Job summary
Dorset All Age Eating Disorders Service (DAEDS) is seeking a Band 8a Clinical Psychologist to join the adult inpatient team at Kimmeridge Court. This is an excellent opportunity to support adults with severe and complex eating disorders within a service that values clinical excellence, compassionate care and professional development.
You will be an HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist with appropriate post-qualification experience, strong formulation skills and confidence working in a dynamic clinical setting.
As a Clinical Psychologist, you will provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and evidence-based interventions, working closely with a committed multidisciplinary team. You will offer psychological leadership through consultation, supervision and reflective practice, helping to maintain a safe and therapeutically informed environment.
The role includes close collaboration with DAEDS and associated community teams to ensure effective communication, continuity of care and well-planned discharge pathways.
We are committed to supporting the post-holder's ongoing professional and career development. In line with NHS best practice, we support high-quality supervision, reflective practice and CPD opportunities.
Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.
Main duties of the job
You will provide highly specialist clinical psychology input within the adult eating disorders inpatient unit, offering advanced assessment, formulation and intervention for individuals and families. Working with a high degree of professional autonomy, the post-holder will be an integral part of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), contributing psychological expertise to support safe, effective and compassionate care.
You will play an active role in MDT discussions, including regular participation in community MDT meetings, providing psychological formulations and recommendations to guide ongoing assessment, risk management and care planning. They will support MDT colleagues through consultation, supervision and reflective practice, contributing to a compassionate, learning-focused team culture.
The role delivers evidence-based individual, family and group interventions, and helps create a psychologically informed therapeutic environment within the inpatient unit. You will provide focused, time-limited psychological input during admissions, offering collaborative formulation and targeted interventions to support stabilisation, engagement, change and readiness for continued work after discharge. They develop clear, psychologically informed formulations and work closely with community teams to ensure continuity of care, contributing recommendations that guide longer-term intervention planning and a coherent, recovery-focused pathway.
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 almost800,000 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 create healthier lives, empowered citizens and thriving communities.
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 contactdhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net
Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.
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 contactdhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net
Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.
Person Specification
Knowledge, skills and training
Essential
- Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology or equivalent.
- Professional Registration with HCPC.
Knowledge, skills and training
Essential
- Relevant specialist training or other qualifications
- Knowledge of legislation, white papers, etc. and implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to those with eating disorders and other mental health difficulties.
Desirable
- Clinical Supervision training.
Job specific experience
Essential
- Clinical experience of working with people with eating disorders plus significant experience of working as a qualified clinical or counselling psychologist and relevant experience for transition to highly specialist post (8a)
- Clear understanding of the function of a Specialist Eating Disorder Unit (SEDU) as part of a whole system eating disorder pathway.
Desirable
- Experience of maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems.
Information Technology
Essential
- Ability to use a computer and Internet for word processing, presentation, teaching and information seeking purposes
Personal qualities/attributes
Essential
- 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 make judgements involving highly complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options.
- Highly self-motivated. Positive attitude with ability to engage and motivate others Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to "hold" the stress of others.
Additional requirements
Essential
- Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the BPS and HCPC
Job specific experience
Essential
- Ability to use a range of highly complex assessment materials (including psychometric tests). Plus, an ability to manipulate test materials that require a high level of speed, accuracy and concentration.
- Experience of developing, running and supervising groups established on evidence-based practice
- Experience of teaching, consulting and supervising psychology staff and other professionals.
- Ability to conduct risk assessments and develop appropriate strategies to minimise risk
- Experience of developing and delivering innovative clinical practice.
Person Specification
Knowledge, skills and training
Essential
- Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology or equivalent.
- Professional Registration with HCPC.
Knowledge, skills and training
Essential
- Relevant specialist training or other qualifications
- Knowledge of legislation, white papers, etc. and implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to those with eating disorders and other mental health difficulties.
Desirable
- Clinical Supervision training.
Job specific experience
Essential
- Clinical experience of working with people with eating disorders plus significant experience of working as a qualified clinical or counselling psychologist and relevant experience for transition to highly specialist post (8a)
- Clear understanding of the function of a Specialist Eating Disorder Unit (SEDU) as part of a whole system eating disorder pathway.
Desirable
- Experience of maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems.
Information Technology
Essential
- Ability to use a computer and Internet for word processing, presentation, teaching and information seeking purposes
Personal qualities/attributes
Essential
- 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 make judgements involving highly complex facts or situations, which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options.
- Highly self-motivated. Positive attitude with ability to engage and motivate others Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to "hold" the stress of others.
Additional requirements
Essential
- Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the BPS and HCPC
Job specific experience
Essential
- Ability to use a range of highly complex assessment materials (including psychometric tests). Plus, an ability to manipulate test materials that require a high level of speed, accuracy and concentration.
- Experience of developing, running and supervising groups established on evidence-based practice
- Experience of teaching, consulting and supervising psychology staff and other professionals.
- Ability to conduct risk assessments and develop appropriate strategies to minimise risk
- Experience of developing and delivering innovative clinical practice.
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).
