Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Lead Clinician

The closing date is 08 February 2026

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Lead Clinician to work with the Cheshire West NHS Talking Therapies Service. The post willinclude working closely with the Clinical lead and supporting the Operational Service Manager in the development and delivery of a high quality, responsive, accessible, efficient and evidence based Talking Therapies service across the stepped care model for adults in primary care mental health.

Youwill liaise and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring that our NHS Talking Therapies Service remains a respected andvalued partner within the changing mental health landscape.It is essential you have an NHS Talking Therapies therapy and supervisor qualification and are an accredited practitioner, along with experience ofworking within an NHS Talking Therapies Service.

Shortlisting to take place 9th Feb.

Interviews to take place 18th or 20th Feb.

Main duties of the job

To take a managerial lead working within the organisational strategy and broad policies in the development and implementation of the West CheshireNHS Talking Therapies Service.

To ensure that the Service Provision works in effective partnership with the relevant internal and external stakeholders in relation to the West Cheshire Talking Therapies Service.

To provide specialist psychological assessment, therapy and clinical supervision as well as providing consultation and advice on clients'psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues and to other, non-professional carers.

To take a managerial lead working within the organisational strategy and broad policies in the development and implementation of the serviceprovision on behalf of the Care Group Management team.

To ensure that the Service Provision works in effective partnership with the relevant internal and external stakeholders.

About us

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.

We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton and Liverpool.

Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.

Details

Date posted

28 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

373-SMH2480

Job locations

1829 Building Countess of Chester Health Park

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1BQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.

At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.

CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.

An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Post graduate level qualification in relevant psychological therapy
  • Relevant supervision qualification
  • Appropriate professional registration/Accreditation

Desirable

  • Additional psychotherapy qualification
  • Core NHS/Social Care professional training

Knowledge and Expertise

Essential

  • Post-qualification NHS experience of working as a psychological therapist with adult clients with varied psychological problems
  • Experience of engaging and sustaining work with ambivalent clients
  • Experience of exercising clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care within the context of a multi -disciplinary working

Desirable

  • Experience of providing teaching and training
  • Experience of contributing to policy and service development
  • Experience of liaison with other health professionals

Experience

Essential

  • A well-developed professional portfolio demonstrating extensive clinical and leadership experience
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with GPs, other clinicians and external stakeholders
  • Ability to build effective working relationships across diverse stakeholder groups
  • Ability to lead and influence others
  • Ability to supervise, mentor and support staff

Desirable

  • Experience of liaison with other health professionals
  • Experience of providing teaching and training
  • Experience of leading on specific projects
  • Experience of performance management
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Post graduate level qualification in relevant psychological therapy
  • Relevant supervision qualification
  • Appropriate professional registration/Accreditation

Desirable

  • Additional psychotherapy qualification
  • Core NHS/Social Care professional training

Knowledge and Expertise

Essential

  • Post-qualification NHS experience of working as a psychological therapist with adult clients with varied psychological problems
  • Experience of engaging and sustaining work with ambivalent clients
  • Experience of exercising clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care within the context of a multi -disciplinary working

Desirable

  • Experience of providing teaching and training
  • Experience of contributing to policy and service development
  • Experience of liaison with other health professionals

Experience

Essential

  • A well-developed professional portfolio demonstrating extensive clinical and leadership experience
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with GPs, other clinicians and external stakeholders
  • Ability to build effective working relationships across diverse stakeholder groups
  • Ability to lead and influence others
  • Ability to supervise, mentor and support staff

Desirable

  • Experience of liaison with other health professionals
  • Experience of providing teaching and training
  • Experience of leading on specific projects
  • Experience of performance management

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

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

1829 Building Countess of Chester Health Park

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1BQ


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

1829 Building Countess of Chester Health Park

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1BQ


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Operational Service Manager

Alan Woodward

alan.woodward2@nhs.net

01244397575

Details

Date posted

28 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

373-SMH2480

Job locations

1829 Building Countess of Chester Health Park

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1BQ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)