Job overview
The Medical Psychology service provides psychological assessment, support and treatment to medical patients within South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is based at the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough and Friarage Hospital, Northallerton. We are pleased to be recruiting for highly experienced Senior Clinical/Counselling/ Health Psychologists or Psychological Therapists to contribute to the specialist clinical services, supervision and leadership within our maternal mental health service.
Main duties of the job
A Principal Psychologist or Psychological Therapist to work alongside Consultant Psychologists to provide specialist clinical services, supervision and leadership into the Medical Psychology department. 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 Maternal Mental Health
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 or similar setting relevant to the role in maternal mental health.
Please note this post may close at sufficient applicants
Working for our organisation
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff. This training programme has been designed to support our leaders in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend the following training sessions
·Your Leadership Impact
·Leading your Team to Success
·Leading Into the Future
·Service Improvement for Beginners
·Developing your Service Improvement Skills
·Lean Practitioner
The leadership and improvement programme aims to:
1. Explore leadership within the NHS
2. Promote Trust values and behaviours
3. Develop your leadership effectiveness and skills
4. Equip staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to lead and complete service improvements within the scope of your role.
After you complete these six and a half days of training you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities. We also offer a range of additional in-house and externally provided courses and bitesize programmes through our Leadership and Improvement Team.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) for main responsibilities of the role.
Person specification
Knowledge
Essential criteria
5. Well-developed knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of psychology.
6. To 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.
7. Knowledge of legislation in relation to relevant client groups and the healthcare system.
8. Evidence 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.
9. Detailed 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 ( Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion Focussed Therapy).
Desirable criteria
10. Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.
Experience
Essential criteria
11. Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatments of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient settings.
12. Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, including across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity.
13. Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients psychological care and treatment, both as an individual practitioner and within the context of multidisciplinary care.
14. Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision.
15. Experience of carrying out successful audit, research, and service development projects.
16. Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care.
Desirable criteria
17. Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.
18. Experience in one or more clinical settings.
Qualifications
Essential criteria
19. Psychologists - Post-graduate doctoral level training in Clinical, Counselling or Health Psychology BPS/HCPC accredited. Psychological Therapists-completed relevant level 2 required for BABCP accreditation .OR For Psychological Therapists: A recorded/registered qualification in a core health or social care profession at graduate level ( 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.
20. Completed training course in clinical supervision and/or accredited to supervise psychological practitioners
21. Current registration with the BABCP as a Psychological Therapist or HCPC Registration as a Clinical, Counselling or Health Psychologist
22. Additional training beyond entry level qualification in a specialised area of psychological practice or therapeutic approach ( 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
23. Evidence of CPD development
Desirable criteria
24. Attendance at leadership and development programme
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
25. Highly effective verbal and written communication skills
26. Ability 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.
27. Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviours.
28. Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems and verbal and physical abuse.
Desirable criteria
29. A passion and enthusiasm for working with patients in a medical psychology setting
Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)
It is the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Everything we do is shaped by our values: Respect, Support, and Collaborate.
At University Hospitals Tees we want our workspaces to be places where everyone feels welcome, valued and safe. We treat people with respect, and we celebrate the differences that make each of us unique.
We welcome applications from everyone, no matter your age, background, race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family circumstances or beliefs.
We are here to support you throughout your application and at every stage of your career with us. We believe we work best when we collaborate, learn from each other and build teams that reflect the communities we serve.
Supporting disabled people and people with longterm conditions
We are a Disability Confident committed employer aspiring to become a lead employer in 2026.
This means we give fair and full consideration to applicants and will offer reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. If you need help with your application, or need the information in a different format, please contact our recruitment team and we will support you.
If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at or call us on 01642 854610
Right to Work in the UK
The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Work in the UK - (.
Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.
Please note that not everyone needs a Skilled Worker visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.
We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - ( and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - (
Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your right to work in the UK before you apply. If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.
The Trust encourages and supports all applicants to be fully vaccinated against both COVID19 and influenza.
Please be aware, there are occasions where some vacancies may close prior to the closing date advertised. This will only happen where sufficient applications are received AND will be made evident on the job advert.
Please note if you are successfully shortlisted, we will contact you via the email address that you have applied from so please ensure you check your emails regularly.
Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants.