Clinical Psychologist - East Sussex Community MSK Persistent Pain Service

Working differently. Changing lives.

The East Sussex Community Persistent Pain Service has been created to transform the way persistent pain is understood and supported.

We believe people are experts in their own lives. Our role is not to take control, but to work alongside people, helping them understand pain, build confidence, reconnect with what matters to them and live well despite ongoing symptoms.

This is not a traditional outpatient pain service.

Our clinicians work in communities as well as clinics, building relationships with primary care, voluntary organisations, community groups and people with lived experience. Every conversation is rooted in personalised care, shared decision making and a strengths-based approach.

We value curiosity over certainty, coaching over directing, partnership over hierarchy and prevention alongside treatment. We recognise that improving health means more than delivering appointments; it’s about reducing inequalities, strengthening communities and enabling people to become active participants in their own health.

If you are excited by working differently, building something new and helping shape the future of community persistent pain care, we would love to hear from you.

We welcome applications from Clinical Psychologists with experience of providing highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for people living with persistent pain within a multidisciplinary community MSK Persistent Pain Service.

A significant part of the role involves delivering and co-facilitating evidence-based Pain Management Programmes, alongside individual psychological interventions that support self-management, improve function and enhance quality of life.

Job Description

Clinical Responsibilities

Assessment

• Undertake specialist person‑centred assessment of patients referred to the MSK Persistent Pain Service to identify factors contributing to the pain and how this affects their life informed by NICE guidance and clinical practice.

• Develop comprehensive biopsychosocial formulations that draw on evidence‑based approaches to consider how psychological, physical, social and occupational factors have contributed to and maintain difficulties. This will include lifestyle and daily activities (including work and sleep disturbance), physical and psychological wellbeing, stressful life events (including previous or current physical or emotional trauma, current or past substance misuse, social support and relationships and wider factors (housing, income, culture and faith).

• Utilise appropriate standardised psychometric and outcome measures, alongside clinical interview, history and other relevant information, to inform assessment, formulation, treatment planning and evaluation of outcomes.

• Explore current coping, skills, strengths and support, including attitudes and understanding of treatment options. Assess suitability for group‑based and individual psychological interventions.

• Develop and document appropriate care and support plans, to support treatment planning (including the management of flare ups).

• Undertake specialist psychological triage and assessment of patients referred to the Community MSK Persistent Pain Service, including contributing psychological expertise to multidisciplinary assessment and decisions regarding suitability and appropriateness for individual or group psychological intervention.

Therapeutic interventions

• Deliver evidence‑based psychological interventions for people living with persistent pain, including approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Compassion Focused approaches, mindfulness‑informed interventions and behavioural pain management approaches.

• Promote self‑management and rehabilitation principles, supporting patients to improve functioning and quality of life despite ongoing symptoms.

• Support patients to develop practical skills and confidence to manage persistent pain and flare‑ups, reduce fear and avoidance, and engage in meaningful activities and valued life roles, including family, social, educational and occupational activities.

• Manage highly complex and emotionally challenging clinical presentations appropriately and safely.

Pain Management Programmes

• Lead and co‑facilitate multidisciplinary Pain Management Programmes, including the design, development and delivery of psychoeducational and therapeutic group sessions.

• Contribute specialist psychological expertise to programme development, evaluation of outcomes and review of patient experience.

• Adapt programmes to meet the needs of diverse populations and individuals with protected characteristics and support the development of digital and hybrid delivery models where appropriate.

Multidisciplinary working

• Act as an active member of the multidisciplinary team, contributing to clinical discussions, MDT meetings and case reviews.

• Provide psychological consultation and guidance to colleagues managing individuals with persistent pain, working collaboratively across health and social care systems and supporting integrated care pathways and stepped‑care models.

Risk management and safeguarding

• Assess and manage clinical risk in accordance with organisational policies, identifying and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns.

• Escalate concerns regarding patient safety in line with procedures and maintain accurate clinical records and risk documentation.

• Support continuous quality improvement via logging and managing incidents on Incident Reporting System.

• Escalate risks and concerns via appropriate Governance frameworks.

Professional leadership, training and supervision

• Provide specialist psychological consultation regarding the management of persistent pain and contribute to psychologically informed practice across the multidisciplinary team.

• Support the development of staff skills through teaching, training, supervision, mentorship and reflective practice, including assistant psychologists, trainee psychologists or other staff where appropriate.

