Specialist Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

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

The closing date is 18 November 2026

Apply for this job

Job summary

Harrow Adult Mental Health is looking for a highly motivated and passionate Psychologist to join our expanding therapies team. This popular post is offered within our innovative Adult Community Mental Health Hub (Bentley House CMHH) which provides intervention to adults presenting with a range of secondary care mental health difficulties, including psychosis, Complex Emotional Needs and PTSD.

The successful candidate will play a key role in the provision of highly specialist psychological assessment, collaborative formulation with service users, and consultation to the team, to support the development of personalised and multi-disciplinary care plans that support individuals under the care of the CMHH to move forward. They will also provide specialist psychological intervention that draws on a range of evidence-based modalities.

The post-holder will be expected to take a leading role in the ongoing development of Harrow's Trauma-Informed Approaches (TIA) model for the adult mental health services. Over the last two years, our CMHH has rolled-out TIA, and trained the full MDT in Power Threat Meaning Framework formulation and Psychological Stabilisation interventions. This project builds on Harrow's award winning TIA work in its acute services over the last six years, which has been published (Nikopaschos et al. 2023; 2025) and is now also influencing National Policy (see NHSE Guidelines for Acute Inpatient Mental Health Care for Adults and Older Adults, 2023).

Main duties of the job

Bentley House CMHH works closely with the rest of the Harrow mental health system (including the Home Treatment and Inpatient teams) to provide holistic intervention to adults with severe and enduring mental health difficulties. The post holder will join an expanding therapies team, committed to providing highly specialist and trauma-informed psychological care. They will work closely with the full range of MDT professionals, including psychiatry, nursing, occupational therapy and peer support. They will play a key role in assessment and formulation, the development of creative multi-disciplinary care plans, and the provision of psychological intervention that follows service users across the Harrow system.

The post-holder will be expected to work as a senior member of the MDT, including the provision of consultation, co-working, teaching, training, supervision and research as well as developing specific training to enhance the systematic provision of psychological interventions offered to service users by all members of the team within a 'stepped-care' framework. They will make a leading contribution to the learning culture of the team and wider service, and play an integral role in the further development and embedding of TIA.

About us

We are delighted that you are interested in working with us here at CNWL. At CNWL, we work in collaboration with our multidisciplinary colleagues and value the lived experiences of both our staff and service users. CNWL is recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ in line with our values, our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

With us, you will get:

• A Trust committed to staff personal development, with a trust wide culture change and leadership programme that has staff wellbeing at its core.
• Flexible working.
• Variety of work.
• Access to a variety of CPD opportunities.

Central and North West London (CNWL) Trust is pioneering in its Trauma-Informed Approach (TIA) which focuses on Power Threat Meaning Framework Team Formulation (PTMF), manualised stabilisation interventions and staff training. Over the last year, our CMHH has rolled-out TIA, and the Assistant Psychologists will play an important role in the ongoing development of this work. This project builds on Harrow's innovative TIA work in its acute services over the last six years and is now also influencing National Policy (see NHSE Guidelines for Acute Inpatient Mental Health Care for Adults and Older Adults, 2023).

Details

Date posted

05 November 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£63,665 to £70,887 a year per annum incl. HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

333-J-HA-0772

Job locations

Bentley House Community Mental Health Hub

15-21 Headstone Drive

Harrow

HA3 5QX

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide a specialist psychology service to service users of Bentley House Community Mental Health Hub (CMHH), including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.

To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead specialist in the CMHH.

To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.

To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.

To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved.

Key Responsibilities:

KR 1 Clinical and Client Care

To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients under the care of Bentley House CMHH.

To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.

KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning

To contribute to the effective working of the team or service and to a psychologically informed framework for the service.

To contribute to the team or services delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.

KR 3 Policy and service development

To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes.

To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.

KR 4 Management and supervision

To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism.

To provide supervision for the psychological work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate.

KR 5 Teaching and Training

To undertake occasional teaching and training of pre and post- qualification psychologists and specialised training to other professions as appropriate.

To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the team by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and acute mental health, and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.

KR 6 Record-keeping and Information Governance

To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.

KR 7 Research and development

To initiate, undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits.

To initiate and implement the development of outcome measurement and assessment and assist other staff in the implementation of same.

KR 8 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development

To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC and Trust guidelines.

To ensure own Continuing Professional Development

To comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency, and ensure professional development in line with these.

To adhere to the BPSs Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide a specialist psychology service to service users of Bentley House Community Mental Health Hub (CMHH), including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.

To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead specialist in the CMHH.

To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.

To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.

To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved.

Key Responsibilities:

KR 1 Clinical and Client Care

To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients under the care of Bentley House CMHH.

To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.

KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning

To contribute to the effective working of the team or service and to a psychologically informed framework for the service.

To contribute to the team or services delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.

KR 3 Policy and service development

To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes.

To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.

KR 4 Management and supervision

To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism.

To provide supervision for the psychological work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate.

KR 5 Teaching and Training

To undertake occasional teaching and training of pre and post- qualification psychologists and specialised training to other professions as appropriate.

To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the team by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and acute mental health, and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.

KR 6 Record-keeping and Information Governance

To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.

KR 7 Research and development

To initiate, undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits.

To initiate and implement the development of outcome measurement and assessment and assist other staff in the implementation of same.

KR 8 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development

To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC and Trust guidelines.

To ensure own Continuing Professional Development

To comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency, and ensure professional development in line with these.

To adhere to the BPSs Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.

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.
• 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

• Post-qualification training in supervision and management.

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision.
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature.
• 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.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for acute and crisis presentations
• Theoretical knowledge of psychological presentations 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

• High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.

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

Abilities

Essential

• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
• Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings
• Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these.
• Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour.
• Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self.

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.
• 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

• Post-qualification training in supervision and management.

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision.
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature.
• 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.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for acute and crisis presentations
• Theoretical knowledge of psychological presentations 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

• High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.

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

Abilities

Essential

• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate.
• Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings
• Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these.
• Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour.
• Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self.

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 Community Mental Health Hub

15-21 Headstone Drive

Harrow

HA3 5QX

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 Community Mental Health Hub

15-21 Headstone Drive

Harrow

HA3 5QX

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:

Clinical Psychologist

Dr Denisha Makwana

[email protected]

Details

Date posted

05 November 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£63,665 to £70,887 a year per annum incl. HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

333-J-HA-0772

Job locations

Bentley House Community Mental Health Hub

15-21 Headstone Drive

Harrow

HA3 5QX

United Kingdom

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