Job summary
Are you an established Principle Clinical Psychologist or a newly qualified Psychologist interested in working within an inpatient CAMHS acute care pathway? The inpatient CAMHS is expanding to include a brand-new purpose built 8 bedHigh Intensity Environment/PICU opening in 2026 at Alumhurst Road, Bournemouth.
As a Principle Clinical Psychologist, you will work directly with young people and their families providing a range of assessments and therapeutic work, adopting the Thrive framework. You will work in a multidisciplinary therapies team providing consultation and training for the clinical team, ensuring psychological thinking and formulation are at the core of service delivery. We offer a service to families built on compassion, social connection, and open participation working in partnership with education, social care and third sector services.
We invest in supporting and developing clinicians. Supervision from a Clinical Lead Psychologist will be provided and training will be arranged where needed. For newly qualified, we offer a preceptorship and progress when all competencies are met.
The Clinical Psychologist is a part time post of 30 hours per week Monday to Friday. We would be flexible in how hours can be met; this can be discussed further at interview stage. For further information, including a ward tour, please contact Dr Amanda Leather, Acute Pathway Clinical Lead Psychologist Amanda.Leather@nhs.net
Main duties of the job
If you are interested in moving to Dorset, we also offer a generous relocation package of up to £10,000. For further details on relocation expenses please emaildhc.careers@nhs.net
In Dorset, we are transforming our child and adolescent mental health service into a Family Mental Health model that embraces and adopts the Thrive framework. The inpatient service falls within the Getting More Help and Getting Risk Support quadrants of Thrive.
You will have previous experience of delivering interventions with families who have acute care needs and are experiencing high levels of distress. Attend clinical and managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with Service Manager and provide high quality and timely clinical record keeping. You will hold excellent assessment skills and have previous experience of working in an inpatient setting.
About us
At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.
We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.
Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.
Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.
We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application. However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidates individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience. If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety. If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application.
As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.
We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application. However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidates individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience. If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety. If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application.
As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net
Person Specification
Knowledge, skills and training
Essential
- 2:1 honours degree in Psychology or better. Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS.
- Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996 or those in lateral transfer or with Statement of Equivalence) as accredited by the BPS or HPC.
- Relevant specialist training or qualifications for Band 7 Psychologist
- clinical supervision for trainee and assistant clinical psychologists
- Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical psychology
- Knowledge of legislation, white papers, etc. and implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to CAMHS
Desirable
- Extended skills and training specifically related to child and adolescent mental health
Job specific experience
Essential
- Training to work as a qualified clinical psychologist.
- Clinical experience with children and adolescents mental health
- Ability to sit in a restricted position for a substantial proportion of the working time Ability to concentrate intensely for long periods of time
- Ability to deal with exposure to highly distressing/ emotional circumstances
Desirable
- Ability to undertake clinical audits
- Leadership experience
- Management experience
Information Technology
Essential
- Ability to use a computer and Internet for word processing, keeping electronic notes, spreadsheets, presentations, teaching and information seeking purposes
Personal Qualities/Attributes
Essential
- Must be capable of working on own initiative and acting independently
- Need to tolerate working conditions which may be unpleasant and where there is some exposure to vandalism and aggressive incidents.
- Ability to communicate highly complex, sensitive information where there may be barriers to understanding or where professional opinions may differ and to form relationships where there may be barriers to these relationships being formed.
- Ability to use a range of assessment materials (including psychometric tests). Ability to manipulate test materials that require a high level of speed, accuracy and concentration.
- Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to "hold" the stress of others.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to conduct complex risk assessments and develop appropriate strategies to minimise risk.
- Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the BPS and HPC and working to professional guidelines. Must be capable of working on their own initiative and acting independently
- Subject to the provisions of the Equality Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business.
- Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to a standard which enables the post holder to carry out the full range of duties and responsibilities of the role effectively
Person Specification
Knowledge, skills and training
Essential
- 2:1 honours degree in Psychology or better. Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS.
- Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996 or those in lateral transfer or with Statement of Equivalence) as accredited by the BPS or HPC.
- Relevant specialist training or qualifications for Band 7 Psychologist
- clinical supervision for trainee and assistant clinical psychologists
- Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical psychology
- Knowledge of legislation, white papers, etc. and implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to CAMHS
Desirable
- Extended skills and training specifically related to child and adolescent mental health
Job specific experience
Essential
- Training to work as a qualified clinical psychologist.
- Clinical experience with children and adolescents mental health
- Ability to sit in a restricted position for a substantial proportion of the working time Ability to concentrate intensely for long periods of time
- Ability to deal with exposure to highly distressing/ emotional circumstances
Desirable
- Ability to undertake clinical audits
- Leadership experience
- Management experience
Information Technology
Essential
- Ability to use a computer and Internet for word processing, keeping electronic notes, spreadsheets, presentations, teaching and information seeking purposes
Personal Qualities/Attributes
Essential
- Must be capable of working on own initiative and acting independently
- Need to tolerate working conditions which may be unpleasant and where there is some exposure to vandalism and aggressive incidents.
- Ability to communicate highly complex, sensitive information where there may be barriers to understanding or where professional opinions may differ and to form relationships where there may be barriers to these relationships being formed.
- Ability to use a range of assessment materials (including psychometric tests). Ability to manipulate test materials that require a high level of speed, accuracy and concentration.
- Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to "hold" the stress of others.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Ability to conduct complex risk assessments and develop appropriate strategies to minimise risk.
- Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the BPS and HPC and working to professional guidelines. Must be capable of working on their own initiative and acting independently
- Subject to the provisions of the Equality Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business.
- Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to a standard which enables the post holder to carry out the full range of duties and responsibilities of the role effectively
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
