Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Psychologist Assertive Outreach Team (AOT)

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust View all jobs


North East England
Permanent
Psychologist
GBP 57,528 - 64,750 per year

Posted 1 day(s) ago

Reference: 2377060


Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Clinical Psychologist to join the Assertive Outreach Team (AOT). You will provide highly specialised psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for individuals with complex mental health needs, supporting recovery-focused care within a multidisciplinary community service.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute to clinical leadership, service development, consultation, training and supervision across the Assertive Outreach Service. Working closely with colleagues across Mental Health Services, you will help ensure the delivery of evidence-based psychological care and support the implementation of best practice throughout the service.

Main duties of the job

In this role, you will:

  • Deliver highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for adults with complex mental health needs.
  • Work closely with service users, carers, and multi-disciplinary colleagues to develop effective, recovery-focused care plans.
  • Provide expert consultation and advice to clinical teams, helping to enhance psychological understanding across the service.
  • Offer clinical supervision, mentoring and training to psychologists and wider mental health professionals.
  • Contribute to the clinical leadership of the Assertive Outreach Service, supporting high standards of care and professional practice.
  • Play an active role in service development, quality improvement, clinical governance, research and audit activities.
  • Build effective partnerships with colleagues across community mental health services and partner organisations to improve patient outcomes.
About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

  • Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
  • NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
  • Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
  • A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Details
Date posted

01 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,528 to £64,750 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

184-OL-GR-5676

Job locations

Trustwide

The Crescent

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 4DY

United Kingdom


Job description
Job responsibilities

As a Clinical Psychologist within the Assertive Outreach Team, you will work autonomously and collaboratively to provide specialist psychological services to individuals with complex and enduring mental health conditions. You will undertake comprehensive psychological assessments, develop formulations and deliver tailored interventions to support recovery and improve outcomes.

You will act as a key psychological resource within the team, providing consultation to healthcare professionals and supporting staff in managing complex presentations. The role requires close partnership working with multidisciplinary colleagues, community mental health services and external agencies to ensure coordinated, person-centred care.

The post holder will play an important role in supporting the clinical leadership of the service, contributing to care standards, risk management, service planning and the development of effective care pathways. You will help maintain high standards of clinical practice and ensure services are delivered in line with national guidance and organisational priorities.

You will also contribute to the ongoing development of psychological services through participation in audit, service evaluation, research and quality improvement activities. Opportunities to provide clinical supervision, teaching and training to psychology colleagues and wider professional groups form an important part of this role.

Job description
Job responsibilities

As a Clinical Psychologist within the Assertive Outreach Team, you will work autonomously and collaboratively to provide specialist psychological services to individuals with complex and enduring mental health conditions. You will undertake comprehensive psychological assessments, develop formulations and deliver tailored interventions to support recovery and improve outcomes.

You will act as a key psychological resource within the team, providing consultation to healthcare professionals and supporting staff in managing complex presentations. The role requires close partnership working with multidisciplinary colleagues, community mental health services and external agencies to ensure coordinated, person-centred care.

The post holder will play an important role in supporting the clinical leadership of the service, contributing to care standards, risk management, service planning and the development of effective care pathways. You will help maintain high standards of clinical practice and ensure services are delivered in line with national guidance and organisational priorities.

You will also contribute to the ongoing development of psychological services through participation in audit, service evaluation, research and quality improvement activities. Opportunities to provide clinical supervision, teaching and training to psychology colleagues and wider professional groups form an important part of this role.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
  • Doctoral Clinical qualification or equivalent
  • Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist
  • Eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status
  • Significant experience of working with people with complex mental health problems using a specific, NICE approved, therapy
  • Significant experience and competence in Neuropsychological assessment
Desirable
  • Accreditation in NICE approved therapy, e.g. CBT or CAT.
  • Clinical Supervision training.
Experience
Essential
  • Significant experience of working with people with complex mental health problems using a specific, NICE approved, therapy
  • Significant experience and competence in Neuropsychological assessment
  • Supervision experience with a range of staff.
  • Consultancy experience in a range of settings
  • Experience of working in multi-professional/multi-agency settings
Additional Criteria
Essential
  • Have a in date UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
  • Doctoral Clinical qualification or equivalent
  • Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist
  • Eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status
  • Significant experience of working with people with complex mental health problems using a specific, NICE approved, therapy
  • Significant experience and competence in Neuropsychological assessment
Desirable
  • Accreditation in NICE approved therapy, e.g. CBT or CAT.
  • Clinical Supervision training.
Experience
Essential
  • Significant experience of working with people with complex mental health problems using a specific, NICE approved, therapy
  • Significant experience and competence in Neuropsychological assessment
  • Supervision experience with a range of staff.
  • Consultancy experience in a range of settings
  • Experience of working in multi-professional/multi-agency settings
Additional Criteria
Essential
  • Have a in date UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information
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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trustwide

The Crescent

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 4DY

United Kingdom


Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details
Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trustwide

The Crescent

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 4DY

United Kingdom


Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)