Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Principal Clinical Psychologist

The closing date is 04 February 2026

Job summary

We are looking for a compassionate, enthusiastic principal clinical psychologist to join our acute mental health team of psychologists, psychotherapists and CAPs. The role is an interesting and exciting opportunity to develop your skills in clinical work, leadership and service development.

This post will provide you with the opportunity to support service users and their families within an established psychiatric intensive care unit through direct work, consultation, formulation, supervision and care planning. Psychology is highly valued by the ward leadership team. The Trust has a strong focus on trauma informed care, human rights and restriction reduction and you will be supported to lead in these areas.

You will be part of an acute psychology team which includes our acute wards, liaison and home treatment teams and this post would contribute to ensuring development of the team through supervision and CPD. The psychology team is research active and has close links with Sheffield University. Secondment for internal candidates would be supported.

Main duties of the job

To provide a qualified highly specialist clinical psychology service to service users of the psychiatric intensive care unit, Endcliffe ward. To provide highly specialist psychological assessment and therapy at the same time as offering highly specialised advice and consultation on service users' psychological care to psychologist colleagues, non-psychologist colleagues and to other, non-professional carers. In common with all Clinical Psychologists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with good practice.

To provide clinical supervision to less experienced practitioner psychologists, therapists, assistant(s), trainee(s) or other professionals. The postholder is responsible for the co-ordination and organisation of the work of other psychologists and other clinical members of the team who provide psychologically based care and treatment.

To take sole professional responsibility and exercise autonomous professional and clinical judgement within the overall framework of Trust, HCPC and BPS professional policies/guidelines/standards. To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the area served by the team and service

About us

We prioritise the well-being and safety of both our service users and employees. It is our policy and a condition of employment that all employees must join the DBS Update Service. This service carries an annual fee, which employees are responsible for paying up front. However, employees may claim this cost back through the Trust's Employee Expenses Reimbursement Policy. For those requiring a Basic DBS check, it is necessary to register for a DBS Online Account.

Details

Date posted

23 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£62,215 to £72,293 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

457-25-7516658-D

Job locations

Endcliffe Ward, Northern General Hospital

Herries Road

Sheffield

S5 7AU


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please take time to review the job description and person specification attached to find out more about the role and contact Jo Varela with any questions.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please take time to review the job description and person specification attached to find out more about the role and contact Jo Varela with any questions.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
  • HCPC registered practitioner psychologist
  • Formal training in supervision of other psychologists

Desirable

  • Additional further training and qualification in area of relevant clinical experience
  • Formal training in leadership or management relevant to healthcare
  • training in an area relevant to acute mental health presentations

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience in working with acute mental health, risk or behavioural distress
  • Experience in leading in multidisciplinary teams
  • Significant experience in psychological assessment, formulation and intervention of complexity
  • Experience of reducing restrictive practice

Desirable

  • significant experience of team formulation and care planning of complex presentations
  • experience of adapting psychological work and including patients from diverse backgrounds

Theory

Essential

  • Experience of leadership and serivice development
  • Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychotherapeutic/psychological therapies for people with SMI
  • Experience of working within MHA/ MCA safeguarding legislation

Desirable

  • Evidence of delivering formal CPD to others
  • Highly specialist knowledge in 2 or more modalities of assessment or intervention
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
  • HCPC registered practitioner psychologist
  • Formal training in supervision of other psychologists

Desirable

  • Additional further training and qualification in area of relevant clinical experience
  • Formal training in leadership or management relevant to healthcare
  • training in an area relevant to acute mental health presentations

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience in working with acute mental health, risk or behavioural distress
  • Experience in leading in multidisciplinary teams
  • Significant experience in psychological assessment, formulation and intervention of complexity
  • Experience of reducing restrictive practice

Desirable

  • significant experience of team formulation and care planning of complex presentations
  • experience of adapting psychological work and including patients from diverse backgrounds

Theory

Essential

  • Experience of leadership and serivice development
  • Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychotherapeutic/psychological therapies for people with SMI
  • Experience of working within MHA/ MCA safeguarding legislation

Desirable

  • Evidence of delivering formal CPD to others
  • Highly specialist knowledge in 2 or more modalities of assessment or intervention

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

Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Endcliffe Ward, Northern General Hospital

Herries Road

Sheffield

S5 7AU


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Endcliffe Ward, Northern General Hospital

Herries Road

Sheffield

S5 7AU


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Psychologist/ AC

Dr Jo Varela

jo.varela@shsc.nhs.uk

01143050757

Details

Date posted

23 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£62,215 to £72,293 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

457-25-7516658-D

Job locations

Endcliffe Ward, Northern General Hospital

Herries Road

Sheffield

S5 7AU


Supporting documents

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