Principal Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologist/Psychotherapist in Wickford

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Principal Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologist/Psychotherapist

The closing date is 30 November 2025

Within the Personality Disorder and Complex Needs Multi-Disciplinary Team, we have an exciting post aimed at supporting some of our most complex patients across the trust. We are looking for a confident and experienced professional with a doctorate in clinical/counselling/forensic psychology, or equivalent qualifications in psychotherapy. We are looking for an individual who is highly experienced in working with people with extremely complex presentations.The role will be a mixture of direct clinical work, consultation, training, trust-wide MDT support and service development. You will be involved in shaping and delivering services to those with Personality Disorder and Complex Needs across the trust, and will hold some responsibility for the clinical supervision and line management of other members of the team, working closely with the service leads.

Main duties of the job

Our team and this role are part of the Personality Disorder and Complex Needs Pathway as part of the current and ongoing part community services transformation in line with the NHS Long-Term Plan. This means your role could evolve in terms of taking more of a managerial and strategic direction, alongside the clinical aspects of the role.

We will consider applications from experienced 8a clinicians who may be interested in developing their role.

About us

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff\’s hard work and dedication.
• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years\’ service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for a detailed list of job responsibilities.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

• Doctoral level training in clinical, counselling or equivalent for those who trained prior to 1996, or Doctoral level Training or BPS Stage 2 Qualification in Forensic Psychology – all modes of psychology training specifically including models of psychopathology and clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology, OR, Masters level clinical training in a recognised model of psychotherapy (psychodynamic, systemic etc), with core profession and extensive appropriate experience at post-qualification level.
• Appropriate registration/accreditation/eligibility for accreditation (HCPC/BPS; UKCP; BPC etc).
• Masters or Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.
• Evidence of significant CPD at national level in relation to a clinical specialty of personality disorder and complex emotional needs.
• Specialist training in other psychological models relevant to the client group e.g. DBT, CAT, Schema, MBT, STEPPS, EMDR, SCMHas completed KUF training and/or a KUF Trainer
• For Psychotherapist applicants, Doctoral level training in an area related to supporting personality disorder / complex emotional needs / trauma.

Skills/Experience

• Experience in holding a caseload of service users requiring flexible, complex and intensive input, in accordance with Trust clinical pathways, NICE guidance and evidenced based psychological practice.
• Experience in devising, training, leading, facilitating and supporting group work with colleagues and service user groups.
• Experience in developing and providing training on topics associated with trauma, personality disorder and complex emotional needs to a range of recipients. Experience in developing and co-facilitating training with experts by experience. Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi- media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings. Experience in delivering training in topics that require sensitivity and an awareness of the complexity.
• Specialist training in other psychological models relevant to the client group e.g. DBT, CAT, Schema, MBT, STEPPS, EMDR, SCM
• Has completed KUF training and/or a KUF Trainer
• Previous experience working in a service providing for people with Personality Disorder and Complex Needs.

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.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

£64,455 to £74,896 a year per annum pro rata