Oxford Health NHS Trust

Senior Clinical or Counselling Psychologist - Oxford OPEN ARMS

The closing date is 21 July 2025

Job summary

Are you a Qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist seeking a new challenge?

The Oxfordshire Prevention & Early Detection (OPEN) Service for At Risk Mental States (ARMS) are seeking a Senior Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join the team. We provide timely assessment, intervention, and monitoring for those at clinical high risk for developing psychosis.

We are a clinical academic service, working with our research partners in the University of Oxford and with several joint clinical-academic posts within our service. We also work closely with our well-established Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) Service. We are at the forefront of undertaking research in the area of early psychosis to understand the causes of psychosis and the most effective treatments.

This is a full-time psychologist post in the OPEN service (part-time, job share, flexible hours will be considered). The purpose of the post is to provide a highly specialist psychology service to the clients, across a variety of settings, and to work as team manager for a proportion of the time. The post-holder will conduct specialist assessments, deliver interventions for this client group, including cognitive behavioural therapy and family intervention, and contribute to service development and evaluation.

This will be an exciting opportunity to develop experience and skills in early intervention for ARMS and psychosis. Excellent supervision, support and CPD opportunities are available.

Main duties of the job

This role is crucial in ensuring that patients get access to high quality care and evidence-based psychological treatments within the Oxford Prevention and Early Detection (OPEN) Service.

  • You will be expected to see psychologically and diagnostically complex clients, with multiple presenting symptoms and co-morbid problems.
  • You will also provide supervision, consultation and training, to the psychology assistant, other keyworkers, and psychological therapists and trainees working in the team. The post holder will be expected to utilise research skills for audit, service development and clinically relevant research. In addition to specific team manager responsibilities, the post-holder will work as part of an MDT and contribute to the wider team functions.
  • You will be managed through OPEN and the Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, with line management and clinical and professional supervision provided by the Consultant Clinical Psychologist in the team.

The successful candidate will have a Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology and will be HCPC registered and BABCP accreditable. Interest and experience in working with clients with psychosis or an At Risk Mental State, and their carers, using a CBT framework is important. Willingness to work flexibility within a small, dedicated team is essential.

About us

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.

Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible

Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive:"Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are:"Caring, safe and excellent"

At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

  • Excellent opportunities for career progression
  • Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
  • 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
  • NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
  • Competitive pension scheme
  • Lease car scheme
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Mental Health First Aiders
  • Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
  • Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Details

Date posted

11 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

267-OA7322434

Job locations

John Sharich House,

Horspath Driftway,

Headington, Oxford,

OX3 7JH


Job description

Job responsibilities

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

Job description

Job responsibilities

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist with relevant registration

Desirable

  • PhD in a clinically relevant area
  • PGCert in CBTp

Skills

Essential

  • Experienced CBT practitioner

Desirable

  • Qualified Family Intervention practitioner
  • Training and skills in working with ASD, personality disorders, and PTSD
  • BABCP accredited

Experience

Essential

  • Delivering supervised CBT with clients with complex difficulties
  • Multidisciplinary working and liaising with referrers from a variety of professions
  • Teaching, training and/or supervision
  • Experience of working with young people and adults of working age with a variety of mental health problems
  • Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects

Desirable

  • Experience of working as a psychologist in CAMHS or EIS
  • Working with clients with an At Risk Mental State for psychosis
  • Experience of facilitating skills-based therapeutic groups
  • Experience of delivering supervised family intervention

Knowledge

Essential

  • Theory and practice of psychological therapies for clients with psychosis
  • Research methodology
  • Skills in the use of complex psychological assessment, intervention and management
  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups

Desirable

  • Knowledge of National EIS and ARMS standards
  • Research background in At Risk Mental States or psychosis and record of publications in either peer-reviewed, academic or professional journal/books

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Ability to work as part of a team and independently
  • Willingness to work flexibly and manage change
  • Ability to travel between sites
  • A positive approach to working with young people

Desirable

  • Current clean full driving licence and access to a car
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist with relevant registration

Desirable

  • PhD in a clinically relevant area
  • PGCert in CBTp

Skills

Essential

  • Experienced CBT practitioner

Desirable

  • Qualified Family Intervention practitioner
  • Training and skills in working with ASD, personality disorders, and PTSD
  • BABCP accredited

Experience

Essential

  • Delivering supervised CBT with clients with complex difficulties
  • Multidisciplinary working and liaising with referrers from a variety of professions
  • Teaching, training and/or supervision
  • Experience of working with young people and adults of working age with a variety of mental health problems
  • Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects

Desirable

  • Experience of working as a psychologist in CAMHS or EIS
  • Working with clients with an At Risk Mental State for psychosis
  • Experience of facilitating skills-based therapeutic groups
  • Experience of delivering supervised family intervention

Knowledge

Essential

  • Theory and practice of psychological therapies for clients with psychosis
  • Research methodology
  • Skills in the use of complex psychological assessment, intervention and management
  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups

Desirable

  • Knowledge of National EIS and ARMS standards
  • Research background in At Risk Mental States or psychosis and record of publications in either peer-reviewed, academic or professional journal/books

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Ability to work as part of a team and independently
  • Willingness to work flexibly and manage change
  • Ability to travel between sites
  • A positive approach to working with young people

Desirable

  • Current clean full driving licence and access to a car

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

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

John Sharich House,

Horspath Driftway,

Headington, Oxford,

OX3 7JH


Employer's website

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

John Sharich House,

Horspath Driftway,

Headington, Oxford,

OX3 7JH


Employer's website

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Louise Johns

louise.johns@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

07407825321

Details

Date posted

11 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

267-OA7322434

Job locations

John Sharich House,

Horspath Driftway,

Headington, Oxford,

OX3 7JH


Supporting documents

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