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
Applied Psychologist/Highly Specialist Applied Psychologist
Accepting applications until: 18-Oct-2026 23:59
Vacancy status: Open
Accepting applications until: 18-Oct-2026 23:59
Key details
Location
- Site
- Stanley Primary Care Centre
- Address
- Clifford Road
- Town
- Stanley, Durham
- Postcode
- DH9 0AB
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent: Community service working 9am - 17.00pm
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Salary
- Salary
- £49,387 - £64,750 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (NHS AfC: Band 7/8a)
Specialty
- Main area
- CAMHS Neurodevelopmental Service
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
This post may be appointed either as a Band 7 preceptorship, with progression towards a Band 8a role, or directly at Band 8a, depending on the successful candidate’s skills and experience. Duties and responsibilities will be adjusted accordingly. This is a permanent post within the North base of the Durham and Darlington CAMHS Neurodevelopmental Assessment Service, located at Stanley Primary Care Centre. The post is available on a full-time basis, although part-time working arrangements will be considered.
You will join a multidisciplinary team comprising nurses, support workers, associate practitioners, speech and language therapists, applied psychologists and assistant psychologists. The service also provides placements for trainee clinical psychologists.
Advert
The Neurodevelopmental Assessment Service assesses children and young people where there are questions about a possible neurodevelopmental condition, including, but not limited to, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We are seeking a psychologist with a specialist interest and relevant clinical experience in neurodevelopmental assessment. The post holder will contribute to assessment, formulation and diagnostic decision-making for school-aged children and young people where autism and/or attentional difficulties are being considered. They will work as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes applied psychologists, consultant psychiatrists, nurses and speech and language therapists.
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.
We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Applicants must demonstrate relevant experience of, and a clear interest in, working with children and young people with autism and attentional difficulties. They must have a sound working knowledge of the diagnostic assessment processes for autism and ADHD, including an awareness of relevant differential diagnoses. Experience of administering a range of standardised assessments is required; experience of specialist neurodevelopmental assessment tools is desirable. Applicants should be experienced in contributing to complex formulation and, depending on experience and banding, leading this work, as well as providing comprehensive feedback to families and other agencies involved in the child or young person’s care. The post holder must also have the skills and experience required to provide supervision, contribute to service evaluation and respond effectively to service development and organisational change. Travel to venues across County Durham and Darlington will be required.
We welcome applications from staff who are currently coming to the end of their training in Clinical or counselling psychology that on successful completion will achieve the required qualification and registration with HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist. Trainee counselling psychologists are eligible to apply for and to be shortlisted for interview and to be offered qualified posts when they are in their 3rd year of the doctoral training and have the following confirmed as completed by the university. This information may be requested prior to interview: a. All clinical competencies. b. 80% of the 450 supervised clinical practice hours (360 hours)
Trainee clinical psychologists are eligible to apply for and to be shortlisted for interview and to be offered qualified posts when they are in their third year of training, as they will have completed their core clinical competencies by this stage of the course.
Psychologists & Psychological Therapists provide key leadership roles within the Trust. To support this we have developed leadership profiles for each psychology band and the profile card associated with this post is attached on NHS Jobs. You can find more information about the NHS Leadership Academy’s Healthcare Leadership Model and the profiles at their website. We encourage you to look at these resources as they will play a part in the interview process.
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of the role and ensure that you meet the required criteria before applying.
This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position.
Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
This job advert may close early if a high volume of applications have been received. If interested, please apply for this post as soon as possible.
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.
Employment History
When completing your application form, please ensure that you include your full employment history, in chronological order with your most recent job/employment at the top. Failure to complete your employment history in full could result in your application being rejected.
Fixed Term Posts/Secondments
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 Valley Foundation NHS Trust, we want you to have a positive experience when you start your new role with us. We run a monthly face to face Trust Welcome Day and where possible, this will be your first day of employment. However, if this date is not possible, you will be required to attend a Trust Welcome Day within 4 weeks of your start date.
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 early if a high volume of 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
Qualification
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
- Trained in clinical supervision (within agreed timescale)
- Trained in care co-ordination (within agreed timescale) Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable criteria
- Post-graduate qualification showing evidence of supervised practice in an evidence-based psychological therapeutic model
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Working with mental health/learning disability clients (depending on designated service area)
- Multi-disciplinary team working
- Experience of research and audit
- 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.
- Audit and research methodology
- Social Inclusion agenda
Documents
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Alex Pickering
- Job title
- Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01207 285882
- Additional information
Aimee Simms, Team Manager — [email protected]
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