Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Job summary

We are seeking to recruit a Qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist for an exciting opportunity in Cancer Care at University Hospitals Dorset. We are looking to recruit an experienced qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist who is interested in an opportunity to develop leadership and project management skills, as well as work within a multidisciplinary environment to effect service change at Band 8a. We will also consider newly qualified candidates at a Band 7 who can demonstrate they have contributed to service development in a multidisciplinary physical healthcare environment.

You will lead on a new project to support and address psychological barriers to cancer treatment across all tumour groups for people living with cancer in Dorset. You will collaborate with the Team Lead on project development and receive support from an Assistant Psychologist. You will also support the wider team through providing assessment and intervention services to people referred to the Dorset Cancer Centre Counselling and Psychology Service.

This is a part-time position and funding is secured for 18 months, with potential to use project outcomes to expand psychologist provision, possibly extending the contract or making the role permanent.

Applicants who have less than 2 years experience as a qualified clinical psychologist may be offered a Band 7 role if appropriate.

Main duties of the job

You will develop relationships with the Cancer MDTs and ward based clinicians to identify and support people affected by cancer, as well as provide opportunities for improving psychological screening and support provided by other healthcare professionals. The work will involve supporting the emotional impact of the work on healthcare clinicians where necessary, and influencing the treatment environment to support trauma-informed care. You will provide a safe and effective evidence-based Level 4 psychological support service to individuals, couples and families who are affected by a diagnosis of cancer in line with NICE Guidance on Cancer Care Services, Improving Supportive and Palliative Care for Adults. You will work closely within our team comprised of Clinical Psychologists, Counsellors, and a Social Worker. We all work alongside multidisciplinary professionals providing nursing, medical and therapeutic care.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

This role requires HCPC Registration.

Base Locations: Forest Holme Hospice, Poole and Bournemouth Hospitals

Interview date: Monday, 2nd November 2026

About us

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues.

UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.

This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have about this at interview.

Job responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Post-graduate doctoral training in clinical or counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS
• HCPC registered practitioner psychologist

Desirable

• Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice

Experience

Essential

• Assessed experience of working as a qualified clinical or counselling psychologist
• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment

Desirable

• Post-qualification experience of working in clinical health psychology, preferably including cancer and palliative care
• Experience of providing clinical supervision, teaching and training.

Technical Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups

Desirable

• Ability to work across the lifespan, with individuals, couples and groups

Knowledge

Desirable

• Formal training in supervision of other psychologists