• Where appropriate and within professional competence, contribute to the safe delegation of clinical and therapeutic activities to appropriately trained staff, providing appropriate guidance and oversight in accordance with organisational policy.

• Participate in regular clinical supervision in accordance with HCPC and professional standards, and provide placement supervision where appropriately qualified.

Service development and audit

• Contribute to service evaluation, audit, outcome measurement and quality improvement initiatives, supporting the development of innovative psychological pathways within persistent pain services.

• Contribute to policy and pathway development, support implementation of national guidance and best practice, maintain awareness of current evidence relating to persistent pain, and disseminate learning within the service.

Professional responsibilities

• Work within HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and in accordance with British Psychological Society standards and professional codes of practice.

• Maintain registration as a Practitioner Psychologist, maintain continued professional development and evidence of reflective practice, and ensure practice is evidence-based and informed by current research.

Person Specification

E - Essential, D - Desirable

Qualifications

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology / Clinical Health Psychology or Counselling Psychology or equivalent overseas qualification recognised by the British Psychological Society. (E)

• HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist. (E)

• Eligibility for Chartered Status with the British Psychological Society. (D)

• Post-qualification training in ACT, CBT or other evidence-based approaches relevant to persistent pain. (D)

• Additional training in group facilitation (D)

Experience

• Experience of working as a qualified Clinical Psychologist; psychological assessment and formulation of complex presentations; delivering psychological interventions for adults; facilitating therapeutic groups; working within multidisciplinary teams; and using routine outcome measures and clinical evaluation. (E)

• Experience of using evidence-based psychological approaches, including CBT and/or ACT, with adults experiencing common mental health difficulties alongside long–term physical health conditions. (E)

• Experience working or training within persistent pain services, pain management programmes, long‑term conditions and physical health services; quality improvement, audit or service development; and providing consultation and training to staff. (D)

Knowledge

• Knowledge of current evidence and best practice in persistent pain management; the biopsychosocial model of pain; CBT, ACT and behavioural approaches relevant to pain; clinical governance and safeguarding frameworks; equality, diversity and inclusion principles; and risk assessment and risk management. (E)

• Knowledge of national pain management guidance, rehabilitation and vocational principles in persistent pain, and outcome measurement within pain services. (D)

• Knowledge and understanding of commonly prescribed medication for anxiety, depression, common mental health difficulties and pain, including awareness of the interaction between psychological, physical and pharmacological approaches to persistent pain management. (D)

Skills

• Highly developed psychological assessment and formulation skills; excellent written and verbal communication; ability to deliver complex psychological interventions; strong group facilitation skills; ability to adapt interventions to meet diverse patient needs; ability to manage complexity and uncertainty; ability to work independently while contributing effectively to MDT working; strong organisational and time management skills; and competence in clinical record keeping and digital systems. (E)

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with mental health, primary care, community and voluntary sector services to support appropriate onward referral and integrated care. (E)

• Experience of delivering virtual therapies and group programmes; skills in service evaluation and outcome analysis. (D)

Personal Attributes

• Compassionate and person‑centred approach; commitment to multidisciplinary working; commitment to professional development and reflective practice; resilience and ability to manage emotionally demanding work; flexible and innovative approach to service delivery; and ability to act as a positive role model within the team. (E)

• Demonstrates an appreciation of the value of lived experience in shaping services and improving outcomes for patients, families and carers. (E)

• Demonstrates a commitment to compassionate, inclusive and person‑centred care, valuing lived experience, cultural diversity and equity, and actively seeking to adapt their practice to meet the diverse needs of patients, families, carers and communities. (E)

About Us and Our Culture

Here is a not-for-profit, social enterprise working in the health sector. We do many things, including:

• designing and delivering health care services in partnership with the NHS and third sector organisations

• developing and implementing products that support primary care to thrive What unites our efforts is a recognition of the ‘way’ we do things:

• We are a group of people who believe we can make a difference in the world

• We think business can be a force for good, and that profits should benefit our society

We know that our society is not fair and equitable, and many people cannot thrive in the conditions in which they live. We believe changes in health and care could enable a better future for us all.

Positive about disability

We’re committed to developing the careers of individuals with a disability. We will give full and fair consideration to all applicants. Applicants who confirm a disability that meet the essential criteria and evidence this within their application, will be interviewed.

Positive about diversity

Here value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We actively welcome applicants who identify as LGBTQ+, disabled, and people of the Global Majority.

People who identify as Black Caribbean, Black African, South Asian, East Asian, Middle Eastern or Latin.