Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Paediatric Clinical Psychologist

The closing date is 10 September 2025

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Clinical Psychologist to join the Psychological and Mental Health Services department; working with the dynamic and supportive Specialist Health Conditions Team, with specific input to the Gastroenterology Service.

The Gastroenterology department is one of the UK's leading centres of excellence in treating complex diseases affecting the gut, including Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Gut Motility issues, Gastro-Allergy and Parenteral Nutrition. Clinical Psychology is a highly valued profession within each multi-disciplinary team helping to optimise medical care by working with patients, their families and the MDT.

The Specialist Health Conditions Team offers psychological input to children under the care of six medical specialties: Dermatology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology, Urology, Gastroenterology and Neurology. The post holder will alsoprovide supervision of junior colleagues, including Trainee Clinical Psychologists from the local Clinical Psychology Doctorate Courses.

As a psychology team we draw upon a range of therapeutic modalities including Narrative therapy, CBT, Systemic, ACT, Compassion Focussed Therapy, Attachment and Mentalisation Based Approaches. There are opportunities to work in creative formulation driven ways with young people and families, offering individual, family, parent and group interventions. The role includes regular work with external agencies and GOSH MDT's.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will offer psychological assessment, formulation and intervention to young people and families living with a broad range of gastroenterological conditions. Living with gastroenterological conditions can adversely impact on all aspects of young people's lives, including their psychological wellbeing, functioning and self-esteem. In addition, psychological aspects can interfere with the ability of young people to engage effectively in their medical care. Common areas for psychological input include adjustment to and living with a medical diagnosis, procedural distress, treatment adherence, pain management, low mood, anxiety, identity and body image, and feeding and eating concerns. We also provide specialist psychological input for patients experiencing disorders of the gut-brain axis.

There is a strong commitment to, and opportunities for, continuing professional development. We offer a range of academic teaching, Special Interest Groups and utilisation of research skills for audit, policy and service development and research is encouraged.

This is an exciting opportunity foran enthusiastic, highly motivated and innovative Clinical Psychologist.We are looking for someone who is confident working within physical health and working with young people. Experience in providing supervision and line management is essential. Experience in working with and within teams supporting individuals with complex physical health conditions is essential.

About us

We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as the communities we serve, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including people with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic heritage, people with a disability, and people from LGBTQ+ communities. By growing an ever more diverse workforce, we'll have a greater range of perspectives and knowledge, meaning that we can provide the children and young people at our hospital with even better care.

Our hospital is committed to creating an environment that is open and inclusive. Our staff are encouraged to engage with colleagues through the following networks: REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage) ENABLED (Enhancing Abilities & Leveraging Disabilities Network), PRIDE and Women's networks; all of which are sponsored by a member of our Executive Management Team.

We want to ensure that all of our people, regardless of their background, are seen and heard. We want to attract applicants that share our commitment to inclusion and that understand diversity is a strength that is embraced and valued.

Details

Date posted

08 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£64,156 to £71,148 a year per annum inclusive pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

271-BBM-7216886

Job locations

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Great Ormond Street

London

WC1N 3JH


Job description

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below.

Person Specification

Academic/Professional qualification/Training

Essential

  • Post-graduate doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS/HCPC, including clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, and lifespan developmental psychology.
  • Good honours degree in Psychology.
  • Registration with the Health and Care Professionals Council as Practitioner Psychologist.
  • Formal training in supervision and management of other psychologists

Desirable

  • Post-doctoral training and recorded CPD experience and /or further qualifications in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice including aspects of paediatric psychology

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity

Desirable

  • Experience of teaching or training.
  • Experience of presenting psychology to multidisciplinary audiences at conferences or other educational settings.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

  • Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their carers, and other professionals.

Desirable

  • Ability to develop and use complex multimedia materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings
  • Ability to administer, score and interpret a range of cognitive assessment tools

GOSH Culture and Values

Essential

  • Our Always values oAlways welcoming oAlways helpful oAlways expert oAlways one team
  • 1) Knowledge and understanding of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. 2) Understanding of Diversity and Inclusion challenges in the workplace. 3) Demonstrable contribution to advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of working as a qualified psychologist with children and their families
  • Experience in delivering evidence based interventions for a range of child and adolescent mental health problems
  • Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care
  • Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts and of working in a multicultural framework
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to children and young people and child protection.
  • Experience of supervising trainee or qualified psychologists and/or other professionals

Desirable

  • Experience and expertise with a specialist paediatric client group

Skills/Abilities

Essential

  • Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management.
  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
  • Evidence of specialised psychological therapeutic skills as used in complex cases within paediatrics
  • Evidence of skilled and productive multidisciplinary team working
  • Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to distressing situations and challenging behaviours.
  • Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, including verbal abuse.
  • Evidence of service development and team leadership skills
Person Specification

Academic/Professional qualification/Training

Essential

  • Post-graduate doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS/HCPC, including clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, and lifespan developmental psychology.
  • Good honours degree in Psychology.
  • Registration with the Health and Care Professionals Council as Practitioner Psychologist.
  • Formal training in supervision and management of other psychologists

Desirable

  • Post-doctoral training and recorded CPD experience and /or further qualifications in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice including aspects of paediatric psychology

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity

Desirable

  • Experience of teaching or training.
  • Experience of presenting psychology to multidisciplinary audiences at conferences or other educational settings.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

  • Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their carers, and other professionals.

Desirable

  • Ability to develop and use complex multimedia materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings
  • Ability to administer, score and interpret a range of cognitive assessment tools

GOSH Culture and Values

Essential

  • Our Always values oAlways welcoming oAlways helpful oAlways expert oAlways one team
  • 1) Knowledge and understanding of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. 2) Understanding of Diversity and Inclusion challenges in the workplace. 3) Demonstrable contribution to advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of working as a qualified psychologist with children and their families
  • Experience in delivering evidence based interventions for a range of child and adolescent mental health problems
  • Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care
  • Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts and of working in a multicultural framework
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to children and young people and child protection.
  • Experience of supervising trainee or qualified psychologists and/or other professionals

Desirable

  • Experience and expertise with a specialist paediatric client group

Skills/Abilities

Essential

  • Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management.
  • Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
  • Evidence of specialised psychological therapeutic skills as used in complex cases within paediatrics
  • Evidence of skilled and productive multidisciplinary team working
  • Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to distressing situations and challenging behaviours.
  • Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, including verbal abuse.
  • Evidence of service development and team leadership skills

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Great Ormond Street

London

WC1N 3JH


Employer's website

https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Great Ormond Street

London

WC1N 3JH


Employer's website

https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Principal Clinical Psychologist

Eleanor Wells

eleanor.wells@gosh.nhs.uk

02074059200

Details

Date posted

08 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£64,156 to £71,148 a year per annum inclusive pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

271-BBM-7216886

Job locations

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Great Ormond Street

London

WC1N 3JH


Supporting documents

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