Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Band 8a Clinical Psychologist, CAMHS, Bristol

The closing date is 15 October 2025

Job summary

To provide a highly specialist clinical psychology direct assessment/intervention and consultation service to children and young people with learning disabilities (LD) and their carers referred to the CAMHS Learning Disability Team (CAMHS LD).

The postholder will be expected to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team whilst at the same time, for clinical governance purposes, to be professionally accountable to the iPBS Service Lead.

Provision of specialist psychological advice, consultation and training for other professionals, teams and agencies involved in the care of children with learning disabilities referred to the CAMHS LD.

Supervision of trainee clinical psychologists and other professionals working with children and young people with learning disabilities who are experiencing emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties as appropriate.

Propose changes in service developments, guidelines, protocols and projects relevant to children with learning disabilities in consultation with the Service Leads.

Undertake or support research and audit relevant to this area of healthcare.

Provision of teaching, as required, to other health care professionals, and to professional staff from other agencies.

Main duties of the job

To provide expertise in Positive Behaviour Support and other related fields in the support of children and families referred to CAMHS LD.

To provide clinical reports within the appropriate time scales.

To work as part of the CAMHS LD Team and provide evidence-based, specialist psychological assessments and interventions for children and young people with learning disabilities and their carers.

To provide psychological consultancy and staff support for other staff within multi-professional, service delivery systems for children and young people referred to CAMHS LD and their carers.

To liaise and co-operate with other professionals and agencies providing services to children and young people with learning disabilities and their families in the area to enable coordinated psychological intervention, care planning and case management. This will include joint work and consultation as appropriate.

To participate in regular clinical and multi-agency meetings concerning the delivery of services for children and adolescents with learning disabilities and their families within the Trust.

To carry out other clinical duties as may become appropriate in discussion with the CAMHS LD.

About us

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust):a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

AWP is committed to support and create a positive research and evidence-based environment and culture, which can have a beneficial impact on everyone who works for the organisation and the care we provide to those who use our services.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Details

Date posted

01 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

342-CAMHS127-1025

Job locations

CAMHS LD - Kingswood Hub

Alma Road, Kingswood,

Bristol

BS154DA


Job description

Job responsibilities

Organisational

To advise the Service Leads on the need for service developments, policy, protocol or guideline developments concerning services for children and young people with learning disabilities and making proposals for these as appropriate.

To advise the CAMHS LD Lead on the psychological needs of children and adolescents with learning disabilities and their families within the local community.

To provide regular data on the CAMHS LD and other activities as requested by the Service Lead.

Services

To participate with the Service Lead in developing and planning services.

To develop a network of informal communication with other agencies in the interest of good clinical practice and inter-disciplinary co-operation within the Community and Primary Care settings.

Consultation and Training

To provide supervision, consultation, informal and formal teaching and training for members of the LD CAMHS and staff from other services and agencies as appropriate.

To be involved in the organisation of placements and provide supervision for trainee clinical psychologists on placement.

To be an expert in PBS and other related fields and provide training to schools, placements, agencies and families on its implementation whenever children and young people are receiving CAMHS LD services.

To organise and take part in training courses and workshops for Health Service Professionals and members of related agencies as requested.

Research and Audit

To undertake, supervise or support others undertaking relevant research concerning the psychological needs of children and young people with learning disability.

To undertake, supervise or support others undertaking relevant audit projects.

To initiate and participate in evaluation of the effectiveness of the service delivered to children and young people with learning disabilities and their carers.

Because of the seniority of this post the postholder may be required to participate in on-call arrangements, after suitable training

Job description

Job responsibilities

Organisational

To advise the Service Leads on the need for service developments, policy, protocol or guideline developments concerning services for children and young people with learning disabilities and making proposals for these as appropriate.

To advise the CAMHS LD Lead on the psychological needs of children and adolescents with learning disabilities and their families within the local community.

To provide regular data on the CAMHS LD and other activities as requested by the Service Lead.

Services

To participate with the Service Lead in developing and planning services.

To develop a network of informal communication with other agencies in the interest of good clinical practice and inter-disciplinary co-operation within the Community and Primary Care settings.

Consultation and Training

To provide supervision, consultation, informal and formal teaching and training for members of the LD CAMHS and staff from other services and agencies as appropriate.

To be involved in the organisation of placements and provide supervision for trainee clinical psychologists on placement.

To be an expert in PBS and other related fields and provide training to schools, placements, agencies and families on its implementation whenever children and young people are receiving CAMHS LD services.

To organise and take part in training courses and workshops for Health Service Professionals and members of related agencies as requested.

Research and Audit

To undertake, supervise or support others undertaking relevant research concerning the psychological needs of children and young people with learning disability.

To undertake, supervise or support others undertaking relevant audit projects.

To initiate and participate in evaluation of the effectiveness of the service delivered to children and young people with learning disabilities and their carers.

Because of the seniority of this post the postholder may be required to participate in on-call arrangements, after suitable training

Person Specification

Essential

Essential

  • Doctoral clinical Psychology qualification or equivalent
  • HCPC Registration
  • Eligible for Chartered Psychologist status
  • Experience and/or qualifications in delivery of Positive Behaviour Support
  • Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support and the use of this framework for children and young people with Learning Disability and their families
  • The post holder must demonstrate capacity to manage risk associated with working with risk of verbal and physical aggression associated with working with children and young people with disabilities who also show emotional and behavioural difficulties.
  • The post holder must be able to demonstrate competency in engaging children and young people with learning disability and autism spectrum conditions and their families The post holder must be able to demonstrate capacity to work autonomously
  • Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times.
  • The post holder must be able to demonstrate capacity to cope with complex distressing material e.g. child sexual and physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and domestic violence.
  • The post holder must be able to demonstrate the capacity to cope with physical demands of work with children and young people with learning disability and autism spectrum conditions and their families including restricted movement for extended periods of time during therapy sessions and work with children at a low level/at floor level

Desirable

  • Qualification in Positive Behaviour Support and/or Applied Behaviour Analysis
Person Specification

Essential

Essential

  • Doctoral clinical Psychology qualification or equivalent
  • HCPC Registration
  • Eligible for Chartered Psychologist status
  • Experience and/or qualifications in delivery of Positive Behaviour Support
  • Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support and the use of this framework for children and young people with Learning Disability and their families
  • The post holder must demonstrate capacity to manage risk associated with working with risk of verbal and physical aggression associated with working with children and young people with disabilities who also show emotional and behavioural difficulties.
  • The post holder must be able to demonstrate competency in engaging children and young people with learning disability and autism spectrum conditions and their families The post holder must be able to demonstrate capacity to work autonomously
  • Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times.
  • The post holder must be able to demonstrate capacity to cope with complex distressing material e.g. child sexual and physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and domestic violence.
  • The post holder must be able to demonstrate the capacity to cope with physical demands of work with children and young people with learning disability and autism spectrum conditions and their families including restricted movement for extended periods of time during therapy sessions and work with children at a low level/at floor level

Desirable

  • Qualification in Positive Behaviour Support and/or Applied Behaviour Analysis

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

CAMHS LD - Kingswood Hub

Alma Road, Kingswood,

Bristol

BS154DA


Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

Address

CAMHS LD - Kingswood Hub

Alma Road, Kingswood,

Bristol

BS154DA


Employer's website

http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Team Manager

Chris Lloyd

awp.camhsldadmin@nhs.net

01454866258

Details

Date posted

01 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

342-CAMHS127-1025

Job locations

CAMHS LD - Kingswood Hub

Alma Road, Kingswood,

Bristol

BS154DA


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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