• Job Description

  Req#: C9345-26-0151?language=en&page=466&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  The Medical Psychology service provides psychological assessment, support and treatment to medical patients and is based across hospitals and community sites serving the University Hospital Tees group. We are pleased to be recruiting for a highly experienced Clinical/Counselling/ Health Psychologist or Psychological Therapist to contribute to the specialist clinical services, supervision and leadership within our pain psychology services. You will be welcomed into a leadership team that values kindness, integrity and collaboration.

  Main duties of the job

  We are looking for a Principal Psychologist or Psychological Therapist to work alongside Consultant Psychologists to provide specialist clinical services, supervision and leadership.

  As a department we provide input across the trust into a range of specialities including but not limited to; neuropsychology, oncology, haematology, palliative care, rheumatology, diabetes, pain, CFS, infectious diseases, renal, burns and plastics. The post holder will have responsibilities for providing leadership within the specific area of the pain psychology service.

  The post holder will take a lead on specific audit and service evaluation projects and will be involved in service development projects with the aim of expanding the service in line with national guidelines and standards. The post will also involve line management and clinical supervision of other staff.

  Applicants will need to have had experience of working in a clinical health setting.

  About us

  South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust now form University Hospitals Tees and as such you may be required to work at any site across both Trusts.

  At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, we want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience.

  We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development.

  We support the 'Making Every Contact Count' approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

  Details

  Date posted

  20 March 2026

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 8b

  Salary

  £64,455 to £74,896 a year n/a

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Part-time

  Reference number

  345-CSU9-7682191

  Job locations

  University Hospital of Hartlepool

  Holdforth Rd

  Hartlepool

  TS24 9AH

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) for main responsibilities of the role.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) for main responsibilities of the role.

  Person Specification

  KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

  Essential

  • oWell-developed knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of psychology.
  • oTo demonstrate expert knowledge of psychological principles relevant to the clinical specialism through both direct clinical contribution and as a resource to the whole of the multidisciplinary team in terms of patient management.
  • oKnowledge of legislation in relation to relevant client groups and the healthcare system.
  • oWell-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies and assessment methodologies.
  • oEvidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the British Psychological Society and Health and Care Professionals Council or British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies
  • oDetailed knowledge of the skills and competencies of delivery of at least one evidenced based model of psychological therapy relevant to working with patients with physical health conditions (e.g. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion Focussed Therapy).

  Desirable

  • oAbility to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.

  QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

  Essential

  • oFor Psychologists: Post-graduate doctoral level qualification in Clinical Psychology, or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996, Counselling or Health Psychology as accredited by the BPS &/or HCPC. For Psychological Therapists: A recorded/registered qualification in a core health or social care profession at graduate level (e.g. nursing, social work, occupational therapy) or have passed the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (KSA) pre-requisite criteria as recognised by the BABCP prior to undertaking post-graduate training. Completed BABCP Level 2 postgraduate training at a level required for BABCP accreditation.
  • oCompleted training course in clinical supervision and/or accredited to supervise qualified psychological practitioners in relevant discipline.
  • oCurrent registration with the BABCP as a Psychological Therapist or HCPC Registration as a Clinical, Counselling or Health Psychologist.
  • oAdditional training beyond entry level qualification in a specialised area of psychological practice or therapeutic approach (e.g. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) relevant to the psychological needs of medical patients (at least level 1 training) OR a combination of specialist short courses and/an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by a registered body.

  Desirable

  • oEvidence of continuing professional development in psychology for pain

  EXPERIENCE

  Essential

  • oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatments of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community and inpatient settings.
  • oExperience of working with a wide variety of client groups, including people with physical health conditions across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity.
  • oExperience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment, both as an individual practitioner and within the context of multidisciplinary care.
  • oExperience of teaching, training and professional and clinical supervision.
  • oExperience of carrying out successful audit, research, and service development projects.
  • oExperience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care.

  Desirable

  • oExperience of working within a pain psychology service
  • oExperience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.
  • oExperience of line management.

  PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

  Essential

  • oAbility to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems and verbal and physical abuse.
  • oAbility to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviours.
  • oAbility to meet the requirements of clinical governance in the maintenance of high standards of clinical practice in the context of regular exposure to highly distressing experiences and unpleasant working conditions.
  • oHighly effective verbal and written communication skills

  Desirable

  • oA passion and enthusiasm for working with patients in a medical psychology setting

  Person Specification

  KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

  Essential

  • oWell-developed knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of psychology.
  • oTo demonstrate expert knowledge of psychological principles relevant to the clinical specialism through both direct clinical contribution and as a resource to the whole of the multidisciplinary team in terms of patient management.
  • oKnowledge of legislation in relation to relevant client groups and the healthcare system.
  • oWell-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies and assessment methodologies.
  • oEvidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the British Psychological Society and Health and Care Professionals Council or British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies
  • oDetailed knowledge of the skills and competencies of delivery of at least one evidenced based model of psychological therapy relevant to working with patients with physical health conditions (e.g. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion Focussed Therapy).

  Desirable

  • oAbility to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.

  QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

  Essential

  • oFor Psychologists: Post-graduate doctoral level qualification in Clinical Psychology, or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996, Counselling or Health Psychology as accredited by the BPS &/or HCPC. For Psychological Therapists: A recorded/registered qualification in a core health or social care profession at graduate level (e.g. nursing, social work, occupational therapy) or have passed the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes (KSA) pre-requisite criteria as recognised by the BABCP prior to undertaking post-graduate training. Completed BABCP Level 2 postgraduate training at a level required for BABCP accreditation.
  • oCompleted training course in clinical supervision and/or accredited to supervise qualified psychological practitioners in relevant discipline.
  • oCurrent registration with the BABCP as a Psychological Therapist or HCPC Registration as a Clinical, Counselling or Health Psychologist.
  • oAdditional training beyond entry level qualification in a specialised area of psychological practice or therapeutic approach (e.g. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) relevant to the psychological needs of medical patients (at least level 1 training) OR a combination of specialist short courses and/an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by a registered body.

  Desirable

  • oEvidence of continuing professional development in psychology for pain

  EXPERIENCE

  Essential

  • oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatments of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community and inpatient settings.
  • oExperience of working with a wide variety of client groups, including people with physical health conditions across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity.
  • oExperience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment, both as an individual practitioner and within the context of multidisciplinary care.
  • oExperience of teaching, training and professional and clinical supervision.
  • oExperience of carrying out successful audit, research, and service development projects.
  • oExperience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care.

  Desirable

  • oExperience of working within a pain psychology service
  • oExperience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.
  • oExperience of line management.

  PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

  Essential

  • oAbility to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems and verbal and physical abuse.
  • oAbility to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviours.
  • oAbility to meet the requirements of clinical governance in the maintenance of high standards of clinical practice in the context of regular exposure to highly distressing experiences and unpleasant working conditions.
  • oHighly effective verbal and written communication skills

  Desirable

  • oA passion and enthusiasm for working with patients in a medical psychology setting

  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).

  Additional information

  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 details

  Employer name

  North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  University Hospital of Hartlepool

  Holdforth Rd

  Hartlepool

  TS24 9AH

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.nth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  University Hospital of Hartlepool

  Holdforth Rd

  Hartlepool

  TS24 9AH

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.nth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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