Principal Clinical Psychologist

NHS

  • Bedford, Bedfordshire
  • £64,455-74,896 per year
  • Permanent
  • Part-time
  • 25 days ago
Job AdvertisementTitle: Principal Clinical PsychologistBand: 8b or developmental from 8a to 8bTeam: Emotional Behavioural Teal 3Permanent - 0.8 wteWe are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Principal Clinical Psychologist with a keen interest in service development and delivery to join our thriving and innovative multi-disciplinary Emotional & Behavioural Team (EB3). We are also open for Band 8a's to apply as a development role into the Band 8b post. This is an opportunity to bring a psychological perspective in clinical thinking to the team and to shape and develop the service which offers a range of therapeutic interventions to young people aged 5-18 and their families. This is a leadership role that will also oversee clinical supervision and consultation within the team and participate in leadership meetings and decision making.We are a team that prides itself on creative, innovative and evidenced based approaches to our work with service users and carers and value a supportive and reflective culture in the work environment. Our team is inclusive and we consciously think about varying contexts we work within (i.e. ethnic, neurodiversity, cultural and socio-economic factors). Our work is underpinned by strong values to treat each other, service users and agency partners with respect and care.Main duties of the jobThe post holder will provide guidance on evidence-based therapies that can help address the demand on service, and in particular the growing complex challenges that young people and their families face, and how we as a service can most effectively respond. They will lead on service audits, quality improvement projects and clinical outcomes, ensuring that the findings of the audits inform service development. The successful candidate will also have responsibilities that include direct clinical work and case management of complex and high-risk cases, line management and clinical supervision.The post holder will work with the Clinical Team Lead to ensure operational services are effective and will provide frontline leadership to the staff within the Multidisciplinary Team. The successful post-holder will directly contribute to service development and to the positive working environment within the multi-disciplinary team. The post holder will lead by example to maintain high standards of care and practice and to empower the team to take on a greater range of clinical tasks to improve client care in the specialist CAMH service. The post holder will be a highly visible presence in clinical practice and be accessible to clients and their families.About usOur mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.DetailsDate posted08 August 2025Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 8bSalary£64,455 to £74,896 a year Pro rataContractPermanentWorking patternPart-timeReference number363-SSLB7366448Job locationsNorth Beds CAMHS9 Rush CourtBedfordMK40 3JTJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesFor a more detailed information please see attached job description and person specification document Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesFor a more detailed information please see attached job description and person specification documentPerson SpecificationEducation/ Qualification/ TrainingEssential
  • Postgraduate Training in Clinical Psychology leading to Practitioner Psychologist Registration with the HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
  • Post qualification training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice.
  • Post qualification training in Eating Disorders; Complex Mental health presentations in adolescence and / or CBT with children and adolescents.
Desirable
  • Management or leadership training
ExperienceEssential
  • Substantial post-qualification experience of working within an NHS CAMHS service as a clinical psychologist.
  • Experience of liaison and joint work with other statutory, including Social Services and Education, and voluntary agencies, including crisis management.
  • Experience of the application of psychology and delivering services in different cultural contexts
  • Experience of teaching, training and professional and clinical supervision.
  • Experience of assessing adolescents for psychotherapy including risk assessment and management. Crisis management and skills for promoting helpful reflection amongst the clinical team.
  • Experience of providing Evidence based interventions to patients with complex problems.
  • Experience of developing and implementing care pathways.
  • Experience of using clinical outcome measures.
  • Service development experience.
Desirable
  • 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.
  • Experience of representing the profession in policy and academic forums.
  • Experience of leadership, operational, and/ or line management responsibilities.
Knowledge and SkillsEssential
  • Doctorate level knowledge of clinical psychology including highly developed knowledge of lifespan developmental psychology, models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, and two or more distinct psychological therapies.
  • Knowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the health and welfare of children and adolescents and mental health.
  • Specialist knowledge - Complex Cases. Highly developed knowledge of severe child and adolescent mental health problems, including comprehensive multi- disciplinary assessment, systems of psychiatric classification and intervention.
  • Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological therapies for complex presentations in adolescence e.g., psychosis, OCD, eating disorders, severe depression, neuro-developmental disorders and their assessment, dual diagnosis.
Person SpecificationEducation/ Qualification/ TrainingEssential
  • Postgraduate Training in Clinical Psychology leading to Practitioner Psychologist Registration with the HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
  • Post qualification training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice.
  • Post qualification training in Eating Disorders; Complex Mental health presentations in adolescence and / or CBT with children and adolescents.
Desirable
  • Management or leadership training
ExperienceEssential
  • Substantial post-qualification experience of working within an NHS CAMHS service as a clinical psychologist.
  • Experience of liaison and joint work with other statutory, including Social Services and Education, and voluntary agencies, including crisis management.
  • Experience of the application of psychology and delivering services in different cultural contexts
  • Experience of teaching, training and professional and clinical supervision.
  • Experience of assessing adolescents for psychotherapy including risk assessment and management. Crisis management and skills for promoting helpful reflection amongst the clinical team.
  • Experience of providing Evidence based interventions to patients with complex problems.
  • Experience of developing and implementing care pathways.
  • Experience of using clinical outcome measures.
  • Service development experience.
Desirable
  • 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.
  • Experience of representing the profession in policy and academic forums.
  • Experience of leadership, operational, and/ or line management responsibilities.
Knowledge and SkillsEssential
  • Doctorate level knowledge of clinical psychology including highly developed knowledge of lifespan developmental psychology, models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, and two or more distinct psychological therapies.
  • Knowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the health and welfare of children and adolescents and mental health.
  • Specialist knowledge - Complex Cases. Highly developed knowledge of severe child and adolescent mental health problems, including comprehensive multi- disciplinary assessment, systems of psychiatric classification and intervention.
  • Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological therapies for complex presentations in adolescence e.g., psychosis, OCD, eating disorders, severe depression, neuro-developmental disorders and their assessment, dual diagnosis.

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