Job summaryAn exciting opportunity has arisen for a 1.0 WTE Band 7/8a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join our Adult Inpatient Psychological Services Team in Basildon.
This newly created role offers an excellent opportunity to help shape and enhance psychological provision within our Assessment Unit.
The successful candidate will provide specialist assessment, formulation, therapy and consultation for people experiencing acute mental health crises.
As a new role, there is opportunity to shape its development and contribute to high-quality, psychologically informed care. You will join a supportive psychological team committed to improving outcomes for people in distress.
We value staff wellbeing and offer a range of flexible working options, including compressed hours. Part-time and job-share applications are warmly welcomed.
If you are passionate about trauma-informed care, enjoy working in dynamic multidisciplinary teams, and want to help shape the future of inpatient mental health services in Essex, we would love to hear from you!
Applications from newly qualified clinical/counselling psychologists or those about to complete training are welcomed under a development post arrangement.Registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is essential as well as eligibility for registration with a professional body (BPS).
We look forward to hearing from you!Main duties of the jobThe successful candidate will have a strong interest in inpatient mental health care and working with people experiencing acute mental health crises. They will be skilled in undertaking specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention with individuals presenting with a wide range of severe and complex mental health difficulties.
The post holder will work closely with multidisciplinary colleagues to develop psychologically informed understandings of crisis presentations, helping teams make sense of complexity and identify pathways towards recovery. The ability to formulate risk, make professional recommendations and contribute confidently to clinical decision-making alongside ward team is central to this role.
A key aspect of the role will be supporting and developing staff and will include supervision of junior staff. The post holder will also contribute to teaching, training, reflective practice groups, post-incident debriefs and psychologically informed consultations, helping to build the confidence and psychological skills of ward teams.
The successful candidate will represent psychology within a range of clinical, operational and strategic forums, offering psychological perspectives to case discussions, formulations, care planning and service developments. They will work in partnership with colleagues across inpatient services to promote best practice and enhance the quality of care for our patients.
About usValuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
- Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
- Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
- If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
Benefits- 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
- Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
- Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
- £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
- Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
Work that wraps around your needs
- Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
DetailsDate posted: 14 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £64,750 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 364-B-361
Job locations: Basildon Mental Health Unit, Basildon, SS16 5NL, United Kingdom
Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesThe Adult Inpatient Psychological Services Team is committed to delivering high-quality psychological care to people experiencing acute mental health difficulties during their inpatient admission. We work collaboratively with multidisciplinary and Care Unit colleagues to support recovery-focused care, helping service users make the most of their admission and achieve timely, meaningful discharges.
Our service spans six inpatient sites across Essex, with each site led by a Principal Psychologist. We are a large, supportive and innovative team comprising Principal and Senior Psychologists, Arts Psychotherapists, Clinical Associate Psychologists (CAPs), Assistant Psychologists and Trainees. We are proud of both the dedication of our staff and our commitment to service development, with innovations including nationally recognised staff training programmes and significant investment in inpatient psychological services.
This is an exciting time to join the team. We actively encourage creativity, service improvement, leadership development, teaching and research. Strong links with the University of East Anglia and University of Essex and provide excellent opportunities to contribute to the training and supervision of future psychologists. Staff are supported to pursue specialist interests, research, formal training and wider learning opportunities across the Trust.
We are committed to supporting our staff to thrive in their roles. As part of a large and supportive psychological service, the successful candidate will have access to regular clinical and managerial supervision, specialist therapy supervision, reflective practice spaces, case discussion forums, and opportunities to connect with and learn from the wider psychological services team. We place a strong emphasis on professional development, peer support and creating a culture where staff feel valued, connected and supported in managing the complexities of inpatient work. We offer flexible approaches to working wherever possible. Part-time, job-share and flexible working requests are welcome and will be considered.
We are able to offer this post as a band 7 development post (to an 8a) for the right candidate.
We currently have several opportunities available across Adult Inpatient Psychological Services. If you would like to be considered for more than one role, please indicate this in your application and outline any preferences. To support applicants and streamline the recruitment process, we would normally seek to interview you once and consider you for all relevant posts.
Please contact Dr Sophie Bellringer, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, sophie.bellringer@nhs.net (07583136523) for further discussion.
Person SpecificationEducation/QualificationsEssential- Post graduate doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996), including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the BPS
- Training in supervision of other psychologists/psychological therapists
- HCPC Registration and eligibility for BPS accreditation
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
Desirable- Post accreditation training in additional specialised areas of psychological practice e.g. CBT, CBTp, EMDR, DBT, CAT or other.
Knowledge/Skills and ExperienceEssential- Knowledge of mental health legislation, NHS Constitution, CPA and risk assessment and management.
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
Desirable- Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS for Clinical/Counselling Psychologist
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).
Employer detailsEmployer name: Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Basildon Mental Health Unit, Basildon, SS16 5NL, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://eput.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact: Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Dr Sophie Bellringer, sophie.bellringer@nhs.net
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.Applicants must have current UK professional registration. 
