Job Overview
An exceptional opportunity awaits international healthcare professionals seeking to relocate to the United Kingdom. Hywel Dda University Health Board invites applications for a Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical/Counselling) position within our Adult Diabetes Psychology Service. This newly created role offers comprehensive Certificate of Sponsorship support, making it an ideal pathway for qualified psychologists worldwide to establish their career in the UK’s renowned National Health Service system.
Position Details
We are seeking a compassionate and reflective psychologist to join our expanding Diabetes Multidisciplinary Team. This permanent position offers flexible working arrangements including full-time, part-time, job share, flexible hours, and remote working options. The successful candidate will receive Band 8a classification with a competitive salary range of £56,514 to £63,623 per annum (pro rata if part-time).
Certificate of Sponsorship
Hywel Dda University Health Board proudly offers Certificate of Sponsorship for international candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK. Applications from overseas professionals are warmly welcomed and will be considered alongside all other applications. Our dedicated recruitment team will guide successful candidates through the visa application process, including the necessary criminal record certificate requirements for overseas applicants.
Role Purpose
This dynamic role focuses on delivering tailored psychological care to patients using insulin pump therapy. As part of our MDT expansion, you will work alongside Specialist Nurses, Dieticians, Health Care Assistants, and an Assistant Psychologist – all new positions. This provides a unique opportunity to shape service pathways and contribute to outcome-focused development within a forward-thinking clinical setting.
Key Responsibilities
The postholder will provide specialist psychological support to adult patients using insulin pump technology, including individual, joint, and systemic assessments and therapeutic interventions. You will deliver a responsive service for adults being assessed for pump initiation or where psychological factors may affect continued use and engagement.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Collaborative MDT working is central to this role, with the postholder contributing to care planning, patient reviews, and clinical decision-making. You will be embedded in MDT clinics, working closely with diabetes professionals to support shared decision-making processes.
Transition Support
The role includes participation in transition clinics supporting young people with diabetes (aged 16-25), including those already using pump therapy, as they move from paediatric to adult services. This focuses on psychological adjustment, autonomy, and continuity of care.
Service Development Opportunities
You will lead on choosing and using appropriate outcome measures and maintaining a database to support regular audit and evaluation of service delivery. The role supports creative service development, offering scope to shape interventions and embed your own ideas and approaches into the emerging pathway.
Clinical Interventions
Group interventions, psychoeducation programmes, and psychologically informed workshops related to technology use, emotional wellbeing, and diabetes distress will form part of your clinical remit. You will maintain and share specialist knowledge in diabetes pump psychology with the wider Health Psychology team.
Working Model
The position offers a blended working model that combines remote consultations via secure platforms with in-person clinic delivery. Regular face-to-face MDT meetings and clinics are core components of integrated patient care. Occasional travel between clinical sites may be required to support accessibility and team collaboration.
Professional Support and Development
Professional support includes being part of the wider Health Psychology Service which has a team of psychologists working in diabetes. The successful postholder will receive regular clinical supervision from the Diabetes Psychology Lead and work closely alongside Clinical Psychologists.
Supervision and Training
As the role progresses, there will be opportunity to supervise an Assistant Psychologist and contribute to wider team training and mentoring. CPD access includes therapeutic modalities such as CBT, ACT, EMDR, and Mindfulness, with ongoing development strongly encouraged.
Essential Qualifications
Applicants must possess Doctoral level training in Clinical/Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those who commenced training prior to September 2001) as accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). Registration with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Practitioner Psychologist is mandatory.
Knowledge Requirements
Candidates must demonstrate knowledge of clinical assessment, formulation and psychological treatments as well as experience in working psychologically in all core specialties: adult mental health, child and adolescent mental health, older adults mental health, and learning disabilities.
Essential Experience
We require experience of working with a wide variety of client groups across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity. Experience of working flexibly and sensitively with diverse psychology patient groups is essential.
Multidisciplinary Experience
Applicants should have experience of delivering psychological interventions within multidisciplinary settings and experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
Desirable Qualifications
Experience with neuropsychology assessments and applied clinical psychology within physical health conditions are desirable qualifications that will strengthen applications.
Language Requirements
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during your employment.
About Hywel Dda University Health Board
Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties. We employ over 13,000 staff and provide comprehensive healthcare services including primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.
Service Locations
Our services are provided across four main hospitals, five community hospitals, two integrated care centres, 47 general practices, dental practices, community pharmacies, ophthalmic practices, and numerous mental health and learning disabilities services throughout West Wales.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted via the NHS Jobs website before the closing date of 22 September 2025. Interviews are scheduled for 2nd October 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly regarding interview arrangements.
Contact Information
For questions about the job, please contact Dr Kate Rhodes, Lead for Adult Diabetes Psychology Service, at [email protected] or telephone 01267 246917. Our recruitment team is available to assist international applicants with queries regarding relocation and sponsorship processes.
Relocation Support
While specific relocation packages are not detailed, the Health Board provides comprehensive support for international recruits, including assistance with registration processes, accommodation guidance, and integration into the local community. The flexible working arrangements make this an attractive opportunity for those transitioning to UK healthcare practice.
Equal Opportunities
Hywel Dda University Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or background.
Career Development
This position represents an excellent opportunity for recently qualified psychologists looking for career development or psychologists who already have Band 8a competencies and skills. The role offers substantial professional growth potential within the UK’s NHS framework.
Why Choose Wales?
Working in West Wales offers an exceptional quality of life with beautiful countryside, coastal locations, and vibrant communities. The region provides affordable living costs compared to other UK areas while maintaining excellent transport links to major cities.
Application Deadline
The closing date for applications is 22 September 2025. We encourage international applicants to apply early to allow sufficient time for visa processing and relocation arrangements. Reference number: 100-PST028-0825
