Job summary
This post is offered at either Band 7 (developmental) or Band 8a (senior) level, depending on the experience and competencies of the successful candidate.

At Band 7, the post holder will work as a developing specialist pain management psychologist, providing high-quality psychological assessment and intervention for individuals with persistent pain as part of a multidisciplinary team. They will work with a degree of autonomy within clearly defined clinical frameworks, receiving regular clinical supervision, and contributing to service delivery, audit, and development activities.

At Band 8a, the post holder will function as a senior specialist psychologist, delivering highly specialist psychological care for complex and high-risk presentations in persistent pain. They will work with a high level of clinical autonomy and be responsible for providing clinical leadership within the multidisciplinary team, including supervision of other staff, contributing to service development and innovation, and supporting the strategic direction of the service.

***Please note that applications from temporary workers who have been engaged with the Trust for a minimum of 3 months are welcome.***

Main duties of the job
Across both levels, the role will contribute to the delivery of evidence-based psychological interventions, multidisciplinary team working, and the ongoing development of a high-quality pain management service

• Within a busy Pain Clinic, work as part of a close inter-disciplinary team.
• Develop, co-ordinate, facilitate and deliver generic and specialised pain management programmes.
• Work autonomously within the pain clinic to deliver intensive 1:1 intervention.
• Assess highly complex pain patients for 1:1, group work and specialist medical procedures.
• Act as a highly specialist resource to the wider professional community (Applicable for Band 8a)
• Support policy implementation and service development.
• Participate in audit and research.

About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.

If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Job responsibilities

• Interpret and integrate complex data from a variety of sources including psychometric tests, direct and indirect observations, and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in their care.
• Formulate a care pathway for either group or individual work, as appropriate.
• Assessment for group work includes careful consideration of group dynamics and individual motivational factors (including stages of change).
• Utilise Motivational Interviewing skills during assessment and intervention.
• Work as part of an inter-disciplinary team in the development, delivery and evaluation of generic and specialised PMPs and group based programmes
• Provide evidence-based short-medium term intervention for clients experiencing psychological barriers to effective management of their chronic pain condition.
• Following a comprehensive and rigorous psychological assessment, provide feedback to an interdisciplinary team to inform upon the appropriateness of invasive procedures such as implantation of spinal cord stimulator (applicable for Band 8a)
• Act at all times in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society.

For further information please see attached job description

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council

Desirable

• Additional qualifications in health-specific clinical psychology, especially pain management.

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Demonstrable experience of using evidence based psychological interventions for the assessment and treatment of a wide variety of psychological problems.
• Demonstrable experience of providing both group based and individual interventions.

Desirable

• Demonstrable experience of teaching or training other professional in psychological concepts.

APTITUDE & ABILITIES
Essential

• Highly developed communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to communicate complex, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, families and external agencies.
• Proven ability to interpret complex data and understand patterns and trends

Desirable

• Able to manage people within and according to a robust performance framework

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).

Employer details
Employer name: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Address: Marjons University, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Nurse Consultant
Lindsey Pollard
lindseypollard@nhs.net
01752431832

Details
Date posted: 26 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £64,750 a year
Per Annum, pro rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 216-PL-DD8233692
Job locations: Marjons University, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, United Kingdom