Practitioner Psychologist/Psychological Therapist with certificate of sponsorship to the UK

Visa Note

While this position offers a certificate of sponsorship for international candidates, applicants must verify their eligibility with the employer before applying. The certificate of sponsorship is subject to UK visa requirements and eligibility criteria. All international applicants must ensure they meet the necessary visa requirements and provide any required documentation from countries they have resided in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.

Job Details

Company: South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Location: Sunderland Royal Hospital, Kayll Road, Sunderland, SR4 7TP

Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 per annum (2026/27 Pay award pending)

Employment Type: Permanent, Part-time

Reference Number: C9155-THAHP-0326-25

Closing Date: 14 April 2026

Language: English

About the Role

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a dedicated Practitioner Psychologist/Psychological Therapist to join their established Maternal Mental Health Service. This is an exciting opportunity to provide trauma-informed care for mothers and birthing people experiencing moderate to severe or complex psychological distress in the Sunderland and South Tyneside area.

The service specializes in supporting individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder following traumatic birth, perinatal loss, and severe fear of childbirth. You will be part of a supportive team including a senior psychologist, practitioner psychologist/CBT practitioner, perinatal mental health midwife, and administrative support.

The role involves close collaboration with maternity services, reproductive services, and strong links with Perinatal Mental Health Teams, local Talking Therapies services, Children’s Services, and various voluntary and charity organizations.

Key Responsibilities

This position is ideal for someone with a keen interest in perinatal and maternal mental health services and working within a multidisciplinary team. You will provide specialist psychological assessments and interventions for trauma, loss, and pregnancy-related anxiety or fears.

There are excellent opportunities for professional development and training within this role. Clinical supervision will be provided by an experienced psychologist within the service. You will work with service users and key stakeholders to ensure the service model meets local population needs.

The post holder will have opportunities to form part of Specialist Interest Groups both regionally and nationally, with support to develop within their role. There is flexibility with work patterns, including part-time work and condensed hours.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential: Honours degree in psychology or accredited conversion course; Post-graduate Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology accredited by HCPC allowing registration as a Practitioner Psychologist; HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist or will be registered upon completion of training course.

Alternative Path: Professional knowledge acquired through degree, postgraduate Master’s degree supplemented by short specialist courses, clinical supervision and further specialist training; Advanced training in CBT or CAT meeting essential criteria for accreditation with BABCP or ACAT; Practitioner or Full Accreditation with BABCP or ACAT.

Desirable: Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential: Knowledge of models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology; Skills in complex psychological assessment, intervention and management requiring sustained and intense concentration; Ability to use the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills.

Essential: Ability to convey/receive highly complex/sensitive information effectively requiring empathy and reassurance in a highly emotive atmosphere; Ability to make clinical and service-related judgements involving complex facts requiring analysis, interpretation and comparison; Excellent organizational skills to manage a range of clinical activities.

Desirable: Relevant additional clinical experience within clinical area; Skills within service improvement/development; Knowledge of the relevance of psychological factors in physical health services.

Experience

Essential: Experience of working within the NHS; Experience of working within a multi-professional team; Experience of working with adults who have mental health difficulties; Experience of exercising clinical responsibility for patients’ psychological care and treatment.

Essential: Understanding of the importance and function of personal boundaries and how to manage and maintain them; Knowledge of relevant legislation and its implications for clinical practice; Knowledge of current issues and opportunities for applying psychological interventions in a healthcare setting.

Desirable: Experience of teaching and training; Experience of cancer care/palliative care; Experience of application of psychology in different cultural settings.

Physical Skills

Essential: Ability to sit in constrained position for extended periods frequently; Ability to work in a shared office space; Requirement for speed and accuracy, keyboard skills; Ability to travel between bases/sites as part of the role.

About the Employer

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust is committed to “One Team One Trust” – putting people first through accessible services and award-winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities, promoting a compassionate, caring and positive culture and working environment.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, and particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups. Looking after our workforce’s health and wellbeing is a priority.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents, with additional specialized services outside this area. Staff benefits include Fitness Centre access, libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support, and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help with childcare arrangements.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, requiring a submission to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers requiring 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. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants must present criminal record certificates from each country they have resided in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.

How to Apply

Apply via the NHS Jobs website. The employer offers a certificate of sponsorship, but applicants must verify eligibility with the employer before applying.

Application Checklist:

• Complete the application form via NHS Jobs website
• Include your telephone number on the application form
• Provide all required qualifications and professional registration details
• Include evidence of HCPC registration or expected registration date
• For international applicants: verify visa requirements and provide criminal record certificates from relevant countries
• Prepare a comprehensive CV highlighting relevant experience
• Submit any additional required documents as specified in the recruitment pack

Contact Information

For questions about the job, please contact Sonia Wilson at sonia.wilson9@nhs.net. Please note that applications made using AI that risk the integrity of your recruitment process may be withdrawn at any stage.

Supporting Documents

The following documents are available for download:

• Job Description (PDF, 355 KB)
• Recruitment Pack Information for candidates (PDF, 378 KB)
• Candidate Guidance Applying for Jobs (PDF, 175 KB)

Useful Links

• Discover South Tyneside
• Discover Sunderland
• Staff Benefits
• Trust Vision and Values
• Equality Diversity and Inclusion at our Trust

Privacy Notice

Please refer to the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust’s privacy notice for information on how your data will be processed during the recruitment process.