Clinical/Counselling Psychologist or CBT Therapist
The closing date is 14 June 2026
We have an exciting opportunity for a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist/CBT therapist to join the ARMS team and support a psychologically driven service for people aged 16‑35, identified as having an At Risk Mental State (ARMS), based in Hertfordshire. The service works alongside young people at risk of developing psychosis in a trauma‑informed and neuroaffirmative manner to create opportunities to develop preventative strategies and support through partnership with local mental health, social care, primary care and third sector agencies. You will be part of a multi‑disciplinary team aimed at offering predominantly, but not exclusively, NICE concordant psychosocial interventions with an evidence base of mental health prevention.
Main duties of the job
As a specialist mental health service, ARMS is based on NICE‑recommended interventions which include comprehensive assessment and psychological interventions for psychosis or co‑existing mental health problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, emerging personality disorder, substance misuse). The psychological therapists are an integral part of the ARMS multi‑disciplinary team.
- Support the team in developing psychological formulation for treatment planning
- Assist assessment using psychometric tools such as Comprehensive Assessment of At‑Risk Mental States (CAARMS)
- Deliver evidence‑based CBT therapy
We are looking for a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist/CBT therapist who can work positively and proactively with the wider MDT. Experience delivering NICE concordant CBT interventions is essential and an interest in completing CBT for psychosis or other advanced training would be an advantage. The Trust actively supports CPD, and you will be encouraged to develop your skills and areas of interest where they meet service needs.
Job responsibilities
Provide specialist psychological assessments of clients referred to the team based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self‑report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi‑structured interviews with clients, family members and other stakeholders.
Formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of clients’ mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings.
Be responsible for implementing a range of NICE‑based specialised psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups. These interventions can be employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining psychological formulations by drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining provisional hypotheses.
Evaluate and make decisions about treatment options on the ARMS pathway, taking into account theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.
Exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychologically based standard care plans.
Provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients’ formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan.
Contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings and agencies serving the client group.
Undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.
Work with carers in support of clients on the ARMS pathway.
Develop and maintain an outcome framework in order to monitor and report on clinical and other outcomes to relevant stakeholders.
Person Specification
Qualifications / Education / Training
- Doctoral/Masters level training in clinical/counselling psychology, including specific models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology, accredited by the BPS and current registration with HCPC
- Professional qualification degree level, including knowledge and application of research methodology
- Additional specialist knowledge or training in psychological therapies including CBT
Previous Experience
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including at least six months clinical experience working in adult mental health
- Experience working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life span’s presenting problems and maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and threat of physical abuse
- Knowledge of whole life span development and the impact on emotional, psychological and mental wellbeing
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of at least one evidence‑based psychological therapy (e.g., CBT, Interpersonal Therapy, CAT, systemic family psychotherapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy) relevant to the treatment of adults with complex problems and their families
- Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology
- Experience of multi‑disciplinary team working and inter‑agency collaboration
- Ability to provide consultation to other professional and non‑professional groups
- Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi‑media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings
- Ability to take the appropriate action to address any issues or risks
- Awareness of Child and Adult Safeguarding Procedures
- Awareness of current NHS initiatives and developments
- Knowledge of legislation and the national agenda in relation to adult mental health
- Knowledge and awareness of specific clinical practices and issues relating to clients with mental health problems
- Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team
- Experience of working in a community mental health setting
- Experience of service quality monitoring (e.g., clinical audit, evaluative research, etc.)
- Experience of teaching, training and/or offering supervision
- Experience of service development/project management
Communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
- Ability to work and communicate therapeutically with clients and their families consistent with their level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communicating
- Ability to work and communicate as a responsible participating member of a multi‑disciplinary team and to encourage participation of all involved
- Ability to keep accurate and complete records of activities and communications consistent with legislation, policies and procedures
- Ability to alert line manager / team when direction, policies and strategies are adversely affecting users of services or the public
- Ability to time‑manage effectively and to work under pressure and prioritise a clinical workload
Analytical skills
- Positive problem‑solving approach
- Ability to critically evaluate and review developments made by others to determine if and how they could be applied within own area of work
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.
Address
99 Waverly Road, St Albans, Herts – AL3 5TL
Depending on experience per annum, pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
Reference number
367-ACMS-101300
Job locations
99 Waverly Road, St Albans, Herts – AL3 5TL
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