Clinical/Counselling Psychologist or CBT TherapistJob summaryWe have an exciting opportunity for aClinical/ Counselling Psychologist or CBT Therapist to join our highly regarded PATH (Prevention, Assessment and Treatment in Hertfordshire) for psychosis teamand At Risk Mental State (ARMS) team in Hertfordshire. Successful post holder will be working across both teams spending three days per week within PATH and one day per week within ARMS.
This is an excellent opportunity to become part of adynamic, supportive and forward-thinking multidisciplinary team dedicated to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care in line with NICE recommendations. Our service is committed not only to clinical excellence but also to innovation, and we are proud to be actively involved in pioneering research collaborations with the University of Oxford and King's College London. Through these partnerships, we are helping to develop and implement cutting-edge psychological therapies and emerging technologies that enhance recovery outcomes for people experiencing psychosis.
Main duties of the jobAs a specialist services, PATH and ARMS provide comprehensive assessment and intervention for individuals experiencing psychosis (PATH) or for those who are at risk of developing psychosis (ARMS). Psychological therapists play a central role within both multidisciplinary teams, contributing specialist expertise to formulation, treatment planning and service development.
The successful applicant will:
- Deliver evidence-based psychological interventions, including CBT, in line with NICE guidance.
- Contribute to comprehensive assessments, including the use of psychometric measures where appropriate.
- Support multidisciplinary colleagues through psychological formulation, consultation and collaborative care planning.
- Play an active role in the continued development of psychologically informed practice across the service.
We are committed to supporting the growth and development of our staff. The Trust offers excellent continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities and actively encourages clinicians to develop specialist interests that align with both service and professional goals.
As part of your role you will be expected to engage with further training: CBT for Psychosis (CBTp) and Family Intervention for Psychosis (FiP), as well as other specialist courses as required.
If you are looking for a role that combines clinical excellence, research and innovation as well as opportunities for professional growth within a supportive team, we would love to hear from you.
About usHertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission.
Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:
Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.DetailsDate posted: 31 July 2026
Closing date: 16 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £51,657 to £58,785 a year
per annum, pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 367-ACMS-101471
Job locations: 99 Waverly Road St Albans, Herts. AL3 5TL
Job responsibilities- To provide specialist psychological assessments of clients referred to the team 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 clients, family members and others involved in the clients care
- To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings
- To be responsible for implementing a range of NICE-based specialised psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups. These interventions can be employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses
- To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options by taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group
- To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans
- To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan
- To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings and agencies serving the client group
- To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management
- To work with carers in support of clients on the PATH and ARMS pathway
- To develop and maintain an outcome framework in order to monitor and report on clinical and other outcomes to relevant stakeholders
For full details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role please refer to the job description and person specification documents attached.
Person SpecificationQualifications/Education/TrainingEssential- Doctoral/Masters level training in clinical/counselling psychology, including specific models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology, as accredited by the BPS and current registration with HCPC Or A registered qualification (e.g. in nursing, social work, occupational therapy) and further postgraduate qualification training in evidence based psychological therapies, including CBT, and significant experience working as a psychological therapy practitioner, with BABCP registration and eligibility for BABCP accreditation
- Professional qualification degree level, which should include knowledge and application of research methodology
Desirable- Additional specialist knowledge or training in psychological therapies including CBT
Previous ExperienceEssential- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings, including at least six months clinical experience working in adult mental health
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life span's presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse
- Knowledge of whole life span development and the impact on emotional, psychological and mental wellbeing
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least one evidence based psychological therapy (i.e. CBT, Interpersonal Therapy, CAT, systemic family psychotherapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy) relevant to the treatment of adults with complex problems and their families
- Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology
- Experience of multi-disciplinary team working and inter-agency collaboration
- Ability to provide consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
- Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings
- Ability to take the appropriate action to address any issues or risks
- Awareness of Child and Adult Safeguarding Procedures
- Awareness of current NHS initiatives and Developments
- Knowledge of legislation and the national agenda in relation to Adult Mental Health
- Knowledge and awareness of specific clinical practices and issues relating to clients with mental health problems
- Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team
- Experience of working in a community mental health setting
Desirable- Experience of service quality monitoring e.g. clinical audit, evaluative research, etc.
- Experience of teaching, training and/or offering supervision
- Experience of service development/project management
Communication SkillsEssential- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
- Ability to work and communicate therapeutically with clients and their families consistent with their level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communicating
- Ability to work and communicate as a responsible participating member of a multi- disciplinary team and the ability to respect and value other members' contributions and to encourage participation of all involved
- Ability to keep accurate and complete records of activities and communications consistent with legislation, policies and procedures
- Ability to alert line manager / team when direction, policies and strategies are adversely affecting users of services or the public
- Ability to time manage effectively and to work under pressure and to prioritise a clinical workload
Analytical SkillsEssential- Positive problem solving approach
- Ability to critically evaluate and review developments made by others to determine if and how they could be applied within own area of work
SkillsEssential- Car Driver (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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 RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer detailsEmployer name: Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address: 99 Waverly Road St Albans, Herts. AL3 5TL
Employer's website: Apply through our website
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact: Consultant Counselling Psychologist
Anna Hillanna.hill19@nhs.net
07483154415
