Senior Clinical/Counselling Psychologist - ACP Service

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Senior Clinical/Counselling Psychologist - ACP Service

Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join our supportive team of psychologists working in the Loughton Specialist Adult Community Mental Health Service with the base in Rectory Lane, Loughton, Essex. This post is available at Band 7 or Band 8a, dependent on eligibility and experience. If appointed at Band 7 this will be a developmental post and the post-holder will be invited to work through an appraisal-linked development process towards Band 8a level, with the opportunity to be moved up to band 8a when they meet the person specification and experience requirements to fulfil the Senior Clinical/Counselling Psychologist role.

We are looking for someone with an interest in multidisciplinary working, and a commitment to supporting those with complex mental health needs, who may have experienced significant adversity.

The role is based at Loughton although there may be occasions when you are asked to travel to other areas within Essex.

The salary scale on this advert uses the minimum of Band 7 and the maximum of Band 8a, salary placement within these Bandings is dependent on experience.

Main duties of the job
Working alongside experienced psychologists and multidisciplinary colleagues, you will be responsible for assessment and formulation of service users presenting with complex needs, supporting them to understand and manage their difficulties. You will be responsible for delivering NICE recommended psychological interventions for chronic and severe mental health presentation such as complex trauma and personality disorders, psychosis and bipolar disorder, severe anxiety and depression, aiming to promote social inclusion and empower service users in their mental health recovery. You will provide support and training to staff on working in psychologically informed ways. You will offer supervision to more junior colleagues e.g. trainees, and consultation to the wider team. You will champion trauma-informed care and a needs-led approach to working with our service users, and you will work with colleagues to support psychologically informed working.

Within Psychological Services in West Essex we have specialist skills and training in a variety of approaches including CAT, CBT, CBTp, DBT, EMDR and CFT. Training and development is both strongly supported and actively encouraged. We also have active links with our local Clinical Psychology training programmes, and there are opportunities for involvement in teaching, supervision and research. We actively encourage engagement in evaluation and service improvement initiatives.

About us
To learn more about working within our Services at EPUT, please view our recruitment videos, where members of the team share their experiences and insights into their roles and what it is like working within our Psychological Services, here at EPUT.

Please view our video link here: Psychological Services

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

Benefits

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Details
Date posted: 10 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £51,657 to £67,020 a year per annum incl. 5% High Cost Allowance
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 364-B-222
Job locations: Rectory Lane Health Centre, Loughton, IG10 3RU, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for a detailed list of responsibilities.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Post graduate doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996)
• HCPC Registered
• CPD in clinical supervision

Desirable

• Post-doctoral qualifications in DBT/CBT/CAT/Schema Therapy/CBTp or other evidence based models for the treatment of complex cases, personality disorders, or psychosis, or an interest in pursuing these

Work Experience
Essential

• Significant proven experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across a range of settings and client groups
• Experience of supervising others and/or providing consultation.

Desirable

• Experience in teaching, training and/or upskilling others
• Experience in running groups and interventions for service users with psychosis and other severe mental health difficulties
• Experience of working in a range of NHS services

Knowledge
Essential

• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design, service evaluation and service improvement
• Extensive knowledge of psychological therapies and the application of current models of practice, specialist assessment tools and outcomes frameworks in own specialist area of practice
• Knowledge of mental health legislation, NHS Constitution, care planning, and risk assessment, formulation and management

Desirable

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities e.g. MCI, neurodevelopmental disorders and LTCs etc.)

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 contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Dr Alex Harborne
View email address on meeveem.com