Job summary
Are you a passionate Clinical Psychologist looking to work in a dynamic, forward-thinking team where your expertise can truly change lives?
We're looking for a motivated, compassionate, experienced professional to join our Children's Psychological Health and Wellbeing Team, delivering specialist psychological care to CYP with a wide range of complex needs - including those experiencing psychological distress related to health conditions/neurodivergence.
You'll carry out comprehensive psychological assessments and deliver creative, evidence-based interventions to individuals, families, and groups. Alongside your clinical work, you'll have opportunities to contribute to service development, supervise and inspire others, support research, and collaborate across multi-agency teams including education, social care, and CAMHS.
We are a welcoming, diverse, and highly supportive team of professionals. We believe in learning from each other - every voice is valued here, regardless of role or seniority. You'll be part of a workplace culture that encourages open dialogue, shared learning, and mutual respect.
You'll also be supported to grow professionally, with access to ongoing CPD, clinical supervision, and involvement in training, consultation and service development.
If you're looking for a role where your work is valued, your development is supported, and your impact is felt - come and join us.
Main duties of the job
You will provide specialist clinical psychology services to CYP with complex needs related neurodivergence. We work flexibly in the team so working across the service is expected. Your role involves conducting comprehensive assessments using a variety of tools and techniques, managing risk, formulating and delivering highly specialised interventions to individuals, families, and groups, and evaluating treatment plans based on theoretical models and individual developmental history.
This position offers an excellent opportunity to refine skills in short-term interventions and caseload management. You will manage around 14 clinical contacts per week alongside your other activities. It is ideal for someone seeking rich, diverse clinical experience alongside developing skills in supervision, consultation and service development. Knowledge and experience of Autism assessment is important in this role.
You will also play a key role in supporting the MDT team through consultation, supervision, joint working and liaising with professionals across various systems. Your responsibilities will include contributing to service development, engaging in teaching, supervision, research activities, and participating in statutory processes.
A strong focus is placed on multi-agency collaboration, clinical leadership, and maintaining high professional standards grounded in evidence-based practice. You will participate in clinical supervision, keep accurate records, and pursue CPD.
About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
1.To provide a specialist clinical psychology assessments of individuals,familiesor groups with complex needs; gathering information from a range of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structuredobservationsand semi-structured interviews
2.To formulate, develop,provideand manage psychological interventions to individuals, families,carersor groups with complex presentations through highly specialised programmes of care.Intervention may be through individual therapy and/or family work using various models (e.g. cognitive, behavioural, systemic, and developmental).
3.To evaluate and make decisions about treatment optionstaking into accountboth theoretical and therapeutic models andhighly complexfactors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual,familyor group.
4.Utilise a range of specialist assessment techniquesincluding,psychometric testing and developmental assessment.
5.To work autonomously as a Clinical Psychologist within Professional and Trust guidelines,policiesand procedures.
6.To lead on projects related to the design and development of the service.
7.Provide highly specialised consultation, specialistadviceand/or supervision to colleagues and those in other agencies, in the development and management of programmes of care.
8.Communicatehighly complexinformation with empathy and sensitivity to clients and families,possibly withinan emotive atmosphere.
9.Participatewithin the EHATprocess and other statutory processes asrequired; ensuring information is shared appropriately with other professionals. Convene and chair multi-disciplinary meetings asappropriate.
10.The post holder will liaise,collaborateand work in an advisory capacity with health and other professionalsin order topromote psychological awareness, well-being and current evidenced based practice for children and young people.
11.Design and provide training and teaching both within the psychology services, and via formal and informal training of other disciplines and groups working with childrens mental health and their families. This may include contributing to the Doctorate Clinical Psychology training at Plymouth University.
12.Be responsible forthe training and supervision of Band 7 psychologists, undergraduate and postgraduate students and Assistant Psychologists as appropriate/required.
13.Membership of and attendance at regional and national groups and committees relating to paediatric care and chronic conditions, whererequired.
14.Initiate and lead on clinical researchand evaluation relevant to the department and supervise other team members carrying out such tasks.
15.Tomaintainthe highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing.
16.Be responsible forown personal development and continue to develop own specialist interests andexpertiseasappropriate tothe needs of the team and the service as a whole.
