Job summary
We're delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a skilled and compassionate Band 8a Clinical Psychologist to join our Children's Eating Disorder Service (CEDS), part of Somerset CAMHS - rated "Outstanding" by the CQC.
About Us
CEDS provides specialist assessment and treatment for children and young people with eating disorders, alongside their families. We are a close-knit, MDT-driven team committed to evidence-based, developmentally informed, and psychologically led care.
About the Role
We're seeking a Clinical Psychologist with experience or strong interest in working with eating disorders in children and adolescents. You will:
- Provide psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention using evidence-based models such as CBT-E, family-based treatment, and third-wave approaches.
- Contribute to MDT case discussions, treatment planning, and delivery of home and clinic-based interventions.
- Offer psychological thinking and leadership across the team, supporting reflective practice and clinical formulation.
- Deliver supervision and consultation to colleagues, and support the development of psychologically informed care pathways.
- Work collaboratively with families, supporting systemic and relational approaches to recovery.
This is a rewarding time to join a service where clinical psychology is highly valued. You'll have the opportunity to shape service delivery and contribute to ongoing innovation in eating disorder care for young people.
Main duties of the job
You'll be responsible for delivering a high quality, comprehensive community mental health service for children and young people experiencing eating disorders and eating difficulties.
This role involves the provision of supervision and support for multi-disciplinary members of the team, consultation with multi-agency colleagues, direct clinical work, and teaching and training.
There is also the opportunity and support for further training as required. You will be part of the CEDS senior management team and contribute to service improvement and development. There are strong links with the wider psychology teams across children and young people's services.
About us
As an organisation, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust offers employees a wide range of benefits including flexible working, NHS pension scheme, generous annual leave allowance and a commitment to career development.You will be eligible for our Blue Light Card and a wide range of NHS exclusive shopping & leisure discounts.We are proud of our skilled, diverse workforce and as an inclusive employer we welcome applications from all backgrounds.Working in Somerset enables you to enjoy the idyllic countryside, areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable.Somerset offers the countryside and the cosmopolitan -- there is truly something for everyone!
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
- Providing specialist psychological assessment, clinical formulation and a range of psychological interventions for children and adolescents with eating disorder and eating related difficulties and those with co-morbid complex mental health problems and their family/carers.
- Implementing a psychological service for young people and their carers, as part of a personal case load.
- To formulate and implement plans for the psychological treatment of a client's eating disorder in a holistic manner, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the client's problems and employing methods of proven efficacy according to research informed national guidelines.
- To liaise with appropriate professionals and take a lead in multi-disciplinary case discussions/planning meetings.
- To provide specialist consultancy to the multi-disciplinary team and other professionals about problem assessment, formulation, and therapeutic interventions and client management.
Service Development
- To work with the team and managers about service priorities, effective implementation of best practice guidelines and propose potential service developments.
- Contribute to strategic planning as part of regular Senior Leadership team meetings in CEDS.
- To develop or co-ordinate provision of specialist service developments/ care packages or an aspect of the service as appropriate.
- To supervise junior colleagues in collating audit data on outcomes and service provision audits.
Please see attached JD for further details of the job and person specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
- Providing specialist psychological assessment, clinical formulation and a range of psychological interventions for children and adolescents with eating disorder and eating related difficulties and those with co-morbid complex mental health problems and their family/carers.
- Implementing a psychological service for young people and their carers, as part of a personal case load.
- To formulate and implement plans for the psychological treatment of a client's eating disorder in a holistic manner, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the client's problems and employing methods of proven efficacy according to research informed national guidelines.
- To liaise with appropriate professionals and take a lead in multi-disciplinary case discussions/planning meetings.
- To provide specialist consultancy to the multi-disciplinary team and other professionals about problem assessment, formulation, and therapeutic interventions and client management.
Service Development
- To work with the team and managers about service priorities, effective implementation of best practice guidelines and propose potential service developments.
- Contribute to strategic planning as part of regular Senior Leadership team meetings in CEDS.
- To develop or co-ordinate provision of specialist service developments/ care packages or an aspect of the service as appropriate.
- To supervise junior colleagues in collating audit data on outcomes and service provision audits.
Please see attached JD for further details of the job and person specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, or equivalent.
- Valid professional registration with HCPC.
- Specialist training and/or experience in interventions appropriate for eating disorders.
Desirable
- Clinical supervision experience and training.
- Relevant Specialist CPD qualification.
Experience
Essential
- High level competence in core psychological assessment, formulation and intervention skills.
- Clinical or audit work in the field of eating disorders.
Desirable
- Further training in specialist area.
- Multidisciplinary work with young people and families.
- Significant experience in assessing and managing risk.
- Experience of supervising others.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Advanced neuropsychological assessment and formulation skills.
- Highly developed in depth knowledge of specialist therapeutic interventions underpinned by comprehensive theoretical knowledge.
- Ability to communicate technical and clinically sensitive information to young people and families who maybe presenting in distress.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills demonstrating compassion, empathy and an ability to remain calm in challenging situations.
- Full UK driving licence and access to a car for work purposes.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, or equivalent.
- Valid professional registration with HCPC.
- Specialist training and/or experience in interventions appropriate for eating disorders.
Desirable
- Clinical supervision experience and training.
- Relevant Specialist CPD qualification.
Experience
Essential
- High level competence in core psychological assessment, formulation and intervention skills.
- Clinical or audit work in the field of eating disorders.
Desirable
- Further training in specialist area.
- Multidisciplinary work with young people and families.
- Significant experience in assessing and managing risk.
- Experience of supervising others.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Advanced neuropsychological assessment and formulation skills.
- Highly developed in depth knowledge of specialist therapeutic interventions underpinned by comprehensive theoretical knowledge.
- Ability to communicate technical and clinically sensitive information to young people and families who maybe presenting in distress.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills demonstrating compassion, empathy and an ability to remain calm in challenging situations.
- Full UK driving licence and access to a car for work purposes.
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).
