Job overview
Please note this role is currently only being advertised to staff members who are currently working within the Kent and Medway ICS
Part-time HCPC registered clinical psychologist (up to band 8a dependant on experience) required to work dedicated sessions within specialist, multi-disciplinary teams for critical care and bariatric (weight loss) surgery services, based at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.
Newly qualified psychologists who have already completed training will be considered for a preceptorship role.
Informal enquiries welcome.
Main duties of the job
Clinical psychologist working within a specialist, multi-disciplinary critical care and bariatric (weight loss) surgery services, based at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Kent.
At least two years relevant experience of working as qualified clinical psychologist in physical healthcare settings preferred. Understanding of psychological coping/adjustment following life-changing illness/treatment, health psychology models of behavioural change and emotional eating highly desirable.
Must be able to demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, and a commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate and patient-focused care. Ability to work autonomously, with regular clinical supervision provided required.
Working for our organisation
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working?
We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it’s adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
to hear what our staff say.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
1. At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
2. Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
3. Blue Light card eligibility
4. And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We’ve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children). If a role involves regulated activity and requires a DBS check with a barred list check, you cannot apply if you are on the barred list.
All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
5. Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or equivalent qualification for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
6. Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice
7. Current registration with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist
8. Formal training in supervision of other psychologists
Desirable criteria
9. Post qualification training/accreditation in assessment measures /methods.
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria
10. Assessed experience of working as a qualified psychologist at a highly specialist level within a physical health setting.
11. Experience of supervision of trainee and qualified psychologists.
12. Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups within physical health.
13. Experience of providing relevant teaching and training .
14. Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
Desirable criteria
15. Relevant knowledge and experience of psychological issues for patients in specialties applied to work in.
16. Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts
Skills
Essential criteria
17. Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
18. Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
19. Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.