17.Ensure participation in regular clinical supervisionappropriate tothe level of work undertaken.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as Priority and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Job description
Job responsibilities
PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
1.To provide a specialist clinical psychology assessments of individuals,familiesor groups with complex needs; gathering information from a range of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structuredobservationsand semi-structured interviews
2.To formulate, develop,provideand manage psychological interventions to individuals, families,carersor groups with complex presentations through highly specialised programmes of care.Intervention may be through individual therapy and/or family work using various models (e.g. cognitive, behavioural, systemic, and developmental).
3.To evaluate and make decisions about treatment optionstaking into accountboth theoretical and therapeutic models andhighly complexfactors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual,familyor group.
4.Utilise a range of specialist assessment techniquesincluding,psychometric testing and developmental assessment.
5.To work autonomously as a Clinical Psychologist within Professional and Trust guidelines,policiesand procedures.
6.To lead on projects related to the design and development of the service.
7.Provide highly specialised consultation, specialistadviceand/or supervision to colleagues and those in other agencies, in the development and management of programmes of care.
8.Communicatehighly complexinformation with empathy and sensitivity to clients and families,possibly withinan emotive atmosphere.
9.Participatewithin the EHATprocess and other statutory processes asrequired; ensuring information is shared appropriately with other professionals. Convene and chair multi-disciplinary meetings asappropriate.
10.The post holder will liaise,collaborateand work in an advisory capacity with health and other professionalsin order topromote psychological awareness, well-being and current evidenced based practice for children and young people.
11.Design and provide training and teaching both within the psychology services, and via formal and informal training of other disciplines and groups working with childrens mental health and their families. This may include contributing to the Doctorate Clinical Psychology training at Plymouth University.
12.Be responsible forthe training and supervision of Band 7 psychologists, undergraduate and postgraduate students and Assistant Psychologists as appropriate/required.
13.Membership of and attendance at regional and national groups and committees relating to paediatric care and chronic conditions, whererequired.
14.Initiate and lead on clinical researchand evaluation relevant to the department and supervise other team members carrying out such tasks.
15.Tomaintainthe highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing.
16.Be responsible forown personal development and continue to develop own specialist interests andexpertiseasappropriate tothe needs of the team and the service as a whole.
17.Ensure participation in regular clinical supervisionappropriate tothe level of work undertaken.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as Priority and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctoral level training in clinical psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology, as accredited by the BPS.
- HCPC Registered
Desirable
- Professional proven knowledge acquired through postgraduate doctoral degree is supplemented by short specialist courses, clinical supervision and further specialist training and demonstrable experience
Apitude and Abilities
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
- Ability to prioritize and manage workload
- Excellent time management and organisational skills
- Ability to represent psychology within a multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Ability to travel from location to location
Other
Essential
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- In depth demonstrable experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of children and young people across different care settings e.g. outpatient, community and inpatient
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
- Demonstrable experience of teaching and/or training
- Demonstrable experience of providing professional/clinical supervision
- Clinical demonstrable experience in working with neurodivergent people.
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience of psychology role in Autism assessment
- Additional training in the supervision of other psychologists.
- Computer literate, experience of remote therapy and proven knowledge of statistical packages/excel
- Clinical demonstrable experience in range of children's mental health work in a community setting
Disposition/Attitude/Motivation
Essential
- Ability to successfully manage in a stressful environment
- Able to work both as part of a team and independently
- Capacity to reflect and contain intense feelings evoked by exposure to distressing situations
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctoral level training in clinical psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology, as accredited by the BPS.
- HCPC Registered
Desirable
- Professional proven knowledge acquired through postgraduate doctoral degree is supplemented by short specialist courses, clinical supervision and further specialist training and demonstrable experience
Apitude and Abilities
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
- Ability to prioritize and manage workload
- Excellent time management and organisational skills
- Ability to represent psychology within a multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Ability to travel from location to location
Other
Essential
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- In depth demonstrable experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of children and young people across different care settings e.g. outpatient, community and inpatient
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
- Demonstrable experience of teaching and/or training
- Demonstrable experience of providing professional/clinical supervision
- Clinical demonstrable experience in working with neurodivergent people.
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience of psychology role in Autism assessment
- Additional training in the supervision of other psychologists.
- Computer literate, experience of remote therapy and proven knowledge of statistical packages/excel
- Clinical demonstrable experience in range of children's mental health work in a community setting
Disposition/Attitude/Motivation
Essential
- Ability to successfully manage in a stressful environment
- Able to work both as part of a team and independently
- Capacity to reflect and contain intense feelings evoked by exposure to distressing situations
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).
