Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8b
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 30 hours per week
- Job ref
- 354-AB-21118-1
- Employer
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Community Mental Health Centre
- Town
- Brighton
- Salary
- £66,582 - £77,368 pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 27/08/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist or Psychological Therapist
NHS AfC: Band 8b
Come and join us
We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.
At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.
We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.
We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn’t based on your real experience.
Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we’ll explore your examples further at interview, so it’s important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page.
We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.
Job overview
We are delighted to be advertising for Principal Psychology professional- Clinical/ Counselling Psychologist or Psychological Therapist. Are you a passionate and experienced HCPC-registered practitioner psychologist or accredited psychological therapist ready to take on a leadership role? We invite you to join our enthusiastic and dedicated team at the East Brighton Neighbourhood Mental Health team (NMHT). This is an exciting opportunity to work with a diverse group of professionals committed to providing exceptional care to those with severe and enduring mental health needs.
Main duties of the job
- Provide operational leadership alongside the Consultant Lead Psychologist.
- Oversee MDT referrals and manage service capacity.
- Supervise and support a team of psychology professionals.
- Maintain and enhance our established Psychology meeting structures.
- Conduct direct clinical work, delivering NICE-recommended evidence-based care.
- Contribute to training, supervision, and the development of psychological practice within the team.
- Meet with the other B&H NMHT Principal and Consultant Psychologists to consider possible service developments across all the teams.
Working for our organisation
At East Brighton NMHT, you'll be part of a friendly and committed team that strives to deliver high-quality treatments. You'll collaborate with a multi-professional team and have the chance to lead and inspire a group of practitioner psychologists, psychological therapists including CBT and systemic psychotherapists, Mental Health Wellbeing practitioners and trainees. Our service values compassionate care and supports a psychologically safe work environment, ensuring that you feel valued and supported.
The post will offer the opportunity for partnership working as we move towards developing our Neighbourhood Mental Health Teams and increase access to psychologically informed interventions as part of community transformation.
A part of this role is to lead on the psychosis pathway across B&H and so we are particularly interested in applicants who have experience and an interest in working with people with psychosis, and in working within a CBT framework.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Your skills and experience
We seek confident, creative, and enthusiastic individuals with significant experience in handling severe and complex mental health presentations, such as Complex Emotional Needs, Psychosis, trauma, and mood disorders. Experience in consultation, team formulation, and supervising psychology colleagues is essential.
About us
Psychologists and psychological therapists are valued members of the NMHT and are encouraged to play a key role in multidisciplinary team working. You would be joining a supportive and cohesive network of psychology professionals and work closely the psychological profession leads. You will receive high standards of supervision and will be supported by the Consultant lead Psychologist. We have a valued programme of CPD, peer supervision and reflective practice for Psychology staff.
- Flexible Working: We support a healthy work/life balance with options for home-working, part-time hours, and flexible start/finish times.
- Career Development: Engage in professional supervision, ongoing training, and opportunities for career growth within our Trust.
- Benefits: Enjoy an excellent NHS pension, generous holiday entitlement, access to NHS discount schemes, free on-site parking, and full psychological support from our wellbeing team.
- Inclusive Environment: We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring that everyone can belong and thrive in their career with us.
Living and Working in Sussex:
Sussex offers the perfect blend of coastal charm and city convenience. With easy access to London, major airports, and beautiful countryside, it's an ideal place to call home. Whether you're relocating or already live locally, we'll support you every step of the way.
Join Us in Making a Difference:
Be a part of our mission to champion the rights of people with mental health difficulties and contribute to sustainable healthcare. If you are ready to take on a leadership role in a supportive and innovative environment, we want to hear from you.
Apply today and take the next step in your career with East Brighton NMHT. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.
Please see the attached two job descriptions (Principal Practitioner Psychologist, and Principal Psychotherapist) for full details on the role and responsibilities. For informal enquiries please contact Hannah Denton, Consultant Counselling Psychologist.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology as approved by the HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
Knowledge/Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant post-qualification experience delivering specialist psychological assessment and intervention for clients with complex needs
- Post-qualification experience as a practitioner psychologist with approximately 50 hours of clinical supervision.
- Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, design and complex data analysis applied within the clinical fields of applied psychology
- Experience of working with diverse client groups across the lifespan, managing a broad spectrum of clinical severities, and maintaining professionalism in challenging situations
- Experience of providing clinical supervision, consultation or training to other professionals
- Experience of applying psychology across diverse cultural contexts and working within a multicultural framework.
- Experience contributing psychological perspectives in multidisciplinary team settings
- Experience or demonstrated knowledge of working with the client group served by the service/team
- Knowledge of relevant national mental health policy, legislation and clinical guidance
- Knowledge and high-level proficiency in at least two specialised psychological therapies and neuropsychology for complex groups (e.g., personality disorder, dual diagnoses, additional disabilities), with ongoing post -qualification practice or training.
- Knowledge and high -level proficiency in at least two specialised psychological therapies and neuropsychology for complex groups (e.g., personality disorder, dual diagnoses, additional disabilities), with ongoing post -qualification practice or training
- Formal training in supervision of other psychologists.
- Demonstrable commitment to continuing professional development (CPD) aligned with professional registration/accrediting body requirements
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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
- Hannah Denton
- Job title
- Consultant Counselling Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
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