Hywel Dda University Health Board

Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist: Stroke Service

The closing date is 31 October 2025

Job summary

The Stroke Psychology Service is delighted to seek a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join the Psychology service within the Stroke Pathway. The successful candidate will work within the existing stroke pathways across the Health Board, supporting the acute and community multidisciplinary teams and supporting patients and families affected by stroke through the delivery of direct and indirect psychological approaches.

The role will also involve the provision of support, consultation, teaching and training to other health professionals across stroke pathways.

This service is part of the Hywel Dda Clinical Health Psychology Service, with a close working relationship with the Critical Care Psychology Service and Regional Neuropsychology Service. The Clinical Health Psychology Department is strong, dynamic and motivated which strives to offer high standard, value-based healthcare and will embrace the successful candidate with peer support in their new role.

We would welcome interest for full or part time working and there will be a combination of working directly with patients and staff, as well as remote working. Psychologists with limited experience are also welcome to apply as we will support professional and clinical skills development.

Main duties of the job

The Health Board has four Acute Stroke Units within each General Hospital and community stroke services which are integrated within the Neurological Rehabilitation Service, which is based in Carmarthen. This role is an exciting opportunity to work alongside the Stroke Psychology Lead in developing models of psychological care across the Acute Stroke Units and Early Supported Discharge pathways, in line with best practice guidelines.

To provide specialist psychological assessment to patients affected by stroke, by using psychological and neuropsychological assessment tools, self-report measures, structured observations and interviews with patients, families and other health professionals.

To support multidisciplinary professionals and wider systems around stroke patients through psychological guidance, consultation and training.

To provide person-centred, evidence-based formulations and treatment plans to support the management of patients' psychological, neuropsychological and mental health difficulties.

To provide psychologically informed approaches, advice and consultation to multidisciplinary colleagues across various stroke pathways and settings.

To support the Stroke Psychology lead to meet the psychological aspects of the National Clinical Guidelines for Stroke and Welsh Government Stroke Delivery Plan.

About us

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.

We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.

We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

Our services are provided in:

  • Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
  • Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
  • Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
  • 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
  • Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services

Details

Date posted

27 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£56,514 to £63,623 a year per annum (pro rata if part time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

100-PST041-1025

Job locations

Health Board Wide Post. Base to be negotiated.

Health Board Wide Post. Base to be negotiated.

SA31 3HB


Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 07.11.2025

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 07.11.2025

Person Specification

Qualifications & Knowledge

Essential

  • Doctoral level training in Clinical /Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those who commenced training prior to September 2001) as accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
  • Registered with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as qualified Clinical Psychologist.
  • Experience Post Qualification
  • To have knowledge of clinical assessment, formulation and psychological treatments as well as experience in working psychologically in all core specialties being a) adult mental health; b) child and adolescent mental health; c) older adults mental health and d) learning disabilities as obtained within Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology (D. Clin Psy).
  • To have knowledge of specific models of psychopathology including health psychology models, clinical psychometrics and cognitive psychology, two or more distinct
  • Psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology
  • Demonstrate further specialist training and or experience

Desirable

  • Experience with neuropsychology assessments

Experience

Essential

  • 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.
  • Experience of working flexibly and sensitively with a wide variety of psychology patient groups, maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and threat of physical abuse
  • Experience of delivering psychological interventions within multidisciplinary settings.
  • Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision

Desirable

  • Experience of applied clinical psychology within physical health conditions.

Language Skills

Desirable

  • Welsh speaker (Level 1)
Person Specification

Qualifications & Knowledge

Essential

  • Doctoral level training in Clinical /Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those who commenced training prior to September 2001) as accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
  • Registered with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as qualified Clinical Psychologist.
  • Experience Post Qualification
  • To have knowledge of clinical assessment, formulation and psychological treatments as well as experience in working psychologically in all core specialties being a) adult mental health; b) child and adolescent mental health; c) older adults mental health and d) learning disabilities as obtained within Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology (D. Clin Psy).
  • To have knowledge of specific models of psychopathology including health psychology models, clinical psychometrics and cognitive psychology, two or more distinct
  • Psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology
  • Demonstrate further specialist training and or experience

Desirable

  • Experience with neuropsychology assessments

Experience

Essential

  • 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.
  • Experience of working flexibly and sensitively with a wide variety of psychology patient groups, maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and threat of physical abuse
  • Experience of delivering psychological interventions within multidisciplinary settings.
  • Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision

Desirable

  • Experience of applied clinical psychology within physical health conditions.

Language Skills

Desirable

  • Welsh speaker (Level 1)

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

Hywel Dda University Health Board

Address

Health Board Wide Post. Base to be negotiated.

Health Board Wide Post. Base to be negotiated.

SA31 3HB


Employer's website

https://hduhb.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Hywel Dda University Health Board

Address

Health Board Wide Post. Base to be negotiated.

Health Board Wide Post. Base to be negotiated.

SA31 3HB


Employer's website

https://hduhb.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Psychology Lead for Stroke

Dr Sophie McFarland

sophie.mcfarland@wales.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

27 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£56,514 to £63,623 a year per annum (pro rata if part time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

100-PST041-1025

Job locations

Health Board Wide Post. Base to be negotiated.

Health Board Wide Post. Base to be negotiated.

SA31 3HB


Supporting documents

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