Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for Band 8A Practitioner Psychologists (full or part time considered) to join our Aneurin Bevan Older Adults Psychological Therapies Service. The service provides psychological interventions for adults aged 65 and over, for needs often resultant from previous and current difficult life experiences.
We also provide neuropsychological assessment for adults experiencing progressive cognitive difficulties. Our team works within community and inpatient settings, and has close relationships with our borough CMHT and Memory Assessment Service colleagues.
Applications for this position are invited from psychologists with experience who meet the essential criteria for the Band 8a role, or from psychologists who meet the Band 7 criteria as a development opportunity. In this second instance, the successful candidate would be appointed on the understanding of progression to a higher banded post when further experience has been gained and essential competences have been met and will remain on the Band 7 until these are achieved.
The successful candidates will join a friendly and proactive team of Psychologists, Arts Therapists and Administrators. We meet regularly for professional support, and value a culture of reflective practice and rich continuing professional development. If you are excited about joining a collaborative and fast moving department, and enriching the lives of older adults in Gwent, this job is for you
Main duties of the job
The key elements of this role are to provide both therapeutic and neuropsychological assessment services to Older Adults residing within the Aneurin Bevan Health Board. As we work as a wider team, you would also be asked to contribute, as appropriate, to wider team priorities such as Service Development, inpatient work, supervision of others, teaching, training, audit and research. Its a wide-ranging and varied role which enables you to utilise all of your psychological knowledge and skills.
This post is being advertised as a Band 8a but we invite less experienced applicants to apply with a view to starting on Band 7 and to commit to a plan to develop into the Band 8a role.
About us
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is a multi-award-winning NHS organisation with a passion for caring. The Health Board provides an exceptional workplace where you can feel trusted and valued. Whatever your specialty or stage in your career, we have opportunities for everyone to start, grow and build your career. The health board provides integrated acute, primary and community care serving a population of 650,000 and employing over 16,000 staff.
We offer a fantastic benefits package and extensive training and development opportunities with paid mandatory training, excellent in-house programmes, opportunities to complete recognised qualifications and professional career pathways including a range of management development programmes. We offer flexible working and promote a healthy work life balance, provide occupational health support and an ambitious plan for a Wellbeing Centre of Excellence to support you at work.
Our Clinical Futures strategy continues to enhance and promote care closer to home as well as high quality hospital care when needed. Join us on our journey to pioneer new ways of working and deliver a world-class healthcare service fit for the future.
Details
Date posted
18 February 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
Depending on experience Band 8A (or Band 7 as developmental opportunity)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time
Reference number
040-PST
Job locations
County Hospital
Coed Y Gric Road
Pontypool
NP4 5YA
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents for both Band 8A and Band 7 Applications.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents for both Band 8A and Band 7 Applications.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Honours degree in Psychology
* HCPC Registered
* Doctorate in Clinical Psychology accredited by the BPS or equivalent accredited by the BPS
* Knowledge of purpose, selection, delivery and interpretation of neuropsychological assessments.
Desirable
* Other related academic qualifications
* IT skills training
* Post graduate research degree
* Experience of working within Older Adult Mental Health Services
Experience
Essential
* Doctorate training across a range of client groups but must include Older Adults
* Significant experience of working with Older Adults
* Has completed at least 10 training days per year on courses relevant to the provision of Older Adult Psychological Therapies Service
* Has begun to develop special expertise in the relevant clinical area and to have undergone or is undergoing post qualification training in it as part of the CPD process
Desirable
* Post qualification work experience in a relevant clinical or care setting
* Post qualification experience of working in Older Adult Psychology specialising in working with Older Adults and their carers and families
* To have obtained further experience of working within other Clinical Psychology e.g. Child Services or Learning Disability Service
* Research experience and statistical expertise
Skills and Attributes
Essential
* Ability to communicate and relate to people warmly and with empathy
* Ability to understand the highly complex and conflicting messages from clients and organise this in a way that allows them to guide the client through a complex process of change. To be able to do this even when the client is highly distressed, there is a highly charged atmosphere, and/or when the client is expressing high levels of anger
* Ability to assess, interpret, formulate and intervene in situations where the material is highly complex, where there are a range of possible options, where different courses of action could be taken and where expert opinions may differ
* Ability to provide direction through supervision, teaching and training to other disciplines and agencies
* Ability to and experience of working in a Multi Disciplinary Team
Desirable
* Further relevant post qualification therapeutic training
* Relevant publications
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Honours degree in Psychology
* HCPC Registered
* Doctorate in Clinical Psychology accredited by the BPS or equivalent accredited by the BPS
* Knowledge of purpose, selection, delivery and interpretation of neuropsychological assessments.
Desirable
* Other related academic qualifications
* IT skills training
* Post graduate research degree
* Experience of working within Older Adult Mental Health Services
Experience
Essential
* Doctorate training across a range of client groups but must include Older Adults
* Significant experience of working with Older Adults
* Has completed at least 10 training days per year on courses relevant to the provision of Older Adult Psychological Therapies Service
* Has begun to develop special expertise in the relevant clinical area and to have undergone or is undergoing post qualification training in it as part of the CPD process
Desirable
* Post qualification work experience in a relevant clinical or care setting
* Post qualification experience of working in Older Adult Psychology specialising in working with Older Adults and their carers and families
* To have obtained further experience of working within other Clinical Psychology e.g. Child Services or Learning Disability Service
* Research experience and statistical expertise
Skills and Attributes
Essential
* Ability to communicate and relate to people warmly and with empathy
* Ability to understand the highly complex and conflicting messages from clients and organise this in a way that allows them to guide the client through a complex process of change. To be able to do this even when the client is highly distressed, there is a highly charged atmosphere, and/or when the client is expressing high levels of anger
* Ability to assess, interpret, formulate and intervene in situations where the material is highly complex, where there are a range of possible options, where different courses of action could be taken and where expert opinions may differ
* Ability to provide direction through supervision, teaching and training to other disciplines and agencies
* Ability to and experience of working in a Multi Disciplinary Team
Desirable
* Further relevant post qualification therapeutic training
* Relevant publications
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
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Address
County Hospital
Coed Y Gric Road
Pontypool
NP4 5YA
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Address
County Hospital
Coed Y Gric Road
Pontypool
NP4 5YA
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)