Senior Clinical/Counselling Psychologist/Psychological Therapist Sunderland

Job summary

An exciting opportunity to work in NHS Sunderland Talking Therapies which is a dynamic and client-focused clinical service delivered with the Community & Voluntary Sector. The post holder will play a key role in delivering high-quality care, contributing to service development and performance, working collaboratively to improve outcomes for clients. The successful candidate will be compassionate, resilient, and proactive, with a commitment to equality, inclusion, and continuous improvement. They will be able to build positive relationships with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders, contributing positively to team culture and service delivery. We offer a supportive working environment, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to make a meaningful difference to the lives of patients and their families. The successful applicant will join a team that values collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.

Main duties of the job

To provide clinical leadership for the development and delivery of Talking Therapy across the whole service in partnership with the Community & Voluntary Sector. To provide highly specialist CBT clinical supervision to trainee and qualified and trainee IAPT, High and Low Intensity Therapists and non IAPT clinicians and to ensure all those staff are in receipt of regular clinical supervision from a suitably qualified practitioner. To lead on the development of relevant pathways within and out with the service including therapy pathways for those patients with mental health problems and co morbid specific long term physical health conditions. To provide specialist clinical input to the service by means of carrying a small clinical caseload. To work with the operational management of the service to analyse referral themes and data to develop the service and treatment pathways to meet service performance requirements, the needs of the current and future users of the service, national trends, and regional variances. To attend and represent the service at locality focused, trust wide, regional and national Talking Therapies networking meetings and lead on the Sunderland Service's continuous development and improvement strategies of a clinical and treatment nature.

About us

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

Details

Date posted: 08 September 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8a

Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 263-CCG26-347-JW

Job locations: Monkwearmouth Hospital, Newcastle Road, Sunderland, SR5 1NB, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description for further details. The post would be suitable for Senior Clinical Counsellors, Psychologists and Psychotherapists.

Advertising date : 8th September 2026

Closing date : 22nd September 2026

Person Specification

Additional requirements

• Able to meet the mobility requirements of the post.

Education and Qualification

Essential

• Doctoral level training in clinical psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and Neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the HCPC and British Psychological Society/Honours degree in psychology (or approved equivalent giving eligibility for graduate registration with the BPS).
• HCPC registered practitioner psychologist or equivalent e.g. BABCP registered CBT practitioner.
• Member of an appropriate professional body.

Desirable

• Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology
• Additional qualification in at least one therapeutic model, evidence-based for use with this client group

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups relevant to the client group
• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinical sensitive information to clients, their family, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex multivariable data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.
• Experience of providing clinical supervision.

Desirable

• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.

Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Skills in managing emotional impact of dealing with highly emotive and distressing situations through self-management and use of the clinical supervision process.
• Specialist skills in evidence based psychological interventions.
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management.
• Skills in providing clinical supervision and consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.

Role/Team specific requirements

Essential

• The resilience necessary to overcome obstacles and resistance.
• Sensitivity towards organisational and political complexities.
• Excellent communicator.

Desirable

• Experience of working within a multicultural framework

Personal Characteristics

Essential

• Ability to travel extensively
• Ability to work flexibly inside and outside of office hours.
• Evidence of being a team player.
• Develop a culture that actively promotes equality and values diversity

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

We are an equal opportunities employer.