Overview
Principal Bariatric Clinical Psychologist. Band 8b. East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT). Permanent position with options for full-time, part-time, flexible, or home/remote working where mutually agreed. Location: Colchester, Turner Road, CO4 5JL.
We are starting a new Complex Obesity Service delivering bariatric/metabolic surgery, endoscopic and medical weight management treatments. The service combines Tier 3 and Tier 4 into a single comprehensive Tier 4 PLUS pathway, offering IWMP, GLP-1 medications, endoscopic and surgical bariatric procedures. We seek a psychologist to innovate and develop assessment and treatment approaches within this service, aligned with latest evidence and quality standards.
Responsibilities
* Provide direct 1:1 patient care within the Weight Management Service.
* Contribute to service development and provide advice to other MDT members.
* Potentially run or contribute to group patient sessions.
* Attend Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings and discuss patient suitability for treatment to reach shared treatment decisions.
* Develop and deliver psychological assessment and treatment pathways for the Complex Obesity Service.
* Operate as a core member of the MDT and collaborate with other professionals; supervision will be provided by experienced Consultant Bariatric Psychologists.
* Engage in flexible working arrangements as mutually agreed (full/part time; remote working where appropriate).
* Any additional responsibilities as defined by the service needs and in line with professional guidelines.
Person Specification
Essential experience
* Significant experience as a senior clinical psychologist at band 8a or above in relevant settings (physical health and/or mental health services).
* Evidence of training, experience and expert knowledge in psychological models and therapeutic approaches with an evidence base in bariatrics or physical health settings.
* Experience delivering psychological interventions in physical health settings; assessing and treating adults with mental health/psychological needs, including complex risk assessment.
* Experience exercising full clinical responsibility for patients' psychological care within multidisciplinary settings and operating autonomously within BPS and HCPC guidelines.
* Experience representing psychology in multidisciplinary settings.
Desirable experience
* Experience using ACT, CBT, CFT and/or other therapies.
* Experience delivering specialist psychological interventions in a weight management service and/or eating disorders.
* Experience developing intervention programmes and recording outcomes; teaching/training multidisciplinary teams; supervising junior staff.
* Experience working with diverse client groups in multidisciplinary settings.
Qualifications
Essential
* Doctoral-level professional qualification in Psychology accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
* Registration as a Clinical Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
* Post-doctoral training in additional specialised areas of psychological practice, including supervision skills.
Desirable
* Post-doctoral training in additional specialised areas (e.g., within physical health).
* Formal training in supervising other psychologists.
Knowledge
Essential
* Skills in complex psychological assessment, formulation, intervention, and management requiring sustained concentration.
* Competent application of theory and clinical skills in one or more psychological therapies.
* Doctoral-level knowledge of research design, methodology and evaluation.
* Knowledge of applying legislation and national guidance related to physical health.
Desirable
* Knowledge of two or more specialised therapies (e.g., ACT, CFT, DBT, CBT) and their application in physical health settings.
* Knowledge of behaviour change theories and techniques.
Skills
* Ability to work under pressure with distressed staff or clients and in teams with differing professional opinions.
* Efficient, effective, pragmatic working style.
* Ability to sit for long periods for client therapy and computer work.
Other information
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks apply as part of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975 requirements. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.
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