Job summary Band 8A Practitioner Psychologist (Band 7 to 8A preceptorship available) The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group is delighted to be working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support and the East Midlands Cancer Alliance to increase the psychological support for people living with cancer. We are looking to recruit a committed, compassionate, and enthusiastic clinical/counselling or health psychologist to join the psycho-oncology service. This post will be based at Kettering General Hospital. The Macmillan clinical psychology services provide a specialist (level IV) clinical psychology service to adult (18 +) patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and who are experiencing complex psychological difficulties relating to any aspect of their diagnosis or treatment. Our services take a compassionate, holistic and patient-centred approach, and are committed to offering a flexible and responsive service to cancer patients at all stages of the cancer pathway. The successful candidate will ideally have some relevant post-qualification experience. However, we would welcome applications from newly qualified psychologists who would be appointed on a band 7 preceptorship basis, with a development plan in place to support them to working towards an 8a role. Part-time/flexible working could be considered. Main duties of the job The post holder will work as part of the cancer multidisciplinary team, providing Level 3/4 psychological assessments and therapeutic interventions, in line with the service model recommended by NICE (2004) and the EMCA Psychosocial Care Model (2020) for the provision of psychological care to people living with cancer. The post holder will also support the delivery of supervision, consultation and teaching to the hospital-based Level 2 Practitioners such as Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists, as well as providing support to other staff within oncology services and the wider hospital cancer team as appropriate. The post holder will work closely with the service lead to develop and implement the service across the County and will have opportunities to contribute to the future development of the service About us Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire. Our Excellence Values CompassionAccountabilityRespectIntegrityCourage We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities. We are a Defence positive trust, supporting our reservists, veterans, spouses and partners. The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals. Details Date posted 22 July 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8a Salary £55,690 to £62,682 a year Per Annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 265-7309985 Job locations Northampton General Hospital Billing Road Northampton NN1 5BD Job description Job responsibilities To work as part of the Macmillan Psychology Service to provide a specialist (Level IV) clinical psychology service across the county, in line with national directives, to adult (18 +) patients living with cancer who are under the care of Northampton or Kettering General Hospitals and who are experiencing complex psychological difficulties relating to any aspect of their diagnosis or treatment. To provide specialist psychological assessments for patients accessing oncology services, based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of highly complex psychological data from a variety of sources including psychological measures, direct observations and clinical interviews with patients, family members and others involved in the patients care. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a patients psychological difficulties taking into account developmental background, personality adaptations, interpersonal patterns of relating and diagnostic issues. These plans will be based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the patients difficulties and employing methods of proven efficacy, across the full range of care settings. To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions, adjusting and refining psychological formulations which draw upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses. To evaluate and make decisions about treatments options and exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of patients. To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for patients and to provide general advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management. To offer a flexible and responsive service to cancer patients at all stages of the cancer pathway, including a mix of face to face and virtual outpatient sessions, as well as some inpatient work. To identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behavior. To communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to patients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS. To develop effective working relationships with the cancer multidisciplinary team and the wider health care community To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific patient group and mental health. To work positively with issues of difference and diversity. To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society, the Health Care and Professionals Council and Trust policies and procedures. To provide consultation to other professional and non-professional groups where appropriate. To work closely with psychology colleagues working within cancer and palliative care across Northamptonshire, as well as other Psychologists within the region. To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit. To advise both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where psychological and/or organisational matters need addressing. To contribute to the pre- and post-qualification teaching of clinical psychologists, as appropriate. Depending on service resource, and as appropriate, to develop opportunities to provide specialist clinical placements for trainee clinical/health psychologists within the Macmillan Clinical Psychology Service. Job description Job responsibilities To work as part of the Macmillan Psychology Service to provide a specialist (Level IV) clinical psychology service across the county, in line with national directives, to adult (18 +) patients living with cancer who are under the care of Northampton or Kettering General Hospitals and who are experiencing complex psychological difficulties relating to any aspect of their diagnosis or treatment. To provide specialist psychological assessments for patients accessing oncology services, based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of highly complex psychological data from a variety of sources including psychological measures, direct observations and clinical interviews with patients, family members and others involved in the patients care. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a patients psychological difficulties taking into account developmental background, personality adaptations, interpersonal patterns of relating and diagnostic issues. These plans will be based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the patients difficulties and employing methods of proven efficacy, across the full range of care settings. To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions, adjusting and refining psychological formulations which draw upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses. To evaluate and make decisions about treatments options and exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of patients. To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for patients and to provide general advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment and management. To offer a flexible and responsive service to cancer patients at all stages of the cancer pathway, including a mix of face to face and virtual outpatient sessions, as well as some inpatient work. To identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behavior. To communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to patients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS. To develop effective working relationships with the cancer multidisciplinary team and the wider health care community To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific patient group and mental health. To work positively with issues of difference and diversity. To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society, the Health Care and Professionals Council and Trust policies and procedures. To provide consultation to other professional and non-professional groups where appropriate. To work closely with psychology colleagues working within cancer and palliative care across Northamptonshire, as well as other Psychologists within the region. To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit. To advise both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where psychological and/or organisational matters need addressing. To contribute to the pre- and post-qualification teaching of clinical psychologists, as appropriate. Depending on service resource, and as appropriate, to develop opportunities to provide specialist clinical placements for trainee clinical/health psychologists within the Macmillan Clinical Psychology Service. Person Specification Education, Training & Qualifications Essential Post graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS Eligibility for registration with HCPC as a practitioner psychologist Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS/HCPC Desirable Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice Formal training in supervision of other psychologists Knowledge & Experience Essential High level knowledge of the theory and practice of a least two specialised psychological therapies Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings Experience of teaching, training and providing clinical supervision Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and with presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for client's psychological care and treatment within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health Experience of multidisciplinary team working Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups Desirable Experience of working within oncology or a health psychology setting Specialist knowledge of psychological models relevant to understanding the psychological impact of cancer, coping and models of intervention Skills Essential Understanding of systemic factors and ability to apply these in formulations in the context of a complex healthcare system Ability to undertake assessments and formulation in a time limited manner, often with incomplete information Confidence delivering both individual and group psychological interventions Experience and 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 identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate IT literate with ability to use electronic systems, spreadsheets/databases and produce reports and statistics Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to utilise them to communicate effectively within a multi-disciplinary team-based environment as well as with patients/carers Excellent time management and organisational skills to allow the ability to manage a demanding and constantly changing workload. Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration Person Specification Education, Training & Qualifications Essential Post graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS Eligibility for registration with HCPC as a practitioner psychologist Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS/HCPC Desirable Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice Formal training in supervision of other psychologists Knowledge & Experience Essential High level knowledge of the theory and practice of a least two specialised psychological therapies Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings Experience of teaching, training and providing clinical supervision Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and with presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for client's psychological care and treatment within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health Experience of multidisciplinary team working Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups Desirable Experience of working within oncology or a health psychology setting Specialist knowledge of psychological models relevant to understanding the psychological impact of cancer, coping and models of intervention Skills Essential Understanding of systemic factors and ability to apply these in formulations in the context of a complex healthcare system Ability to undertake assessments and formulation in a time limited manner, often with incomplete information Confidence delivering both individual and group psychological interventions Experience and 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 identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate IT literate with ability to use electronic systems, spreadsheets/databases and produce reports and statistics Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to utilise them to communicate effectively within a multi-disciplinary team-based environment as well as with patients/carers Excellent time management and organisational skills to allow the ability to manage a demanding and constantly changing workload. Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) . From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) . 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) . From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) . 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 Northampton General Hospital Address Northampton General Hospital Billing Road Northampton NN1 5BD Employer's website https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab) Employer details Employer name Northampton General Hospital Address Northampton General Hospital Billing Road Northampton NN1 5BD Employer's website https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab). Location : Northampton General Hospital, Billing Road, NN1 5BD Northampton, United Kingdom
