Clinical​/Counselling Psychologist

We are seeking a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist, or a Psychological Practitioner with a core profession, to provide maternity cover to join our Acute and Inpatient & Home Treatment Psychology Service. The post is within the Home Treatment Team pathway. This is a fixed‑term, 0.6 FTE post until October 2026.

The role is advertised at Band 8a, though Band 7 applicants are encouraged to apply. The job plan will be adjusted in line with Band 7 competencies.

The Acute and Rehab psychology service is an exciting and dynamic team of psychological professionals working in crisis settings – home treatment crisis teams, psychiatric inpatient wards and a range of other settings.

The successful applicant would join our well‑respected and exciting Acute Psychology Service. We are passionate about tackling social inequalities and making therapy accessible to everyone. Our work focuses on supporting people from marginalised communities – those who may not usually have the chance to access therapy – and creating welcoming, inclusive spaces where they feel seen and supported.

The team are at the forefront of national developments in inpatient and acute working. We are actively involved in research and keen to recruit people who share that vision of contributing to best practice, national guidelines and an evidence base. For example, a number of our team were involved in contributing to the psychological services for acute adult mental health BPS/ACP‑UK guidelines.

We are committed to supporting staff development through our in‑house CPD package, and where funding allows, we aim to open up further training opportunities in models like Systemic Family Therapy, EMDR, FLP, and CBT for psychosis.

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.

• 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.

This post will be subject to a probationary period.

NELFT places great importance on new starters being properly welcomed into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks, including mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process, new starters will also have the opportunity to meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend several drop‑in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing, and key processes.

The induction will be held at our head office in Goodmayes, Essex.

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,313 to an maximum of £5,436 p.a. pro rata for part time).

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £1,192 to a maximum of £2,011 p.a. pro rata for part time).

For further details / informal visits contact:
Name:
Dr Lai Tang /

Job title:

Principal Psychologist / Email address: