Specialist Practitioner Psychologist Band 8A

NHSCT Specialist Practitioner Psychologist Band 8A
Ref: 56023475
Branch: Northern HSC Trust Area
Location: Holywell Hospital Site
Directorate: Mental Health, Learning Disability & CWB Division
Functional Area: Mental Health Service-Community
Salary: Band 8a (£55,690 - £62,682)
Contract Type: Temporary
Opening date: 11/11/26
Closes: Wed, 25 November 2026 @ 5:00 PM
Interview Dates: To Be Confirmed

Online and Manual applications accepted. If you are submitting a manual application, please post it to: Recruitment Shared Services, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital Site, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7PR. Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage.

A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week.

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We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

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Specialist Practitioner Psychologist (Counselling or Clinical Modalities)
Clinical Health Psychology

Job Description
The Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) is responsible for the delivery of safe and effective health and social care (HSC) services to the population of the Northern Trust area in Northern Ireland.

We provide compassionate care with our community in our community . In order to do this we require the commitment of a highly skilled and professional workforce that meets the need of the service.

JOB TITLE: Specialist Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical or Counselling modalities) for Clinical Health Psychology

Applications are welcome from those seeking a secondment from their current role. Please note that you should have permission to be released from your substantive post from your line manager in advance of applying.

BAND: 8a – 7.5hpw temporary for 12 months, with possible extension
DIRECTORATE/DIVISION: Mental Health, Learning Disability and Psychological Services
INITIAL LOCATION: Holywell Hospital
REPORTS TO: Head of Clinical Health Psychology Service
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Director for Mental Health, Learning Disability and Psychological Services via Head of Psychological Services

JOB SUMMARY:

• To have a lead role in the provision of Specialist Practitioner Psychology within NHSCT Clinical Health Psychology Services.
• To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of service users whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans.
• To ensure the systematic provision of a high quality Specialist Practitioner Psychology service to Clinical Health Psychology Services.
• To supervise and support the psychological assessment and therapy provided by other junior psychologists and multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate, who provide psychologically based care and treatment.
• To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service.
• To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research.
• To propose and implement policy changes within the service.
• To act as clinical lead in specialist service projects and clinical initiatives under direction of the Head of Service.

KEY RESULT AREAS / MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical

• To have a lead role in further developing processes of assessment, treatment and management of adults referred to the Service.
• To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance, consultation, supervision and training to other health and social care professionals working across the full range of adult services.
• To provide specialist psychological assessments of adults referred to the Service based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources, including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with service users, family members and others involved in the adult's care.
• To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of adults referred to the Service based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the adult's problems and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings.
• To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams and employed individually and in synthesis, psychological formulations and drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypothesis.
• To provide psychotherapeutic support for adults referred to the Service to evaluate and make decisions about treatment options, taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes, which may have shaped the adults referred to the Service.
• To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance, consultation and supervision to other professionals contributing directly to the care of adults referred to the Service, via formulations and treatment plans.
• To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all adults referred to the Service within the service, across all settings and agencies concerned.
• To act as care coordinator, where appropriate, taking responsibility for initiating, planning and reviewing care plans involving adults referred to the Service, their carer's, referrers, other care providers and others involved in their network of care.
• To communicate, in a skilled and sensitive manner, highly complex/sensitive information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of adults referred to the Service under their care. To monitor and evaluate progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care.
• To undertake risk assessment and risk management for adults referred to the Service and to provide advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management, and to communicate, in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning risk and risk management.

Management

• To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in psychology across the service, by continuing to develop the skills of a reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with, and up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to adults referred to the Service.
• To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the service's operational policies and procedures.
• To be responsible for managing the process of psychological assessment for adults referred to the Service including allocation of work and supervision of clinical staff within the service.
• To have operational management responsibility for more junior clinical staff within the service.
• To have a key role in the design and implementation of service development projects within the service as required through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit.
• To manage the workloads of more junior staff and that of trainee practitioner psychologists, for the service and to do this within the framework of the service's policies and procedures.
• To be involved, as appropriate, in the short-listing and interviewing of other staff employed by the service.
• To advise both service and professional management of those aspects of the service where psychological and/or organisational matters need addressing.

Administration

• To maintain such records as are necessary for the management of the clinical assessment process within the service (including waiting lists allocation of cases to other staff).
• To maintain the highest standard of clinical record keeping, including electronic data and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures. In particular, to be responsible for regular scrutiny and validation of computerised waiting list data.
• To work with local managers and professional colleagues to maximise efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery.
• To comply with Board, Trust and Directorate policies and procedures.
• To undertake specific administrative duties as required.
• To participate in committees, working parties as appropriate to clinical work.

