Senior Practitioner Psychologist or band 7 - preceptorship

Senior Practitioner Psychologist - 8a (or band 7 - 8 preceptorship)

Senior Psychologist 8a (or 7-8a Preceptorship) Forget Me Not Unit, Dementia Inpatient Wards, Swandean, Worthing

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a qualified, HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist to join our inpatient services for people living with dementia in Worthing. The Unit opened in 2021 and was re-designed to be a dementia friendly environment, following advice and support from the University of Worcester. You can see more on this You Tube video:

You will be working all 3 wards as part of the multi-disciplinary teams. The ward staff and leadership team are committed to developing a centre of excellence for the care of people living with dementia and the candidate would be encouraged to contribute to this. We also welcome applications from Psychologists due to qualify in 2026, who are passionate about dementia care.

The post is available at band 8a (4 days, 0.8 wte). More hours are available as a band 7 for newly qualified psychologists wishing to undertake a 7-8a preceptorship. Please get in touch for further details.

You will supervise 3 full time Assistant Psychologists who work in the Unit and be supported by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who has extensive experience of working within inpatient settings and is also a Licensed Dementia Care Mapping Trainer with the University of Bradford and a Communication and Interaction Trainer.

You will be enthusiastic and committed to working with people living with dementia and their families/friends/carers.

You will be responsible for providing psychological and neuropsychological interventions in a service where psychology is highly valued.

We would welcome applicants with well-developed skills in non-pharmacological approaches to supporting people who are living with dementia, especially individuals who experience behavioural expressions of need. You will have knowledge and experience in working with clients in relation to risk and safeguarding concerns. Skills in teaching and training are also desirable.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health, forensic and learning disability services in and across Sussex. The Trust has teaching status and is developing into one of the country's leading teaching mental health trusts.

At Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust we are at the forefront for Dementia research. We have recently engaged in a Sussex-wide project, in Communication and Interaction Training (CAIT) with Prof Ian James. Working here offers continued training and development, variety, plus all the benefits of living in Sussex.

If you would like to discuss the role we would welcome contact from you: Sally Stapleton, Consultant Clinical Psychologist,   or Suesan Summers, Matron, )

For further information regarding the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust please visit our website

Sussex is a beautiful county with good transport links, vibrant communities, rural areas, and tourist attractions, including the Coast and the South Downs. You will join a friendly, highly‑skilled and enthusiastic community of applied psychologists within West Sussex and a broader, highly experienced network of older people’s specialists across Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

You will receive regular clinical and professional supervision as well as a commitment to your own continuing professional development. Our Trust offers a wide range of CPD and the post‑holder will have the opportunity to develop special interests and expertise in line with service and team objectives.

Please note that this post is 30 hours (0.8 wte) working across three wards. We are therefore unable to offer opportunities for less that 30 hours or remote working. There are opportunities for increased hours at Band 7.

• Post‑graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology [or its equivalent for those trained before 1996 or outside the UK*] as approved by the HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental…