Clinical or Counselling Psychologist or PsychotherapistinLondoninLondonPUBLISHED FRI 4 APR 2025

Job Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly specialist clinical or counselling psychologist or psychotherapist within the Psycho-oncology team at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

We are looking to appoint an empathic, enthusiastic and dynamic psychological practitioner to contribute to the provision of a specialist psychology service for patients with cancer (and their families) across all sectors of cancer care at ICHT. This is a permanent post within a large, established, friendly and supportive team of psychologists and psychotherapists working across cancer and oncology services.

Please note this role is open to a band 7 or 8A.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will work individually and systemically to support patients, carers and staff from diverse backgrounds throughout the cancer pathway, alongside working to foster a psychologically safe environment within cancer services. They will contribute to Level 2 teaching and supervision for specialist cancer staff as well as provide training, consultation and reflective practice as appropriate. The postholder will undertake service evaluation, audit and research as required and work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, guided by the policies and procedures of the service. Supervision and management will be provided by one of the experienced senior psychologists within the psychology team and there will be opportunities to link and work alongside other psychologists and psychotherapists working in other medical specialities within the broader ICHT Clinical Health Psychology Department.

Desirable candidates may have particular interests in third wave therapies (i.e., ACT, CFT), adjustment and coping in acute and chronic illness, systemic and narrative approaches, trauma informed models and approaches, attachment, existentialism, models of loss and grief and non-diagnostic approaches to understanding distress (e.g., the PTMF), amongst other therapeutic approaches. The postholder will have access to CPD and training offered through CNWL, as well as other training opportunities.

Working for our organisation

As Practitioner Psychologist working within the Imperial Psycho-oncology team the post holder will be a member of the wider Clinical Health Psychology Department, in which regular professional meetings are held and CPD provided. The post holder will also receive supervision from a qualified Clinical Psychologist. All psychologists in the Clinical Health Psychology department are employed by Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust and have Approved Associate status with ICHT.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We're proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BAME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Clinical and Client Care

• To provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for patients with cancer across all sectors of cancer care at ICHT
• To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred patients when required.
• To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.
• To act as liaison on the patient pathway, between the acute hospital, primary care and community services as necessary for the psychological well-being of the patient
  
  

Contributing to team or service clinical functioning

• To contribute to the effective working of the Psycho-oncology service and to a psychologically informed framework for the service.
• To contribute to the team’s delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.
• To be proactive in challenging discrimination and supporting the development of culturally competent services.
  
  

Management and supervision

• To 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 Course’s Supervision Training.
• To offer supervision and consultation to non-psychological staff working in cancer services in ICHT
  
  

General

• To travel to meetings at ICHT and CNWL as appropriate and when required.
• To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour and follow trust policies relating to its management.
• To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing situations and to support others involved in such situations.
• Where relevant and by agreement with line manager to work flexibly which may include offering some regular commitment to late clinics or Saturday working, within the overall Job Plan.
  
  

Person specification

Qualifications And Training

Essential criteria

• Doctorate or equivalent in Clinical or Counselling Psychology or equivalent Psychotherapy qualification
• Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist or UKCP as a Psychotherapist.
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Training in 3rd wave therapies
• Knowledge and experience of time-limited NHS psychology services
• Specialist training or experience in the field of clinical health psychology
• Specialist training in trauma-informed therapeutic approaches
  
  

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of psychological assessment and supp