Senior Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

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Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust Senior Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

The closing date is 16 November 2026

Apply for this job

Job summary

A special person with a certain aptitude, experience and adaptable mindset is sought for this position. An exciting full time (fixed term maternity cover) opportunity has arisen to join our specialist and innovative Harrow Frailty team in providing high quality psychology services to Older Adults in the London Borough of Harrow.

Main duties of the job

You would work within a supportive MDT to deliver individual, systems and community psychology interventions across multiple agencies to support the psychological wellbeing of older adults and carers within the borough of Harrow.

The postholder would be working within a Multidisciplinary Team comprising of psychiatry, nursing, arts therapy, occupational therapy, and third sector agency support workers. The service accommodates the needs of individuals with difficulties of both functional and organic origins.

The work is varied, and no two days are the same. The work is equally rewarding in playing a part in the lives of experienced people. You will be working with a Team who are committed to CPD for your growth and professional training. We also encourage research and creative community approaches to meet the diverse needs of our culturally rich boroughs of Harrow.

Members of our team have contributed to literature and research on antiracist practice, DIT with Older People, Inpatient Formulation and psychological approaches for hoarding disorder, amongst others.

About us

Working as part of CNWL NHS Trust will also open other opportunities for internal and external CPD offered as part of your career progression. We have a range of live and on-demand CPD available at your convenience to all our Psychology Staff.

The opportunity to work more hours may be available in the future as we look to combine posts within other services.

We welcome an informal conversation about this role prior to applying, please email [email protected] in the first instance.

Details

Date posted

02 November 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£63,665 to £70,887 a year per annum inc HCAS (pro rata if P/T)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

333-J-HA-0768

Job locations

Bentley house

Bentley House, Harrow, HA35QX

Harrow, London

HA35QX

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide highly specialist psychological assessments for older adults presenting with frailty, cognitive impairment, dementia, delirium, complex physical health needs, and associated psychological distress. To deliver evidencebased psychological interventions tailored to older adults, including those with cognitive impairment, sensory loss, or communication difficulties. To provide culturally sensitive psychological support and interventions for carers and families, including psychoeducation, coping strategies, and emotional support.

To assess and manage clinical risk, including selfneglect, vulnerability, safeguarding concerns, and behavioural expressions of need.

To act as a keyworker or care coordinator where appropriate, contributing to care planning, review processes, and multidisciplinary decisionmaking.

To support early identification of psychological needs within the frailty pathway to prevent deterioration and reduce unnecessary hospitalisation. To contribute to a psychologically informed framework, promoting traumainformed, personcentred, and strengthsbased approaches. Facilitate and evaluate Community Psychology initiatives (Dementia Hub)

To support the team in delivering accessible and culturally competent services to diverse older adult populations.

To challenge discrimination and promote inclusive practice, particularly in relation to age, cognitive impairment, disability, and cultural background.

To provide specialist psychological consultation to MDT colleagues (e.g., geriatricians, nurses, AHPs, social care, primary care teams).

To liaise with referrers, GPs, acute hospitals, community teams, and voluntary sector partners to support integrated care planning.

To use psychological theory and research to inform team practice and service development.

To use Trust resources responsibly andmaintain equipment appropriately. To identify future resource needs and request supplies as required for clinical work. To provide clinical supervision and case consultation to assistant psychologists, and trainees.

To support the development of psychologically informed practice across frailty and older adult services. To ensure all clinical documentation meets Trust and professional standards, includingaccurate electronic recordkeeping. To maintain confidentiality and comply with information governance.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide highly specialist psychological assessments for older adults presenting with frailty, cognitive impairment, dementia, delirium, complex physical health needs, and associated psychological distress. To deliver evidencebased psychological interventions tailored to older adults, including those with cognitive impairment, sensory loss, or communication difficulties. To provide culturally sensitive psychological support and interventions for carers and families, including psychoeducation, coping strategies, and emotional support.

To assess and manage clinical risk, including selfneglect, vulnerability, safeguarding concerns, and behavioural expressions of need.

To act as a keyworker or care coordinator where appropriate, contributing to care planning, review processes, and multidisciplinary decisionmaking.

To support early identification of psychological needs within the frailty pathway to prevent deterioration and reduce unnecessary hospitalisation. To contribute to a psychologically informed framework, promoting traumainformed, personcentred, and strengthsbased approaches. Facilitate and evaluate Community Psychology initiatives (Dementia Hub)

To support the team in delivering accessible and culturally competent services to diverse older adult populations.

To challenge discrimination and promote inclusive practice, particularly in relation to age, cognitive impairment, disability, and cultural background.

To provide specialist psychological consultation to MDT colleagues (e.g., geriatricians, nurses, AHPs, social care, primary care teams).

To liaise with referrers, GPs, acute hospitals, community teams, and voluntary sector partners to support integrated care planning.

To use psychological theory and research to inform team practice and service development.

To use Trust resources responsibly andmaintain equipment appropriately. To identify future resource needs and request supplies as required for clinical work. To provide clinical supervision and case consultation to assistant psychologists, and trainees.

To support the development of psychologically informed practice across frailty and older adult services. To ensure all clinical documentation meets Trust and professional standards, includingaccurate electronic recordkeeping. To maintain confidentiality and comply with information governance.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration.
• Doctorate or equivalent in Clinical or Counselling Psychology
• Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice through formal post qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma.
• Completed training course in clinical supervision
• Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC

Desirable

• Neuropsychology training

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in older adults services.
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature including dementia, delirium and functional difficulties
• Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training.
• Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities.
• Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects.

Desirable

• Experience working in acute care and in care homes.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for OA
• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment
• Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
• Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis.
• Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.

Desirable

• CST training

Skills

Essential

• To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences.
• To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
• To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
• To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and for meetings such as CPAs and case reviews
• To plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists.
• To be skilled in the administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials.
• Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data
• Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration.
• Doctorate or equivalent in Clinical or Counselling Psychology
• Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice through formal post qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma.
• Completed training course in clinical supervision
• Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC

Desirable

• Neuropsychology training

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in older adults services.
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature including dementia, delirium and functional difficulties
• Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training.
• Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities.
• Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects.

Desirable

• Experience working in acute care and in care homes.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for OA
• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment
• Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
• Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis.
• Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.

Desirable

• CST training

Skills

Essential

• To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences.
• To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
• To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
• To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and for meetings such as CPAs and case reviews
• To plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists.
• To be skilled in the administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials.
• Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data
• Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bentley house

Bentley House, Harrow, HA35QX

Harrow, London

HA35QX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bentley house

Bentley House, Harrow, HA35QX

Harrow, London

HA35QX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Psychologist

Chris Wilson

[email protected]

02084247728

Details

Date posted

02 November 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£63,665 to £70,887 a year per annum inc HCAS (pro rata if P/T)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

333-J-HA-0768

Job locations

Bentley house

Bentley House, Harrow, HA35QX

Harrow, London

HA35QX

United Kingdom

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