Job summaryCNWL Harrow Adult Mental Health is looking for a highly motivated and passionate Band 7 Psychologist to join our therapies team at Northwick Park Hospital. This post is based at the Mental Health Centre at Northwick Park Hospital, where the successful applicant will work on the two adult inpatient mental health wards (Eastlake and Ferneley) but also work closely with our Home Treatment Team (HTT), and Community Mental Health Hub (CMHH).
The postholder will be required to provide psychological assessment and intervention for adults with a range of mental health presentations, including; psychosis, complex emotional needs, PTSD, and emotional difficulties (anxiety, depression). They will also play a key role in providing consultation to the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT), supporting the development of creative and personalised care plans for our patients. You will be encouraged to further develop your therapeutic skills in a friendly and supportive context.
In line with the NHS 10-year Plan and the award-winning Trauma-Informed Approaches (TIA) work within our borough, which has been published in the peer-reviewed literature (Nikopaschos et al., 2023; 2025) and is influencing national policy (NHS England,
Guidelines for Acute Inpatient Mental Health Care for Adults and Older Adults, 2023), the postholder will play a key leadership role in the continued development, implementation, and embedding of trauma-informed principles and practices across the inpatient wards.
Main duties of the jobThe postholder will join an expanding therapies team committed to delivering highly specialist, trauma-informed psychological care across inpatient and crisis services. Working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, including psychiatry, nursing, occupational therapy, and peer support, they will play a key role in psychological assessment, formulation, and risk management. The role involves providing brief stabilisation-focused psychological interventions on both an individual and group basis across the inpatient wards and Home Treatment Team (HTT).
The postholder will also provide consultation, training, and supervision to colleagues, supporting the ongoing development of trauma-informed practice across service. A strong commitment to collaborative working, reflective practice, and culturally responsive care is essential. The successful applicant will contribute to the continued development, dissemination, and embedding of Trauma-Informed Approaches (TIA) throughout the pathway.
Applicants must hold a postgraduate qualification in Clinical or Counselling Psychology and be registered with the HCPC.
Specialist supervision is available across a range of evidence-based models, including EMDR, DBT, Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), CBT, Open Dialogue, CAT, systemic, and psychodynamic approaches.
About usThere's a place for you at CNWL.We're passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient's own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.Providing
top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people.We're always looking to
recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we're hoping to find our future leaders and we'll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.With a
diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more - whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.
Job responsibilitiesJob Purpose:To provide a specialist psychology service to service users of Northwick Park Hospital inpatient mental health wards and crisis services (HTT). This includes specialist assessment, formulation, planning, brief treatment and monitoring of outcomes.
To contribute to a psychologically safe environment, enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish.
To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate.
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 the policies and procedures of the service, taking responsibility for own work including treatment and discharge decisions with support of clinical supervisor.
Key Responsibilities:KR 1 Clinical and Client CareTo provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients admitted to the adult inpatient wards or under the Home Treatment Team (HTT).
To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
To provide culturally appropriate psychological liaison with carers or families of patients when required.
Where appropriate, to take responsibility for initiating planning and reviewing of care plans and co-ordination of multi-professional meetings.
KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioningTo 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.
To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services.
To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans.
KR 3 Policy and service developmentTo implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes.
To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.
To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.
KR 4 Care or management of resourcesTo take care of, and use carefully, the Trusts equipment and physical resources.
To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed.
KR 5 Management and supervisionTo be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of an assistant psychologist if required, under supervision from a more senior psychologist.
To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism after completion of the relevant Training Courses Supervision Training.
KR 6 Teaching and TrainingTo provide specialist training in trauma-informed approaches to other professions as appropriate.
To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.
KR 7 Record-keeping and Information GovernanceTo ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures.
To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.
KR 8 Research and developmentTo undertake regular complex service evaluation, audits or research relevant to service needs.
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential- 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.
- Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist.
Desirable- Further training and or qualifications in other fields of applied psychology.
ExperienceEssential- Experience of receiving clinical supervision across a range of client needs.
- Experience of psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature.
- Experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. This may have been gained through work, research, volunteering and / or lived experience.
- Experience of developing and carrying out research projects
Desirable- Experience of working with adults in crisis or acute states of distress.
- Experience of teaching, training and/ or supervision.
- Experience of working as a qualified psychologist under supervision
KnowledgeEssential- Theoretical knowledge of psychological presentations and the evidence base for the relevant treatment.
- 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
- 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.
SkillsEssential- 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 CPA 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
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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 RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.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).Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). 
