Counselling Psychologist jobs in United Kingdom

Closing date: 24 December 2025

Hours: 37.5 hours per week – 12 month Fixed term/Secondment

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated Counselling or Clinical Psychologist or BABCP accredited CBT Therapist to join the West Yorkshire Maternal Mental Health Service (Paths) and support the delivery of the priorities set out in the NHS Long Term Plan. The post will be hosted by SWYPFT on behalf of the West Yorkshire ICS.

Paths provides support to women and birthing parents experiencing moderate to severe or complex mental health difficulties as a result of birthtrauma, fear of birth itself (tokophobia), and trauma relating to pregnancy and baby loss (including loss through removal by social care procedures).

The post holder will provide psychological assessments and interventions to serviceusers in line with the evidence base and NICE Guidelines. They will conduct individual service and psychological assessments and psychological formulation as well as individualised therapy sessions and group sessions along side midwifery colleagues. They will offer advice and consultation to referrers, staff within the service and other professional/non professional groups.

The post holder will have the opportunity to work closely with maternity services and midwives. There is scope to provide indirect work such as facilitating reflective practice and the provision of training within the linked maternity and mental health systems.

We are seeking to recruit candidates, who are professional, approachable, and able to build positive working relationships with Paths and partners across the West Yorkshire ICS.

Candidates will be interested in working with women who have experienced birth trauma and loss within the perinatal period. They will be able to demonstrate knowledge of, and competencies in, the provision of psychological therapies within the perinatal period. Competence and confidence in working with and managing risk in relation to both the mother and the baby is required. Experience of working with symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress and with those who present with mental health difficulties following perinatal loss is desirable.

Applicants will value working with partner agencies and engage with our focus on reducing health inequalities, inclusion, and engagement of seldom heard communities.

We support continuing professional development and there will be opportunities to take on further training as supported by professional leads and operational management.

Agile working will be required with travel mainly within Leeds and occasional travel across West Yorkshire on an ad‑hoc basis to help manage capacity/demand and help reduce barriers to accessing the service. Therapy may be delivered via video or face to face in local clinics or homes.

The service operates Mon‑Fri; 9‑5 pm. Part‑time and flexible working hours will be considered.

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities; we do this by providing high‑quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non‑clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means we are accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we are run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve the right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

JOB SUMMARY

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The post holder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the post holder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

The post holder will provide specialist clinical psychology skills within a multidisciplinary team. The post holder will provide a high quality clinical service to the users of the service.

They will provide highly specialist psychological assessment and intervention while working collaboratively with non‑psychologist colleagues, professionals from other agencies and carers. They will be clinically responsible to a senior clinical psychologist. Clinical oversight of all work will be held by the clinical lead in the service.

The job plan will be delivered in the services the post is based.

The post holder will work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team while observing Trust and National policies and procedures.

The post holder will provide support to Assistant Psychologists and Doctoral trainees. They will utilise research skills in audit, service development and research relevant to the post.

KEY RESULT AREAS

To offer consultation, supervision and training when required by other agencies involved in the psychological, emotional and behavioural well‑being of people referred to the service

To provide consultation, assessment and intervention in the service.

To work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary context.

To provide assessment and treatment options for people experiencing moderate, severe and complex mental health problems.

To exercise expert clinical judgement based on the highest standards of evidence based practice.

To continually seek to expand and consolidate clinical skills using training, experience, and supervision.

To be proficient in the use of Psychometric testing appropriate to the age range.

To provide specialist risk assessment of and intervention to people who present to the service.

To follow appropriate Adult and Child Protection guidelines in all Clinical work, including close liaison with all agencies.

To liaise and consult with the wider professional network in the care of the client.

To work jointly with other team members in delivering the most appropriate clinical service to people and their families.

To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients.

To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to effectively evaluate progress.

To receive regular professional supervision from a senior Clinical Psychologist and where appropriate, other senior clinicians.

To continue to access continuing professional development opportunities in line with agreed targets and agreed personal development plan.

To assist in the supervision of Doctoral level Clinical Psychology trainees and trainees from other disciplines as appropriate.

To contribute to the pre and post qualification teaching of Clinical Psychologists.

To assist in the teaching and training of professionals.

To contribute to the Audit processes within the service.

To contribute to research in the service area.

To utilise theory, evidence based literature and research to support evidence based practise of self and others.

To provide advice on research projects to other staff within the service around appropriate methodology, statistical analysis etc.

To undertake project management as required to aid service development.

