Verified Skilled Worker sponsor

Principal Psychologist or Psychotherapist

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

New Haven, BN9 9HH £66,582 – £77,368 a year Permanent Posted 28 August 2026 Apply by 13 September 2026

Home Office register entry: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing

Visa sponsorship

This role is listed by an employer that holds a live Home Office sponsor licence on the Skilled Worker route.

Closest occupation match: SOC 2224, Psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists. Pay for this occupation is set by national pay scales (NHS bands), so no single Home Office going rate applies.

This occupation falls under the Health and Care Worker route. Public reference figures for that route: the general salary minimum is £25,000 a year, and salaries set by national pay scales (NHS bands) at or above the relevant band rate typically meet the occupation's requirement. Individual eligibility depends on personal circumstances. These figures are public reference information, not advice or a verdict on this job.

Role description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Principal Practitioner Psychologist or Systemic Psychotherapist or Psychological Therapist to support the development of our Multiple Admissions Patient Pathway (MAP) Team. The MAP team was created as a pilot project to work with individuals who present with complex mental health needs, are high users of services and at risk of multiple admissions to hospital due to frequent cycles of crisis and difficulties engaging in community support. The team uses principles of open dialogue to provide support for people coming out of hospital to develop relationships with services and move towards recovery. We are looking for a dynamic individual who will support the extension of this project across East Sussex and provide leadership, supervision and consultation along with skilled clinical interventions for clients in the pathway.

Main duties of the job

The team is a multidisciplinary team who work using dialogical and systemic principles based on the open dialogue approach. They offer an enhanced level of support that is delivered via regular network meetings alongside other services to improve trust and engagement in the community offer of support. They work closely with carers/families and other agencies to ensure a joined up and consistent approach to care. All staff will be supported to complete training in open dialogue and training in working with complex mental health needs.

Training in Open dialogue desirable but not essential but candidates need experience working with complex mental health problems and interest in working with trauma.

About us

We strive to provide excellent care to our service users, their families and our staff which is demonstrated by the service's commitment to improving service user experience, supporting staff and professional development. Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust is committed to strong integrated, collaborative leadership between managers and clinicians.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is a leading teaching and research mental health trust. We were granted teaching status in 2008 in recognition of our research background and our links with the Brighton and Sussex Medical School and other academic institutions. Applicants with an interest in research will be welcomed.

Date posted

28 August 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£66,582 to £77,368 a year Pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

354-AE-21335-1

Job locations

Hillrise Assessment and Treatment service

Church Hill

New Haven

BN9 9HH

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

We are looking for an experienced practitioner psychologist or psychological professional to lead the multiple admissions pathway in one area, provide clinical leadership, supervision and consultation to the pathway and grow our connections with other key stakeholders and work within the neighbourhood mental health teams. The role would also include facilitation of network meetings as well as the provision of psychological expertise in the pathway and direct and indirect therapy offer. You will be well supported by a vibrant PP workforce. There will be support from other principal psychologists in the area.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology [or its equivalent for those trained prior to 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 psychology.
Professionally registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council (HCPC)

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

Significant assessed experience of working as a qualified psychologist
Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, in-patient and residential care settings severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified care coordinator and also within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan
Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology.
Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group.
Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups
Knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialised psychological therapies and assessment methodologies
Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC
Formal training in supervision of other psychologists

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

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.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.