Senior Psychological Therapist/Clinical Psychologist

Job summary

This is a unique opportunity for a CAT Practitioner to join our specialist Cognitive Analytic Therapy service in Newcastle, in a part time (0.6WTE) role.

The CNTW CAT Service is one of the few services in the UK focussed entirely on Cognitive Analytic Therapy. Our service is based in the Trust's Centre for Specialist Psychological Therapies, alongside services for EMDR, Psychotherapy, CBT and Family Therapy.

This role provides CAT therapy to people with complex psychological needs; hosts the Newcastle CAT Practitioner, Introductory and Supervisor Trainings; provides CAT supervision to practitioner trainees, practitioners and others; provides CAT scaffolding services (e.g. 5 Session CAT and other forms of CAT consultation) and undertakes service evaluation and research

Main duties of the job

In this role, the balance of duties will be determined by the skills and experience of the successful post holder, and the needs of the service as they come into role. Essential elements of the role include

providing specialist CAT clinical interventions with adult service users with complex mental health needs;delivery of CAT supervision

Additional components may include:

• Contribution to CAT training
• Delivery of CAT consultation
• Contribution to service evaluation and development

About us

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.

Job responsibilities

The key elements of the role will be

providing specialist CAT clinical interventions with adult service users with complex mental health needs;delivery of CAT supervision.

The post holder will be a suitably qualified psychologist or psychological therapist with Practitioner training in Cognitive Analytic Therapy. The post holder will have appropriate professional and ACAT registration as a CAT Practitioner.

This will be a supervision role and we encourage accredited CAT supervisors to apply, but we can also accept applications from practitioners who are currently undertaking, or ready to undertake, their CAT supervisor training.

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 29th September 2026

Closing date : 13th October 2026

We welcome your application.

Person specification

Education and Qualification

Essential

• An Honours Degree in Psychology recognised for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society, plus post-graduate qualification in applied psychology (e.g. Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or Counselling Psychology); or RMN, or equivalent degree level qualification in mental health
• ACAT-accredited Practitioner Qualification in Cognitive Analytic Therapy
• HCPC registered practitioner psychologist or equivalent
• Accredited Member of Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy (ACAT)

Desirable

• ACAT Accredited CAT Supervisor

Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Specialist model specific psychological assessment, formulation and intervention skills.
• Specialist clinical supervision skills
• The ability to plan, organise and deliver work, exercising clinical autonomy, and managing time effectively
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management.

Desirable

• Ability to provide "indirect" CAT e.g. 5 Session CAT, clinical consultation

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups relevant to the client group
• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinical sensitive information to clients, their family, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
• Substantial post qualification experience of specialist psychological assessment, formulation and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, and inpatient 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.
• Formal training in clinical supervision of trainee clinical psychologists and other staff.

Desirable

• Experience of providing CAT-specific supervision and training