Job summary
Delivery of evidence based psychological interventions for identified service users in the Neighbourhood team.
Support the network team in the provision of psychologically informed care for this population.
Work as part of the team and other secondary care psychological therapists to support and develop robust care pathways for this client group
Provide expertise and specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients formulation, diagnosis, and treatment plan.

Main duties of the job
To provide interventions in a manner that is consistent with evidence-based practice.
Implement a range of highly specialist psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams drawing upon different explanatory models in order to develop specialised programs of care.
To provide psychological intervention to service users and their families under the care of the team.
Provide highly developed specialist psychological assessments of adult service-users with mental health difficulties based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of highly complex, sensitive and data; from a variety of sources including psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care.
Undertake risk assessment and risk management for relevant individual clients and provide both general and specialist advice for psychologists and other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management.
Devise and facilitate plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a clients difficulties based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the clients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings.

About us
NELFT NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and community services for over 4.9 million people living in the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and across Essex.

We work to ensure our patients, their friends and family, feel confident that their health needs are well met. With an excellent reputation for research and development, our skilled health professionals are at the cutting edge of evidence-based innovation, opening up the possibilities for better ways of working and delivery of care.

Details
Date posted
13 August 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8a
Salary
£57,528 to £64,750 a year
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
NDD-001731
Job locations
Jane Atkinson Centre
Waltham Forest
London
E17 3HP
United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Community Psychologist (Clinical / Counselling Psychologist) based in Mental Health and Wellness Team – Band 8a
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an innovative psychologist to join our small but expanding group of psychologists working in Mental Health and Wellness Teams (MHWT) across the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The post holder will sit within the MHWTs but focus on outward facing work with communities to develop projects with grassroots organisations using community psychology principles and frameworks. Within MHWT they will be expected to lead on championing psychologically minded work with their MDT colleagues and trauma informed care.

The community work focus will be informed by local demographics and is part of the Trusts commitment to address health inequalities experienced by our communities.

This is a really exciting and novel post within the NHS so we are inviting a clinician who is very passionate about systems and social activism to apply. The post holder will join a collaborative of Psychological professionals across East London working within a community psychology framework. The purpose of the collaborative is to build connections across east London and provide support to clinicians working in this way in an NHS context.

The successful candidate will work closely with secondary psychology colleagues to add to an already passionate and dynamic psychology provision in Waltham Forest. This group of psychologists are forward-thinking and value diversity. We encourage critical thinking and promote difference. The team has a range of specialist interests i.e., members who are BABCP accredited, trained in Open Dialogue, CBTp and FIp trained, and experience in delivering a range of trauma specific therapies i.e., EMDR and NET.

We value the importance of richness in delivering secondary care services to effectively meet the needs of the population we serve, therefore integrated working with care coordinators and peer worker colleagues in the Waltham Forest Mental Health and Wellbeing Teams is essential.

The main duties will be working closely alongside other community psychologists and the leadership to identify and build relationships with third sector organisations. They will work mainly amplifying the voices of those who are well less served in mainstream, statutory services. They will do this using community engagement models and working alongside grassroot projects. We are keen to move people through services and back into communities and believe these posts to be pivotal in this work.

A key part of this role involves applying psychological skills flexibly to engage to engage with local communities, particularly people who may face barriers to accessing mental health services through traditional routes. We therefore encourage applications from candidates who reflect the diverse communities we serve, especically those from Global Majority and other minoritised backgrounds, as well as individuals with strong links and awareness of the local community.

Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

High Cost Area Supplement – Outer London (B&D, Redbridge, Havering and Waltham Forest, CEME) This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 p.a. pro rata for part time).

Working for Us
Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London and Essex. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award-winning equality and diversity initiatives, along with staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest significantly in your development because when you feel valued and supported, we can deliver the highest quality care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been recognised in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and hold a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Through our staff networks and training opportunities, we strive to foster a just and compassionate culture at NELFT.

Our Values 2025 - 2030
Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT. They are:

• We are kind.
• We are respectful.
• We work together with our communities.

These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.

Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Goodmayes Hospital.

High Cost Area Supplement – Outer London (B&D, Redbridge, Havering and Waltham Forest, CEME) This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 p.a. pro rata for part time).

For an informal chat or to arrange a visit, please contact:
Name: Dr Verity Statham
Job title: Psychological Professionals Lead for Waltham Forest Mental Health & Wellness Teams
Contact Number: 07809334504
Email: Verity.Statham2@nhs.net

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Post-graduate qualification in psychology or a psychological therapy (e.g. clinical or counselling psychology, psychotherapy) accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)
• NVQ level 2 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy
• Professional registration with the appropriate body: HCPC

Desirable

• Post graduate qualification

Experience
Essential

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients presenting with complex and enduring mental health problems in community and secondary care psychological services.
• Extensive post qualification experience in the delivery of evidence based interventions with clients presenting with complex mood, anxiety and personality based difficulties including trauma.
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.

Desirable

• N/A

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.

Employer details
Employer name
NELFT North East London Foundation Trust
Address
Jane Atkinson Centre
Waltham Forest
London
E17 3HP
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Care Pathway Lead Psychosis
Stella Sluman
recruitment@nelft.nhs.uk

Details
Date posted
13 August 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8a
Salary
£57,528 to £64,750 a year
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
NDD-001731
Job locations
Jane Atkinson Centre
Waltham Forest
London
E17 3HP
United Kingdom

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