Macmillan Clinical/Counselling Psychologist in Cancer Services

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Macmillan Clinical/Counselling Psychologist in Cancer Services The closing date is 02 October 2025

We welcome applications to join a very supportive team of psychologists working in cancer services. This post provides the chance to make a real difference to people facing the challenges of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. We invite applications from experienced and newly/soon to be qualified psychologists and the role can be offered as a preceptorship, with support and training to develop the required skills. Working in the Cancer Psychology Service will give you the opportunity to develop your career, fulfilling the broad roles of a psychologist (research, training, consultation, supervision), as well honing your therapy skills in the growing area of clinical health psychology. The team is highly valued and well-integrated with all cancer MDTs in the hospital.

The Physical Health Psychology Service is a supportive, innovative, research-active team of psychologists. We offer flexible working patterns and substantial CPD opportunities. Please get in touch for a chat about the role and to arrange a visit.

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is an organisation with a growing workforce of 180+ qualified clinical psychologists along with trainees and assistants. This strong professional body affords many opportunities for CPD and professional networks. We offer a wide range of psychological approaches, therapies and specialist services providing considerable expertise to support your career development.

Main duties of the job Along with other cancer psychologists in the team, you will work with cancer patients and their adult family members at all stages of cancer diagnosis and treatment. You will offer specialist assessment and treatment for a wide range of cancer-related psychological concerns, and work closely with the cancer MDTs to provide psychological consultation, training and supervision. You will use research skills to inform service developments and evaluations. You will be well-supported to develop the specialist skills required for this role.

There are many opportunities to develop and shape the service, as well as to contribute to regional and national service and strategy developments in psycho-oncology. We have excellent links with the regional Clinical Psychology training course, University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, with opportunities for teaching, supervision and research. As a Macmillan Professional, you will have support and resources offered by Macmillan Cancer Support, including specialist opportunities for training, development and networking with other Macmillan Professionals across the UK.

You must be a HCPC registered Clinical or Counselling Psychologist (soon to qualify for preceptorship) and have experience of and/or interest in working with people with physical health conditions. Applications are welcomed from those with relevant transferable experience and skills and a strong interest in working in cancer services, to be supported into the role.

About us comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons

We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.

The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.

The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment

Job responsibilities To provide specialised assessment and evidence based interventions to patients with complex physical and psychological health needs.

To provide clinical supervision and support to other clinical psychologists/trainee clinical psychologists in the team.

To support and supervise non-psychology colleagues in psychological aspects of their work with patients and their families e.g. cancer MDTs

To work closely with cancer nurse specialists, offering consultation, teaching, training and advice to MDT members.

To assist the service lead in developing and delivering evidence-based psychological programmes and self-management materials

To liaise with and facilitate access to mental health services, NHS Talking Therapies services and third sector support services as appropriate

To utilise research and supervision skills

To assist in the promotion of the service and dissemination of relevant psychologically informed practice across the wider health system, as required.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

Please note that this post does not meet the pay or skill level required for a Skilled worker visa.

Successful applicants with no prior NHS experience would normally be placed at thebottom of the band in line with Agenda for Change. This salary is below the minimumsalary required for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa. In thesecircumstances the Trust would not, therefore, be able to sponsor for a Skilled Worker/Health & Care visa.

Applicants requiring a Skilled Worker Visa can determine the likelihood of obtaining aCertificate of Sponsorship against the relevant criteria here

Person Specification Skills

• Ability to undertake complex assessments where expert opinion may differ, develop formulations and provide psychological interventions with a high level of clinical judgement
• Ability to undertake group work and manage, sometimes challenging group dynamics
• Skills in providing clinical supervision to multidisciplinary professionals
• High level interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to establish rapport and build relationships with patients and carers and colleagues both verbally and in writing
• Skills in communicating complex psychological information for different audiences
• Presentation skills for training staff, presenting research findings and promoting the service
• Consultation skills Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
• Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner and in collaboration with clinical and management team
• Specialist training in one or more psychological therapies

Knowledge

• Highly developed specialist knowledge of working with people with physical health problems
• Knowledge of a range of psychological therapy models relevant for working in cancer services
• Knowledge and understanding of research methodologies and carrying out literature searches
• Knowledge of models of clinical supervision/reflective practice
• Critical appreciation of NICE guidance for Supportive and Palliative Care and it's application in psycho-oncology services
• Knowledge of the application of the research process in NHS settings

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in Clinical Psychology or Counselling Psychology
• Registration with HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist Completion of two-year post-doctoral supervisor training workshop programme (or equivalent individual workshops).
• Evidence of ongoing CPD activities relevant to the role

Experience

• Experience of using a range of psychological therapy models with patients with cancer or other complex health conditions
• Experience of supervising qualified and trainee Clinical Psychologists, Assistant Psychologists
• Experience of training/supervising physical healthcare staff
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team in a physical health setting
• Experience of research/service evaluation in a physical healthcare setting
• Experience of neuropsychological assessments

Values and behaviours

• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate at interview that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork
• All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust's expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation
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