB


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Address

25 - 27A St Owen Street

Hereford

Herefordshire

HR1 2JB


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead Psychologist - AMH - Herefordshire

Dr Matt Stainsby

m.stainsby@nhs.net

01432220425

Details

Date posted

12 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year Pay award pending

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9798-2103-B8a

Job locations

25 - 27A St Owen Street

Hereford

Herefordshire

HR1 2JB


Supporting documents

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