Increased acceptance of the role psychology plays in the development of children and adults means there is a growing demand for trained psychological professionals in the UK. Qualified applicants will find hundreds of locum and permanent mental health jobs in both the NHS, the world's second-largest healthcare provider, and the private sector. Because of a shortage of homegrown psychologists, practitioners trained overseas seeking permanent or locum roles are actively encouraged to apply for clinical psychologist jobs. This guide has been designed to provide the information overseas nationals need to find work in the UK.
How to register to work in the UK
Foreign nationals seeking work in the UK need to apply for a work visa before they arrive. The type of visa you need will depend on your country of birth, the length of time you intend to stay and the type of position you apply for. Most visas are valid for up to 5 years and allow you to live, work and study in the UK. Once your visa expires, you can either apply to settle permanently or apply for an extension. Before applying for a visa, applicants must ensure their qualifications meet the standards of proficiency required to work in the UK. This can be done by applying to join the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) register. The HCPC will check your qualifications and standard of English is satisfactory to work safely in the UK. Following approval, you will be added to the HCPC Register of foreign healthcare workers. More information about the HCPC can be found here.
Visas available
There are a few types of visas available for qualified healthcare professionals working or looking to work in the UK:
EU Settlement Scheme
The EU Settlement Scheme is open to any citizen of a European Union member state, along with residents of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. To be eligible for this visa, you or a family member must have started living in the UK by 31st December 2020. PLEASE NOTE: The deadline to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme has now closed. However, you may still be eligible if you have reasonable grounds for being unable to apply before 30 June 2021. You can check your eligability here.
Health and Care Worker visa
EU workers that are not eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme along with citizens from outside the EU, such as Australia and New Zealand, need to apply for a Health and Care Worker visa. This visa is only available for qualified healthcare workers and is valid for up to five years. It allows workers and their families to live and work in the UK for a period of up to five years.
Eligibility requirements for the Health and Care Worker visa
Applicants for a Health and Care Worker visa must meet the following requirements: Your qualifications must meet the same standard as those provided by UK institutions. You must work in eligible health or social care job. You must work for a UK employer that has been approved by the Home Office. You must hold a certificate of sponsorship from your employer that contains information about the role you have been offered. Be paid a salary that meets or exceeds the National Living Wage. Applicants must also be able to speak, read and write English to a high standard. A test is usually carried out during the application process. Applicants that do not meet the requirements for a Health and Care Worker visa may still be eligible for a different type of visa. Information on the types of visas available, such as for those wishing to study in the UK, can be found here.
Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
The Youth Mobility Scheme visa is slightly different as it is a temporary visa – providing a two-year visa, which is the most common for young professionals looking to work and live in the UK temporarily. This visa is available to applicants who have certain types of British nationality, or are from a specific list of countries or territories. You do not need to have a job or job offer offer in place, and you must be between 18-30 years of age to be eligible. There is more information about this visa at the UK government website .
How to apply
You can apply for a Health and Care Worker visa online. Apply here if you are currently living outside the UK. Apply here if you are currently living in the UK and wish to extend your visa. Apply here if you are currently living in the UK and wish to switch to a different visa. Applicants already living in the UK that wish to change employers must update their information here. Applicants that want to travel with their family to the UK will need to include their partner and children as part of the application. More information about the eligibility requirements of partners and dependent children can be found here.
Life as a psychological therapist in the UK
With such a vast range of psychology jobs available, your day will be determined by the specialisation and the region you choose to work in.
Where you’ll be working
Most clinical psychologist jobs are hospital-based, where they form part of a team along with other mental health professionals. They also work closely with other departments, such as social services and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. While hospital-based, most psychologists are required to travel to other healthcare facilities within the local Health Authority area. The type of facility you visit will depend on your specialisation but could include local health centres, schools and even prisons.
Working hours
The hours you work can also vary depending on the role, but most clinical psychologists work regular office hours of 9 am-5 pm. Overtime is payable for work outside these hours. Flexible working hours may also be available in some roles.
Accommodation – Where to stay
The type of accommodation required will also depend on the role applied for. For example, a psychologist on-call will be expected to live within 45-60 minutes from the hospital. Some temporary locum roles may also come with accommodation at the hospital itself. The quality of the accommodation can vary considerably, however. While some modern hospitals have excellent accommodation, older ones can lack facilities. So, if the role comes with accommodation, it’s best to check the quality of the facilities first, but if the facilities are good, staying at the hospital will save you a considerable amount of money in rent and travel costs. If the role does not provide accommodation, you should find a suitable place to live before arriving in the UK. Competition for quality accommodation can be fierce, especially close to hospitals and universities. There are plenty of websites that list rental accommodation, such as Rightmove.co.uk and Zoopla.co.uk. You should have no problem securing a lease if you have a contract with the local Health Authority, but be prepared to provide references.
Bank accounts
Most NHS roles require you to have a UK bank account. To open an account, you will need to provide proof of identity, income and address. Your passport, a recent utility bill and an NHS contract can be used for this purpose. This information can be supplied before you arrive, so long as you are organised. However, most people find it easier to wait until after they have settled in before opening a bank account. There is plenty of competition for bank accounts in the UK, from both high-street and online banks. So, you should have no problem opening an account. The process is quick and simple and only takes a couple of days to complete.
Remuneration
The amount you earn will depend on your qualifications and experience. The NHS publishes pay rates as part of its Agenda for Change program. Trainee Clinical psychologist jobs UK pay falls into (Band 6), with a starting salary of £32,306. Once qualified, pay moves into (Band 7), with a salary of £40.057. More experienced psychologists fall into (Bands 8a and 8b). These bands command pay of between £47,126 and £63,867. Consultant-level psychologists fall into (Bands 8c and 8d). These levels pay £65,664 and £90,387 respectively. While the head of psychology services for each Health Authority falls into (band 9), which pays between £93,735 and £108,075. Locum psychological therapies jobs can pay between £18 to £45 per hour. The above rates are standard across the UK. However, because the cost of living is more expensive in London, positions based in the capital are paid a high-cost area supplement. The high-cost area supplement is split into three regions. Positions based in Central London are paid a 20% supplement, positions based in outer London are paid a 15% supplement and positions based in fringe areas are paid a 5% supplement.
Useful links
The British Psychological Society - Any trainee or qualified psychologist working in the UK can join the British Psychological Society. This provides resources for training, networking and professional development. Membership costs £141.60 per year.
EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status) - New applications for the EU Settlement Scheme have now closed, but you may still be able to apply if you have reasonable ground for not meeting the deadline. You can find out if you are eligible here.
Health and Care Worker visa - More information about applying for the Health and Care Worker visa program is available here. This visa allows all qualified healthcare professionals to work in the UK for a period of up to 5 years.
NHS entry and training requirements - To work in the UK as a psychologist, foreign nationals must demonstrate they meet the standards of proficiency required by the profession. As such, you will be asked to provide details about your training and experience to the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). More information about the standard of proficiency and how to apply can be found here.
Latest psychological therapy roles
We are often asked where can I find mental health jobs near me in London. You can check the latest psychological therapist job listings available in the NHS on our website. We list both permanent and locum positions in all areas of the UK.