To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post‑holder’s professional lead and service manager(s). To maintain membership of appropriate regulatory bodies (i.e. The Health & Care Professionals Council) and professional bodies such as the British Psychological Society.

To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in psychology across the service, by continuing to develop the skills of reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of clinical psychology and related disciplines.

JOB SUMMARY

The post holder will provide specialist psychotherapy skills within a multidisciplinary team. The post holder will provide a high quality clinical service to the users of the service.

They will provide highly specialist assessment and intervention while working collaboratively with non‑psychology and psychotherapy professionals from other agencies and carers. They will be clinically responsible to a senior clinical psychologist or psychotherapist. Clinical oversight of all work will be held by the clinical lead in the service.

The job plan will be delivered in the services the post is based.

The post holder will work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team while observing Trust and National policies and procedures.

The post holder will utilise research skills in audit, service development and research relevant to the post.

KEY RESULT AREAS

To offer consultation, supervision and training when required by other agencies involved in the psychological, emotional and behavioural well‑being of people referred to the service

To provide consultation, assessment and intervention in the service.

To work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary context.

To provide assessment and treatment options for people experiencing moderate, severe and complex mental health problems.

To exercise expert clinical judgement based on the highest standards of evidence based practice.

To continually seek to expand and consolidate clinical skills using training, experience, and supervision.

To provide specialist risk assessment of and intervention to people who present to the service.

To follow appropriate Adult and Child Protection guidelines in all Clinical work, including close liaison with all agencies.

To liaise and consult with the wider professional network in the care of the client.

To work jointly with other team members in delivering the most appropriate clinical service to people and their families.

To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients.

To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to effectively evaluate progress.

To receive regular professional supervision from a senior Clinical Psychologist or psychotherapist and where appropriate, other senior clinicians.

To continue to access continuing professional development opportunities in line with agreed targets and agreed personal development plan.

To assist in the supervision of Doctoral level Clinical Psychology trainees and trainees from other disciplines as appropriate.

To assist in the teaching and training of professionals.

To contribute to the Audit processes within the service.

To contribute to research in the service area.

To utilise theory, evidence based literature and research to support evidence based practise of self and others.

To provide advice on research projects to other staff within the service around appropriate methodology, statistical analysis etc.

To undertake project management as required to aid service development.

To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post‑holder’s professional lead and service manager(s). To maintain membership of appropriate bodies (i.e. UKCP) and professional bodies appropriate for the model of working.

To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in psychotherapy across the service, by continuing to develop the skills of reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of psychotherapy and related disciplines.

To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self‑governance in accordance with professional codes of practice and Trust policies and procedures.

To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to the clients the service serves.

For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up‑to‑date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

• Clinical/Counselling Psychologist.
• Hons. Degree in Psychology.
• Doctoral qualification clinical or counselling psychology.
• Appropriate safeguarding training.
• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist.
• CBT
• Registered qualification in core mental health/social welfare profession OR completion of Low Intensity IAPT Training and Knowledge/Skills and Attitudes Accreditation with BABCP.
• Qualifying level course in Psychotherapy or equivalent at Masters level e.g. A Post Graduate Diploma plus additional training and experience as demonstrated by: additional training and experience in offering CBT for Complex cases, DBT training or Mindfulness based approaches in CBT.
• Eligible for Registration / Accreditation with the relevant professional/accrediting body for the model of psychotherapy relevant to this post e.g. UKCP, ACAP, BABCP.
• Clinical/Counselling Psychologist.
• 2:1 min.
• Eligible for chartered status.

• CBT
• Evidence of additional training in CBT for complex cases, DBT or Mindfulness.
• Supervision training.

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

• Clinical or Counselling Psychologist.
• Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role.
• IT Literate.
• CBT
• Knowledge of adult & child protection legislation.
• Awareness of legislation relevant to the clinical area of practice.

• Clinical or Counselling Psychologist.
• Completion of supervised clinical practice in the NHS.
• Ability to work within two models of psychological assessment, formulation and intervention.
• CBT
• Supervision training or experience of supervising other practitioners, or evidence of substantial experience in research, audit or service evaluation.
• Completion of significant supervised clinical practice.
• Ability to carry out assessment, formulation and intervention.
• Experience in working with service users in the clinical area of the post.
• Different theoretical approaches.
• Work with other disciplines.
• Work with people who have disabilities.

• Caring.
• Team Player.
• Commitment to supervision and support.
• Flexible.
• Committed to client group.

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.

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust