Job summary
Cambridge University Hospital Foundation Trust (CUH) is seeking highly skilled and compassionate individuals to join the new NHS Children and Young People's Gender Service (East of England) in the roles of Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Consultant Family Therapist.
Based within the Paediatrics Department at CUH, the successful applicant will have extensive experience of delivering high quality, evidence-based assessments and care to children and young people.
The post holder will provide assessments, supervision and consultation to staff and be a source of clinical expertise to the MDT.
The Cass Review into gender services for children and young people has recommended that staff should maintain a broad clinical perspective by working across related NHS services in order to embed the care of children and young people with gender-related distress within a broader child and adolescent health context. In order to facilitate this, we encourage part-time applications from staff already working in other NHS or related services. We can also work with successful candidates applying for full-time roles to agree a job plan that includes a mix of gender service activity and activity in another clinical area.
The service operates Monday-Friday. Full or part-time (minimum 3 days per week) considered.
Main duties of the job
Based at Addenbrooke's, to work with managers and clinical leads, to ensure the systematic provision of a high-quality systemic psychotherapy service within the Department of Paediatrics. To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of systemic psychotherapy practice within the Paediatric Service. To ensure that systems are in place and working effectively for the clinical supervision and support of all psychological therapists within the CYP Gender Service and Paediatric Services. This also includes ensuring there are clear systems in place for effective outcome measurement, recruitment, professional appraisal and the identification of CPD needs across the Service.
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
For NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough based roles, all applicants from NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who have identified that they are at risk of redundancy will be prioritised over those not at risk. However, interviews cannot be guaranteed.
This vacancy will close on 19-Jan-2026
Interview date will be communicated.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
For NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough based roles, all applicants from NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who have identified that they are at risk of redundancy will be prioritised over those not at risk. However, interviews cannot be guaranteed.
This vacancy will close on 19-Jan-2026
Interview date will be communicated.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oPost-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
- oOr an MSc/ Post Graduate Diploma in Systemic Psychotherapy/ Family Therapy or equivalent with an additional qualification in a related profession (e.g. social work, nursing, clinical psychology).
- oAccredited or eligible for accreditation in the above psychological therapy by the relevant UK governing body, i.e. UKCP, HCPC, BABCP.
- oAccredited clinical supervisor in the above psychological therapy.
- oRegistered clinical supervisor.
Desirable
- oPost-graduate Diploma/ Degree/Masters.
- oTeaching qualification.
- oAdditional safeguarding / other relevant qualification / experience.
Experience
Essential
- oAdditional training in a specialised area of psychological practice relevant to working with CYP with gender diversity through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma.
- oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in an area of clinical practice relevant to CYP with gender diversity.
- oEvidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in an area of clinical practice relevant to CYP with gender diversity.
- oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in an area of clinical practice relevant to CYP with gender diversity
- oSubstantial experience in relevant profession.
- oSubstantial experience of working as a qualified psychological therapist or systemic psychotherapist in the specialty area as above including post qualification experience within Paediatric Psychology.
- oExperience 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 including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
- oExperience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified care co-ordinator and also within the context of a multi-disciplinary care plan.
- oExperience of staff recruitment and performance management pre-qualified psychological therapists in own area of therapeutic expertise.
- oExperience of managing own case-load following stepped-care treatment guidelines and including service user views and collaborative goal-setting.
- oExperience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision using highly developed expertise and skills in a range of supervisory methods.
- oExperience of receiving expert supervision in own area of psychological or systemic therapy.
- oExperience of professional management of qualified and pre-qualified psychological therapists in own area of therapeutic expertise.
- oExperience of multi-professional management of teams or services within an acute setting. . Experience of representing own profession in local policy forum.
- oExperience of the application of psychological therapies in different cultural contexts. . Experience of undertaking service audit and development.
- oExperience of involvement in service user initiatives
Desirable
- oExperience of multi-professional management of teams or services within an acute setting.
- oExperience of representing own profession in local policy forum.
- oExperience of the application of psychological therapies in different cultural contexts.
- oExperience of undertaking service audit and development.
- oExperience of involvement in service user initiatives.
- oExperience of staff recruitment and performance management.
Knowledge
Essential
- oMasters/Doctoral level knowledge of psychological intervention and accompanying theoretical models including highly developed knowledge of lifespan development, models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, generic therapeutic competencies, generic supervisor competencies.
- oKnowledge of an additional psychological and/or systemic therapy and underlying theoretical foundation at a level to enable independent practice and the supervision of other's practice.
- oKnowledge of current, evidence based, stepped care models of care as detailed in NICE guidance.
- oKnowledge of Typical and atypical child development including motor, social, play and language milestones.
- oKnowledge of Risk-Assessment and Risk-management.
- oKnowledge of Care-coordination
- oKnowledge of Safeguarding
- oKnowledge of Attachment and mentalisation.
- oKnowledge of Reflective practice
- oKnowledge of Engagement with children and young people's family and support networks.
- oMasters/Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex data analysis at a level enabling independent access to and interpretation of relevant scientific literature and national guidance drawing on relevant scientific literature.
- oKnowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the client group and mental health.
- oEvidence of continuing professional development as recommended by own professional governing body.
- oTraining in supervision of other psychological therapists practicing in own area of expertise and additional training as detailed above.
Desirable
- oHighly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised assessment and treatments, in a range of medical specialities.
- oHighly developed knowledge of a range of theory and practice of highly specialised therapies.
Skills
Essential
- oSkills in the use of complex methods of psychological and/ or systemic assessment, formulation, intervention and case management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
- oA high-level ability to communicate effectively at both a written and oral level complex, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and a wide range of lay and professional persons within and outside the NHS.
- oSkills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
- oAbility to identify, and employ, as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
- oAbility to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.
- oAbility to form good working relationships with other professionals at all levels.
- oAbility to articulate and interpret clearly the role of highly trained psychological therapist based upon a good understanding of the framework of government and national professional policy.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- oAbility to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to 'contain' the stress of others.
- oAbility to travel.
- oThe ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Together-safe, kind, excellent.
- Actively promote and value equality, diversity and inclusion, treating others with dignity and respect.
- oCompliance with all Trust policies and procedures.
- oEvidence of working as an effective team member.
- oDemonstration of confidentiality.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oPost-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
- oOr an MSc/ Post Graduate Diploma in Systemic Psychotherapy/ Family Therapy or equivalent with an additional qualification in a related profession (e.g. social work, nursing, clinical psychology).
- oAccredited or eligible for accreditation in the above psychological therapy by the relevant UK governing body, i.e. UKCP, HCPC, BABCP.
- oAccredited clinical supervisor in the above psychological therapy.
- oRegistered clinical supervisor.
Desirable
- oPost-graduate Diploma/ Degree/Masters.
- oTeaching qualification.
- oAdditional safeguarding / other relevant qualification / experience.
Experience
Essential
- oAdditional training in a specialised area of psychological practice relevant to working with CYP with gender diversity through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma.
- oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in an area of clinical practice relevant to CYP with gender diversity.
- oEvidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in an area of clinical practice relevant to CYP with gender diversity.
- oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in an area of clinical practice relevant to CYP with gender diversity
- oSubstantial experience in relevant profession.
- oSubstantial experience of working as a qualified psychological therapist or systemic psychotherapist in the specialty area as above including post qualification experience within Paediatric Psychology.
- oExperience 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 including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
- oExperience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified care co-ordinator and also within the context of a multi-disciplinary care plan.
- oExperience of staff recruitment and performance management pre-qualified psychological therapists in own area of therapeutic expertise.
- oExperience of managing own case-load following stepped-care treatment guidelines and including service user views and collaborative goal-setting.
- oExperience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision using highly developed expertise and skills in a range of supervisory methods.
- oExperience of receiving expert supervision in own area of psychological or systemic therapy.
- oExperience of professional management of qualified and pre-qualified psychological therapists in own area of therapeutic expertise.
- oExperience of multi-professional management of teams or services within an acute setting. . Experience of representing own profession in local policy forum.
- oExperience of the application of psychological therapies in different cultural contexts. . Experience of undertaking service audit and development.
- oExperience of involvement in service user initiatives
Desirable
- oExperience of multi-professional management of teams or services within an acute setting.
- oExperience of representing own profession in local policy forum.
- oExperience of the application of psychological therapies in different cultural contexts.
- oExperience of undertaking service audit and development.
- oExperience of involvement in service user initiatives.
- oExperience of staff recruitment and performance management.
Knowledge
Essential
- oMasters/Doctoral level knowledge of psychological intervention and accompanying theoretical models including highly developed knowledge of lifespan development, models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, generic therapeutic competencies, generic supervisor competencies.
- oKnowledge of an additional psychological and/or systemic therapy and underlying theoretical foundation at a level to enable independent practice and the supervision of other's practice.
- oKnowledge of current, evidence based, stepped care models of care as detailed in NICE guidance.
- oKnowledge of Typical and atypical child development including motor, social, play and language milestones.
- oKnowledge of Risk-Assessment and Risk-management.
- oKnowledge of Care-coordination
- oKnowledge of Safeguarding
- oKnowledge of Attachment and mentalisation.
- oKnowledge of Reflective practice
- oKnowledge of Engagement with children and young people's family and support networks.
- oMasters/Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex data analysis at a level enabling independent access to and interpretation of relevant scientific literature and national guidance drawing on relevant scientific literature.
- oKnowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the client group and mental health.
- oEvidence of continuing professional development as recommended by own professional governing body.
- oTraining in supervision of other psychological therapists practicing in own area of expertise and additional training as detailed above.
Desirable
- oHighly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised assessment and treatments, in a range of medical specialities.
- oHighly developed knowledge of a range of theory and practice of highly specialised therapies.
Skills
Essential
- oSkills in the use of complex methods of psychological and/ or systemic assessment, formulation, intervention and case management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
- oA high-level ability to communicate effectively at both a written and oral level complex, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and a wide range of lay and professional persons within and outside the NHS.
- oSkills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
- oAbility to identify, and employ, as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
- oAbility to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.
- oAbility to form good working relationships with other professionals at all levels.
- oAbility to articulate and interpret clearly the role of highly trained psychological therapist based upon a good understanding of the framework of government and national professional policy.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- oAbility to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to 'contain' the stress of others.
- oAbility to travel.
- oThe ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Together-safe, kind, excellent.
- Actively promote and value equality, diversity and inclusion, treating others with dignity and respect.
- oCompliance with all Trust policies and procedures.
- oEvidence of working as an effective team member.
- oDemonstration of confidentiality.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).