Job summary
- Main area
- Respiratory Psychology
- Grade
- Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 7.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 391-RFL-7208465
- Employer
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Free Hospital
- Town
- Hampsted
- Salary
- £61,927 - £68,676 per annum (pro-rata) inclusive of HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 19/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Highly Specialised Practitioner Psychologist
Band 8a
Our trust has over 17,000 staff serving 2 million patients every year. It comprises Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital and more than 30 services in the community. This larger scale organisation provides an unprecedented opportunity for us to continue our pioneering work, particularly in finding ways to deliver even better care to our patients.
Our mission is to deliver world class care and expertise in our clinical services, underpinned by world class teaching and research and we will continue to measure our progress against our five governing objectives: excellent outcomes, excellent patient and staff experience, excellent value for taxpayers’ money, being safe and meeting our external duties, and building a strong organisation.
Everyone is welcome at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. We're proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME, gender equality, staff carers and people with disabilities and lived experiences to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.
Click here to view our video Welcome to the Royal Free
Job overview
The severe asthma service at the Royal Free Hospital is responsible for the assessment and treatment of patients with severe or difficult asthma, who remain symptomatic despite high levels of treatment initiated in primary care or other hospital clinics. Severe asthma services are centrally commissioned by NHSE and we are a 'satellite spoke’ within the North Central & North East London Severe Asthma Network (NCELSAN), with the Hub located at St Barts’ Hospital. We have a dedicated multidisciplinary team including physicians, specialist nurses, respiratory physiotherapists, pharmacist, voice therapist and psychologist (this post). The service is delivered in clinics at both Barnet Hospital and Royal Free Hospital. The inclusion of psychology in the MDT ensures compliance with commissioning guidance and working towards psychologically informed care. Within North Central London ICS we are the only centre to administer high-cost injectable biologic therapies locally to our patients, with approvals sought via the Network Hub. You will join a group of clinical, counselling, health and neuro-psychologists, counsellors and psychotherapists based in a variety of specialties.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will:
• Lead on the psychological care of patients, consistent with the World
Class Care values and objectives of the Trust, within the severe
asthma specialist service.
• Provide highly specialist psychological assessment service, ensuring
onward referrals for patients within the severe asthma service as
appropriate.
• Provide formulation, advice and a consultation service on the
psychological aspects of patients’ care within the multidisciplinary
team. To support the MDT team in providing psychologically and
trauma-informed care. To ensure patients information that allows them
to understand the interplay between their disease and their distress.
To work autonomously within professional guidelines and within the
overall framework of the service’s policies and procedures.
• Work with the Network Hub to align care across the severe asthma
network and enhance working relationships and education between
the sites.
• Support the multi-disciplinary clinical and operational team to deliver
integrated care, including consultation and training concerning
psychological aspects of patient care and management along the
severe asthma patient pathway, and ensure that psychological
aspects are addressed (where appropriate) in research, audit, policy
and service development.
• Utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and
research within the area served by the team/service as possible within
the role.
Working for our organisation
Embarking on a professional journey with the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust promises an enriching career experience. As a pioneering institution at the forefront of healthcare excellence, we offer a dynamic environment characterised by innovation, collaboration, and a deep commitment to patient wellbeing.
You will become part of a team dedicated to pushing boundaries, embracing cutting-edge technology, and continuously enhancing the delivery of world-class healthcare services. With a focus on professional development, work-life balance, and a culture of inclusivity, the trust provides a platform for you to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of healthcare.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Post-graduate doctoral level training in Counselling or Clinical Psychology (as accredited by BPS) and registration with the Health Professions Council with entitlement to use the title Counselling Psychologist or Clinical Psychologist.
- HCPC registration as Practitioner Psychologist
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of patients across the full range of care settings
- Experience of working with a wide variety of patient groups across the whole life course and presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity
- Experience in the assessment and formulation of mental health in the context of complex physical health problems and old age
- Experience of referral and signposting to primary and secondary care mental health services
Desirable criteria
- Post-doctoral additional training with achieved outcomes in relevant psychological/clinical practice
- Training in supervision of other psychologists
- Evidence of post-qualification supervised clinical experience in assessment and intervention with patients with long-term health conditions, including techniques at a specialist level
- Experience in providing a consultation service
Skills and apptitudes
Essential criteria
- Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the British Psychological Society/HCPC.
- Ability to form good working relationships with others in a multidisciplinary setting
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to articulate clearly the role of psychology in multi-professional services, based on a good understanding of NHS and national professional policies.
- Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.
Desirable criteria
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
- Experience of working with other agencies including voluntary sector
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Esther Hansen
- Job title
- Consultant Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 02074726247
- Additional information
N/A
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