MHST Senior Psychological Therapist

Job summary

We are recruiting a Band 8a Senior Psychological Therapist (CBT) to join us. This post is offered as a 9-month fixed term contract or as a 9-month secondment opportunity.

Thought-Full (the West Sussex Mental Health Support Teams in Schools) delivers an integrated model across Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and the Education and Skills department of West Sussex County Council. MHSTs provide:
1) Evidence-based interventions to children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties
2) Support to schools to develop their whole school approach to mental health and emotional wellbeing
3) Timely advice to school/college staff to ensure young people get the right support at the right time

We are an innovative integrated model with Thought-Full being delivered across both Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and the Education and Skills department of West Sussex County Council. Thought-Full sits within the Government’s Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision framework.

As a Senior Psychological Therapist in Thought-Full you will work closely with the Service Lead and Educational Psychologists, playing a key role in the development and delivery of Thought-Full in West Sussex. You will work with another Senior Psychological Therapist, supporting all the teams across West Sussex. You will oversee the clinical governance of the service, ensuring appropriate guidance and policies are in place for clinical delivery (e.g., clinical standards, risk, supervision).

You will utilise research and service development skills as well as leadership skills. Sound knowledge and experience of delivering low and high intensity CBT interventions, and supervision of CBT practitioners, is essential. Knowledge of other key theories and models when working with children and young people is also required.

You will also oversee supervision in the service, supervise Band 7 Senior Mental Health Practitioners, and ensure supervision of assistant, junior and trainee practitioners is provided. You will support the clinical development of the team and deliver appraisals alongside service managers.

Sussex Partnership provides mental health and learning disability care for all ages across Sussex and for children and young people in Hampshire. We encourage flexible working and will consider flexible arrangements (e.g., home-working, part-time hours, flexible start/finish times) where feasible for the role and the individual.

Date posted: 12 March 2026

Pay scheme:
Agenda for change

Band:
Band 8a

Salary: £55,690 to £62,682 a year

Contract:

Fixed term

Duration: 9 months

Working pattern:
Part-time

Reference number: 354-CS-21858

Job locations: MHST WS, Arundel Road, Worthing, BN13 3EP

In order to be a successful Senior Psychological Therapist in our team you will be:

• Registered with the NMC, HCPC or BABCP via a core professional qualification. Applications are welcomed from OTs, Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologists and CBT Therapists
• Experienced/ trained in CBT
• Experienced working with Children and Young People suffering from mental health difficulties
• Passionate about supporting the prevention and early intervention of mental health difficulties for children and young people
• Experienced working within a mental health setting
• Experience in supervision
• Experience of leadership

It would be advantageous if you are:

• Experienced working within a school or have a good understanding of the school system

See attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

Qualifications Essential

• Evidence of continued professional development

Knowledge/Experience Essential

• Experience of working as part of a team
• Relevant clinical and research skills

Desirable

• Experience of working with people with mental health problems
• Experience of working with children and young people

Qualifications Essential

• Honours degree at 2:2 or above in Psychology, or equivalent. Eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartership with the BPS

Desirable

• Further post graduate training in relevant area of professional psychology, health and social care practice, and/or research design and analysis

Disclosure and Barring Service Check:
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to the DBS will be required.

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.

UK Registration:
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address: MHST WS, Arundel Road, Worthing, BN13 3EP

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