Job summaryWe are looking to recruit a permanent 1.0 wte band 8a senior Clinical / Counselling Psychologist / Senior Psychological Therapist to work into our At Risk Mental State (ARMS) service based in Sunderland and South Tyneside.
The ARMS service is set up to offer advice and psychological support to young people who are experiencing unusual experiences or beliefs that cause them distress and affect their everyday functioning. Individuals accepted into the service have been identified as being at risk of developing psychosis and other mental health difficulties.
Main duties of the jobThe postholder will provide specialist assessments and psychological therapy, as well as other wider tasks such as contributing to research, training and service development.
You will have the opportunity to be part of developing, promoting and evaluating the ARMS service in the Sunderland/ South Tyneside locality. The launch of this service follows the success of an initial ARMS service in the trust and expansion to other localities meaning that for the first time there will be a trust-wide network of ARMS clinicians. You will work alongside a band 7 psychologist and care coordinator, as well as accessing wider support from the local EIP service. The ARMS service has strong links to national research trials and opportunities relating to this.
The post holder will be clinically and professionally supervised by a principal clinical psychologist and a consultant clinical psychologist. You will also join a wider psychological service of about 15 therapists that serves the adult community teams across the south CBU. As such you will join a supportive network with considerable clinical and professional expertise. You will be encouraged to help us develop our training programme and research / service evaluation output that we are really proud to have built over these past five years.
About usWe aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
Job responsibilitiesPlease find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 11th August 2026
Closing date : 25th August 2026
We welcome your application.
Person SpecificationQualifications and EducationEssential- Doctoral level qualification in clinical/counselling psychology or equivalent AND post-doctoral qualification in at least one formal psychological therapy e.g. post-graduate diploma in CBT
- Qualified psychological therapist qualified in at least TWO formal psychological therapies e.g. CBT and EMDR
Desirable- Qualification in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp)
Knowledge and ExperienceEssential- Substantial post qualification experience of specialist psychological assessment, formulation and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings including; outpatient, community, primary care, and inpatient settings.
- Experience of providing clinical supervision
Desirable- Experience of working with at risk mental states or first episode psychosis
- Experience of working in an ARMS or EIP service
Knowledge and SkillsEssential- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management. Specialist skills in evidence based psychological interventions.
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups relevant to psychosis
- Skills in providing clinical supervision and consultation to other professional groups
Desirable- Skills in the psychological assessment and intervention of neurodivergent populations.
- Skills in the psychological assessment and intervention of at risk mental states or first episode psychosis
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.Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). 