Teaching / Supervision / Consultancy

• To develop, organise and carry out the training and education of other professionals within and outside Trust.
• To educate staff across the Trust about the area of Clinical Health Psychology Services and to help ensure that appropriate services are provided in accordance with best practice.
• To provide operational and clinical supervision to multidisciplinary staff, and trainee practitioner psychologists working within the Service.
• To provide specialist psychological advice, consultation, supervision and training to staff working with adults referred to the Service across a range of agencies and settings, where appropriate.
• To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post-holder's professional and service manager(s).
• To provide clinical placements for trainee clinical psychologists and/or other professionals ensuring that trainees acquire the necessary skills, competencies and experience to contribute effectively to good mental health care and to contribute to the assessment and evaluation of such competencies.
• To contribute to training, (CPD) and clinical professional supervision to pre and post qualification practitioner psychologists, and/or other professionals attached to the team.
• To maintain and develop skills in the area of professional pre and post-graduate training and clinical supervision.

Audit / Research

• To participate in research and audit within Clinical Health Psychology Services, also to ensure its analysis and documentation is completed to the highest standard.
• To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other service members.
• To undertake project management, including complex audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within the service, to help develop service provision.
• Staff members are encouraged, though not required, to undertake applied clinical research, which is consistent with the Trust's objectives as laid down in its business plan. Where appropriate, collaborative research with other professions is encouraged.
• To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the service's operational policies and procedures.

IT Responsibilities:

• To utilise information technology for the purpose of compiling reports, storing information and enabling effective communication within and without the Trust IT network.

General Management Responsibilities

• Ensure the appropriate governance and risk management arrangements are in place for the services you are responsible for and take appropriate action to identify and manage risk and to maintain safety of users, staff and others in accordance with relevant regulations, policies and procedures.
• It is essential to ensure that the highest standards of infection prevention and control are maintained to ensure patient and client safety and maintain confidence in the Trust. As a Manager, you must ensure that you implement all instructions/ policy in this area and that all staff are made aware of and fully comply with these.
• Where the post-holder has responsibility for managing a budget, ensure that services are managed and developed both in accordance with agreed and funded priorities as set out on a yearly basis and in accordance with Standing Financial Instructions, particularly ensuring your compliance with payroll documentation procedures and timescales.
• Ensure the necessary arrangements are in place in regard to the 'Knowledge and Skills Framework' outlines, where this applies, for the posts for which you have management responsibility and ensure that each member of staff has an annual development and performance review, a personal development plan and that arrangements are in place to ensure that staff have maximum opportunity to progress through gateways in their pay bands and to contribute effectively towards our objectives.
• Promote a culture of continuous service improvement amongst your staff, encouraging their participation and that of service users in reviewing and modernising current services and in service development.
• Make sure you are trained and competent in the relevant policies and procedures which apply to the management of staff and other resources and abide by these policies; seeking advice as necessary from senior management or specialist staff as necessary.
• Communicate effectively with staff and maintain productive working relationships amongst your staff and with others.
• Delegate appropriate responsibility and authority to staff in order to ensure optimum and effective service delivery and decision-making, whilst retaining overall accountability and responsibility for outcomes.
• Promote a culture of learning and development and facilitate arrangements for and participate in training and development of staff as agreed for the performance of their duties. Where training is in accordance with relevant standards make sure you have the relevant competences in order to carry out this responsibility.
• Promote equality of opportunity for all by personal action, both in the management of your staff and in the provision of care to service users in accordance with the Trust's Equality of Opportunity Policy and Equality Scheme.
• Take responsibility for ensuring appropriate standards of environmental cleanliness and for encouraging staff to maintain standards in their work area. Have an awareness of environmental issues and take appropriate action, for example to ensure the efficient use of energy and other resources, recycling etc.
• Make sure that staff are aware of Trust policies regarding the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and Records Management and that they must not disclose, withhold, retain or dispose of any information unless legally authorised.

General Responsibilities

• At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner.
• At all times demonstrate practice the HSC values of Working Together, Excellence, Openness & Honesty and Compassion.
• Carry out their duties and responsibilities in a manner which assures patient and client safety.
• Comply with all instructions in regard to Infection Prevention and Control.
• Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them.
• Comply with the Trust's Smoke Free Policy.
• Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with health and safety policy and statutory regulations.
• Adhere to equal opportunities policy throughout the course of their employment.
• Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in service provision.
• Adhere to the Code of Conduct for HSC Employees which aims to guide staff, managers and employers in the work that they do and the decisions and choices they have to make. Professional staff are expected to follow the code of conduct for their own professions as well as this code.
• The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the NHSCT Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.
• The post holder will, in the event of a concern being raised with them, ensure that it is managed correctly under the NHSCT Raising Concerns Policy, and ensure feedback/learning is communicated at individual, team and organisational level regarding the concerns, and how they were resolved.

