Trac proudly powers the recruitment for
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust
About
We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.
From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.
We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.
We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.
We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.
Contact
- Address
- Trust Headquarters
- West Park Hospital
- Edward Pease Way
- Darlington
- County Durham
- DL2 2TS
- Contact Number
- 01325 552000
Consultant Applied Psychologist
Accepting applications until: 19-Nov-2025 23:59
Vacancy status: Open
Accepting applications until: 19-Nov-2025 23:59
Key details
Location
- Site
- Lanchester Road Hospital
- Address
- Lanchester Road
- Town
- Durham
- Postcode
- DH1 5RD
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- 12 months (Fixed Term / Secondment)
- Hours
- Part time - 30 hours per week
Salary
- Salary
- £76,965 - £88,682 pro rata, per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (NHS AfC: Band 8c)
Specialty
- Main area
- Health & Justice / Forensic
We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.
From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.
We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.
We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.
We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.
Job overview
We have an exciting part time (30 hours) opportunity for an experienced applied psychologist - fixed term (12 months) to undertake the Consultant Applied Psychologist – Clinical Lead role within the North East-wide Enhanced Reconnect Service.
The role involves leading a multidisciplinary team to support prison leavers with complex health needs in overcoming barriers to accessing healthcare services upon their release from custody. The post holder will work in both prison and community settings across the North East to support people in the final months of their sentence and up to a year post-release.
The model adopted by the Enhanced Reconnect service is psychologically-led, trauma-informed and neurodiverse. The service offers interventions, structured support, advocacy, signposting and engagement with community-based health and support services.
Advert
This role is in the Enhanced Reconnect Service, based at Lanchester Road Hospital and covering the whole of the North East. The service is one of four national pilots supporting prison leavers assessed as presenting high risk of harm with complex health needs linked with their offending. The service prioritises individuals convicted of terrorism-related offences and those identified as at risk of extremism. One of the national pilot objectives is to address health needs that if left unmet could lead to extremist behaviours. The postholder will work closely with probation/prison colleagues and will form excellent working relationships with health and care services across the area.
Working for our organisation
We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.
From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.
We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.
We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.
To provide the overarching leadership to the service ensuring a psychological, trauma-informed approach is adopted and lead on the delivery of this enhanced pathway of care. To provide assurance to senior management and commissioners on the quality of care that is provided. You will support senior management with liaison with Integrated Care Systems and Provider Collaboratives to ensure a smooth and planned journey through the care system. You will liaise and work closely with providers in prison establishments to support release planning that is relevant, accessible and appropriate for those in the Enhanced Reconnect cohort. You will oversee a referral pathway that allows stepping up and down to the Enhanced Reconnect service in line with the service specification, namely the 3 classifications of 1. National Security Division; 2. At Risk of Extremism; 3. Regional Probation Service identified as very high/high risk and complex.
You will offer specialist assessment and interventions for this complex group of individuals within the criminal justice system. You will support complex case management through coordinated interventions, support and risk management from multiple agencies (i.e. health, criminal justice, local authorities, substance misuse, employment and voluntary sector organisations). The majority of this service will be delivered within local approved premises.
You will lead a multidisciplinary team and will work alongside and with health care navigators and peer support workers with Rethink Mental Illness and Humankind.
Right to Work in the UK
Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the United Kingdom (UK) are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Browse: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Overseas applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.
Please note that not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead, subject to role meeting the required conditions.
We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your Right to Work in the UK before you apply. If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.
AI in Recruitment
We are aware that Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is increasingly being used to generate responses for application forms. Applications for this role should be written by the applicant and if, during shortlisting, a Recruiting Manager believes AI has been used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.
Fixed Term Posts
If the contract type on the vacancy states 'Fixed Term' this would mean the vacancy is being advertised to address a temporary need for the duration stipulated on the advert, however, in the event that permanent funding is secured for the post the successful applicant will be confirmed in post on a permanent basis.
Internal applicants must ensure that prior to applying they have agreement from their current line manager that they can be released on a secondment basis.
Support with applications
We have computers facilities available in our libraries (Durham, Middlesbrough, and Darlington) to support applicants. If you would like to access to a laptop for your application, please contact the library team to arrange a time to visit, please email: [email protected] . We will always endeavour to make this available however we cannot guarantee that we will be able accommodate this before the vacancy closes.
Trust Welcome Day
Here at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Foundation NHS Trust, we want you to have a positive experience when you start your new role with us. To ensure you have great welcome, for all new starters joining the Trust, we offer two start dates per month on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of that month.
On your start date, you will be invited to our in person Trust Welcome Day at our Flatts Lane Centre, Middlesbrough. Your first day will be engaging and informative, it will allow you to meet and network with a range of Trust staff, learn more about us and what we offer. For certain clinical roles, your Welcome Day may then be followed up with additional mandatory/statutory clinical training.
Applying for this post
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from individuals who have experience of mental ill health or learning disabilities. Our service users and carers tell us our staff should be consistently concerned with maintaining and improving care with pride, empathy and compassion.
This job advert may close as soon as sufficient suitable applications have been received. If interested please apply for this post as soon as possible.
In order for your application to be successfully processed we will require references from your current and previous employer(s) which must cover a minimum period of three years. Please ensure that the reference section of your application is completed appropriately giving the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current and previous line manager(s). If this section is not fully completed your application may not be processed.
If your application is successful, the information you give on your application form will be used to create and be retained on your electronic staff record and to provide access to core Trust systems.
Please note that if the post you are applying for requires a DBS check, you will be required to also subscribe to the DBS Update Service, if successful, and thereafter renew your subscription each year. The Trust will reimburse the subscription fee.
After applying via the NHS Jobs link, you will be taken to our preferred Third party recruitment system so submit your application. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, that as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website.
By applying for this post you are agreeing to Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.
Additional Information
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the protection of staff, service users and visitors to the Trust from second hand smoke and currently operates a no smoking policy which ensures all buildings and grounds are smoke free.
Applicant requirements
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Post-graduate training (doctoral level equivalent) in clinical / counselling / forensic psychology (or its equivalent prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS.
- HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist
- Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice
- Trained in clinical supervision and the supervision of doctoral trainees
- Trained in care co-ordination
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable criteria
- Registration with BPS
Experience
Essential criteria
- Must have substantial experience of: Working as a qualified applied psychologist within the designated service including a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings.
- Exercising full clinical responsibility for clients’ psychological care as a care co-ordinator and leader of a multidisciplinary team.
- Liaison and joint working with statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies
- Teaching, training, clinical supervision and field supervisor for doctoral theses.
- Research and development
- Project management of quality and service improvement initiatives
- Must have experience of: Providing clinical and professional leadership to other qualified and non-qualified members of the profession.
- Managing multi-agency service delivery models
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Doctoral level knowledge of: Evidence- based practice relevant to the role
- Risk assessment and risk management
- Clinical governance
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health and its implications for clinical practice.
- Audit and research methodology
- Social Inclusion agenda
- Highly developed knowledge of: The care of difficult to treat groups e.g. dual diagnoses, additional disabilities or severely challenging behaviour.
- The Trust’s Quality Improvement System.
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Esther Pepperdine
- Job title
- Consultant Clinical Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07717421038
Start your application
Sign in
Create an account
Create your account and apply for your new job!







