Counsellor​/Psychological Practitioner

We are seeking a compassionate, skilled, and motivated Counsellor/Psychological Practitioner to join our specialist Renal Psychology Service, which sits within the wider Clinical Health Psychology Service at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of an integrated multidisciplinary team supporting adults living with chronic kidney disease, dialysis treatment, kidney transplantation, and associated adjustment and coping difficulties.

The post has been developed in recognition of the increasing psychological needs of renal patients and our commitment to delivering person-centred care in line with national commissioning standards. The successful candidate will contribute to the assessment and delivery of evidence-based psychological interventions for patients experiencing emotional distress related to their renal condition, treatment burden, adjustment to illness, anxiety, depression, trauma, loss, and end-of-life concerns.

The post holder will join a supportive and compassionate multi-professional renal service and work closely with the Band 8b Lead and Assistant Psychologist, to deliver a high-quality specialist psychological service to renal patients and their family, carers, and the wider renal MDT. The post holder will work across a number of inpatient and outpatient clinical areas in the acute hospital setting at Royal Preston Hospital, as well as other sites across the LTHTs footprint.

This will include working directly on hospital wards and outpatient treatment units (e.g. dialysis units).

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing psychological assessment and counselling interventions to renal patients.
• Delivering evidence-based therapeutic interventions within agreed competencies.
• Supporting patients to adjust to the impact of chronic illness and treatment.
• Working collaboratively within multidisciplinary team meetings and care planning processes.
• Contributing to psychologically informed care across renal services.
• Providing consultation and advice to healthcare professionals regarding psychological aspects of patient care.
• Maintaining accurate clinical records and outcome measures.
• Participating in service development, audit, and quality improvement initiatives.

Clinical Health Psychology provides specialist psychological assessment and intervention across a range of physical health pathways. The Renal Psychology Service supports patients across the renal pathway, helping individuals and families manage the psychological impact of chronic kidney disease and its treatment. The successful applicant will be professionally supported within a well-established Clinical Health Psychology Service and will benefit from regular clinical supervision, opportunities for continuing professional development, and close working relationships with experienced Clinical Psychologists and multidisciplinary colleagues.

• Holds a recognised qualification in counselling, psychotherapy, counselling psychology, or a related psychological therapy discipline.
• Is accredited and registered with an appropriate professional body (e.g., BACP, UKCP, BABCP).
• Has experience of delivering therapeutic interventions to adults experiencing emotional and psychological difficulties.
• Demonstrates excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Has an understanding of the psychological impact of long-term physical health conditions.
• Is committed to working collaboratively within multidisciplinary healthcare teams.

Experience of working within physical health settings would be advantageous but is not essential.