Records Management
All employees of the Northern Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including (for example) the ICT Security Policy, Data Quality and Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

Salary
£55,690 - £62,682 per annum (pro-rata for part-time)

Right to Work in the UK
Please note this role may not meet the requirements for a Skilled Worker visa (including a Health and Care Worker visa) and the Trust therefore would be unable to employ anyone that requires Sponsorship. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (

Hours
Normal full-time hours of duty are 37½ hours per week, exclusive of meal times.

Medical
Appointment will be subject to a successful pre-employment health assessment.

Holidays
27 days each year; 29 days after 5 years' service; 33 days after 10 years' service and 10 statutory and public holidays.

Pension
The post-holder can participate in the Health Social Care Pension Scheme.

Northern Trust Benefits
You can explore the benefits on offer to you in the Northern Trust by clicking here (

Probationary Period
You will serve a probationary period of normally six months.

Waiting List
A waiting list may be compiled for similar temporary, part-time posts which may arise within the next 6 months in the Clinical Health Psychology Services (Holywell Hospital).

Pay Protection
Legacy Trust Staff who apply for a promotion after 1 April 2011 should be aware that they will lose their legacy protection arrangements and will be entitled to pay protection in accordance with circular HSS (JNF)(1) 2011. This circular will also apply to legacy staff who are currently in receipt of protection and who move post on promotion.

Completed application forms should be returned to the BSO Recruitment and Selection Shared Services Centre, on or before the closing date as stated in the advertisement.

Canvassing, either directly or indirectly, will be an absolute disqualification.

We will review this Job Description and it may include any other duties and responsibilities we determine in consultation with the jobholder. We do not intend it to be rigid and inflexible but rather to provide guidelines within which the jobholder works.

Personnel Specification
Title of Post: Specialist Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical or Counselling modalities) for Clinical Health Psychology
Band of Post: 8a (7.5hpw for 12 months with possible extension)

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below. Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made. Volunteering experience may be considered appropriate in particular for roles within the context of direct patient/client care.

Essential Criteria

• Doctoral level degree or equivalent accepted by the British Psychological Society as qualifying the person to work as a Registered Practitioner Psychologist.
• Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist (modality Clinical or Counselling) with the Health and Social Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Post qualification training relevant to Clinical Health Psychology (e.g. Compassion Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing or Solution Focused Therapy).
• Received formal training in providing clinical supervision.
• Post qualification experience working as an HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist with at least one year's post qualification experience relevant to the post.
• Experience of assessing and delivering psychological intervention across a range of settings relevant to the post.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by BPS.
• Experience in delivering teaching and training.
• Experience of delivering line management, professional or clinical supervision.
• Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment (waived where a disability prohibits driving and an approved form of transport is available).

Essential Skills and Abilities

• A warm and empathic manner with the enthusiasm and ability to contribute to a team approach.
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological and psychometric assessment, intervention and management, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, at both a written and oral level, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and other professional persons.
• An interest in models of service delivery and an ability to take forward the issues of service design and development.
• Skills in providing consultation and supervision to other professionals and non-professional groups.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other professionals within the context of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to identify and employ, as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
• Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.

Essential Knowledge

• Knowledge of working with a wide variety of service user groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings.
• Doctoral or equivalent level knowledge of current clinical and practice issues in the assessment and management of psychological need related to long term physical health conditions.
• Knowledge of the theories and therapeutic approaches relevant to adults referred to the Service.
• Doctoral level knowledge or equivalent of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practised within the clinical fields of psychology.
• Knowledge of issues involved in service development and management.
• Knowledge of current HSS issues.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS and the HCPC.

Value Based Recruitment
Value Based Recruitment is a process adopted by the Northern Trust to attract and select employees on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with those of the Trust. It focuses on the 'how' and 'why' people do what they do.

Criminal Offences, Investigations and Charges
Having a criminal record will not necessarily debar you from working with the Trust. This will depend on the nature of the position, together with the circumstances and background of your offences or other information contained on a disclosure certificate.

Essential Leadership Capabilities
The successful candidate will need to provide evidence and demonstrate their Leadership capabilities against the required dimensions on the NHS Leadership framework. Particular attention will be given to: Inspiring shared purpose, Leading with care, Evaluating information, Connecting our service, Sharing the vision, Engaging the team, Holding to account, Developing capability and Influencing for results.

THE NHSCT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER
As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.