Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, enthusiastic and skilled Senior psychologist or psychological therapist to join the Big Ease trial as a research therapist.
The Big Ease trial is investigating whether a psychological therapy Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) promotes recovery, and reduces distress for people with first episode Psychosis. This post offers the opportunity to work as part of a national team delivering and testing the therapy as part of a multi-site randomised controlled trial, funded by the EME of the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR).
The post is offered on a 12 month basis in the first instance, as a secondment or fixed term role, and may be extended beyond this.
You will join a busy, motivated team who are undertaking research on psychological therapies for Psychosis.
Main duties of the job
You will help provide specialist EMDR in the context of a research trial.
The ideal candidate will have experience in working in a clinical setting providing psychological therapy and ideally EMDR. It may help if you have experience of working with people who have experienced difficulties with paranoia, hallucinations. You should have the ability to organize and manage multiple interlinked components of the project and their work. You will need to demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills and be able to conduct interviews and treatment with potentially vulnerable individuals. Most importantly, you will need to be enthusiastic about the research area and have a high level of motivation and commitment.
- providing specialist EMDR treatment to adult service users with first episode psychosis,
- to promote the trial and support the research worker undertake assessments for the trial
- to attend EMDR specialist supervision
About us
We 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.
NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached job description and further information about the study.
Advertising date : 10th February 2026
Closing date : 3rd March2026
We welcome your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached job description and further information about the study.
Advertising date : 10th February 2026
Closing date : 3rd March2026
We welcome your application.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- An Honours Degree in Psychology recognised for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society, or RMN, or equivalent degree level qualification in mental health
- Post-graduate qualifications in psychological assessment and psychological therapy (e.g. Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, Postgraduate diploma in CBT, IAPT High Intensity CBT diploma)
- HCPC registered practitioner psychologist or equivalent e.g. BABCP registered CBT practitioner. Or Member of an appropriate professional body
Knowledge and expereince
Essential
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of one or more specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups relevant to the community pathway
- Substantial post qualification experience of specialist model specific psychological assessment, formulation and treatment of clients across a wide range of care settings
- Demonstrate further specialist training and experience through having received a minimum of 50 hours clinical supervision of working as a psychological therapist over a minimum of 18 months or an alternative agreed by the Psychological Services Professional Lead.
- EMDR Practitioner or Consultant status, or working towards
Desirable
- Experience of the application of psychological therapy in different cultural contexts.
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management.
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinical sensitive information to clients, their family, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
- Skills in providing clinical supervision and consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
- Skills in managing emotional impact of dealing with highly emotive and distressing situations through self management and use of the clinical supervision process.
- Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi media materials for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive behaviour.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- An Honours Degree in Psychology recognised for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society, or RMN, or equivalent degree level qualification in mental health
- Post-graduate qualifications in psychological assessment and psychological therapy (e.g. Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, Postgraduate diploma in CBT, IAPT High Intensity CBT diploma)
- HCPC registered practitioner psychologist or equivalent e.g. BABCP registered CBT practitioner. Or Member of an appropriate professional body
Knowledge and expereince
Essential
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of one or more specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups relevant to the community pathway
- Substantial post qualification experience of specialist model specific psychological assessment, formulation and treatment of clients across a wide range of care settings
- Demonstrate further specialist training and experience through having received a minimum of 50 hours clinical supervision of working as a psychological therapist over a minimum of 18 months or an alternative agreed by the Psychological Services Professional Lead.
- EMDR Practitioner or Consultant status, or working towards
Desirable
- Experience of the application of psychological therapy in different cultural contexts.
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management.
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinical sensitive information to clients, their family, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
- Skills in providing clinical supervision and consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
- Skills in managing emotional impact of dealing with highly emotive and distressing situations through self management and use of the clinical supervision process.
- Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi media materials for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive behaviour.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Hub for Advancing Research in Psychosis, Church View
St Nicholas Hospital
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 3XT
Employer's website
https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)
