Specialist Practitioner Psychologist / Psychological Therapist
Date posted: 20 October 2025
Job Summary
We are delighted to be advertising for a Specialist Practitioner Psychologist/ Specialist Psychological Therapist (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy / Psychotherapeutic Counselling) to join our urgent care team, based in Saint Leonards-on-Sea. This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and committed specialist to join our supportive and innovative Urgent Care teams. You will work alongside psychology colleagues as part of a multi‑disciplinary team committed to providing exceptional care to those experiencing a mental health crisis.
Main Duties of the Job
You will provide specialist crisis interventions for those referred into our service and help contribute to the multi‑disciplinary team’s thinking and care‑planning. Your primary role is to provide psychological assessment, formulation and short‑term evidence‑based therapeutic interventions for individuals and groups. In addition, you will provide consultation, training and support, such as facilitation of reflective practice and case discussion. We work closely with OT, peer specialist and carer specialists, giving us particular flexibility and opportunity. We also have other psychological therapists, trainees and assistant psychologists.
Approach and Interventions
We approach our work as trauma‑informed and currently offer interventions for individuals and groups, informed by CBT, DBT and compassion‑focused therapy. We occasionally contribute to neuro testing and have specialist supervision for these disciplines; training can be offered where you have an interest but have not yet undertaken training.
About Us
Sussex Partnership Trust provides mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex. We are rated good overall and outstanding for caring by the Care Quality Commission.
Working In East Sussex
Working in East Sussex offers the opportunity to travel between coast and countryside, with a blend of picturesque villages and seaside towns. You will be based in Hastings, seeing clients at the team base, in their own homes and virtually via telephone or online appointments. This part‑time role offers flexible working.
Key Details
* Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level
* Employment type: Part‑time
* Job function: Health Care Provider
* Industries: Information Services
Salary
£47,810 to £54,710 a year pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Requirements
* Degree in Psychology and Doctoral level training in Applied Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained before 1996 or outside the UK)
* Or recognised accredited post‑graduate level training in cognitive behavioural therapy accredited by the BABCP / BACP
* Professionally registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC or with the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
* Or a minimum two‑year post‑graduate (or equivalent) qualification in Psychotherapy, Counselling, or Counselling Psychology, comprising no less than 450 hours programme contact and including no less than 200 hours supervised counselling practice. Accreditation with BACP, UKCP, BPC or registration with HCPC as a practitioner psychologist
Desirable
* Pre‑qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology
Knowledge / Experience
* Demonstrable competence in the delivery of psychological therapy 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 guidance and legislation in relation to the client group
* Knowledge of theory, practice and evidence base of specialist psychological therapy
* Experience of the application of psychological therapy in different cultural contexts
* Evidence of commitment to CPD
Skills
* Well‑developed skills in communication (oral and written) of highly technical and clinical sensitive information to clients, carers, families and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS
* Proven ability to establish, maintain and conclude therapeutic relationships
* Good inter‑professional skills and ability to work autonomously in a multi‑disciplinary setting
* Capacity to reflect and make good use of supervision
* Ability to plan and manage a dynamic caseload of work
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) is required to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
Employer Details
* Employer name: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
* Address: CRHT, Woodlands Centre for Acute Care, 729 The Ridge, St. Leonards-on-Sea, TN37 7PT
* Website: https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/
Contact
Please contact Dr Nadia Ahlenius, Counselling Psychologist, Urgent Care Team Hastings at 0300 304 0253 or n.ahlenius@nhs.net.
#J-18808-Ljbffr