Senior Psychological Therapist

Go back Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 03 March 2026

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.

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 organise 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

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.

Please find attached job description and further information about the study.

Advertising date : 10th February 2026

We welcome your application.

• 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 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
• Experience of the application of psychological therapy in different cultural contexts.
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.

• 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…