Band 8a Clinical Psychologist Preceptorship

Transformation Unit; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS terms and conditions

Relocation support

Retail discounts

Well-being services

Flexible working

Job summary

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 8a Clinical Psychologist to join the Community Learning Disabilities Team. You will deliver specialist assessments and therapy, work with individuals, families and groups, and provide professional consultation to MDT colleagues.

The post allows 0.8 WTE with potential remote working within a balanced MDT framework and travel around Birmingham.

Qualifications

• Post graduate Doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or equivalent).
• HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist.
• Post‑doctoral qualification in specialised psychology areas.
• Experience in supervising doctoral trainees.
• Research method training and staff development experience.

Responsibilities

• Deliver specialist psychological assessments and therapy for individuals, groups and families.
• Provide consultation to professionals within the LD MDT.
• Travel across Birmingham with occasional out-of-area visits; remote work possible.
• Engage in learning and development opportunities via the Trust and university links.

Skills

Complex psychological assessments

Self-motivated

Time management under pressure

Education

Doctoral training in clinical psychology

HCPC Registration

Post‑doctoral qualification

Supervision training experience

Research methodology training

Job description

Employer Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Riverside Lodge Town Birmingham Salary £57,528 - £64,750 per annum (pro rata) Salary period Yearly Closing 28/09/2026 23:59

Band 8a Clinical Psychologist Preceptorship

Band 8a

Job overview

Band 8A Post or Band 7-8A Preceptorship

Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologist

Community Learning Disabilities Team

Learning Disabilities Division

0.8 WTE

We would welcome applications from Band 8a Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologists. The post is also open to trainee psychologists who will qualify in Autumn 2026 or band 7 psychologists who are seeking a new specialty.

We are looking for creative, innovative and enthusiastic Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologists to deliver clinical services within our Community Learning Disabilities Team in the Learning Disabilities Division.

You will deliver specialist psychological assessments and therapy, for individuals, groups and families as well as consultation to professionals. We pride ourselves on our compassionate and inclusive ways of working, which seek to reduce the risk of inpatient admission and associated trauma. We aim to improve the quality of life of clients , whilst emphasising the value of relationships and attachments with significant others.

Main duties of the job

Here is some feedback from trainees who have been on placement in the community team:

“the clients, close knit MDT and supportive supervisors make the community LD service a great place to work”

“lots of opportunities for getting involved with other aspects of the service, for example with staff wellbeing or the Service User Group”

“variety of interests within the psychology team which means you get to experience different models and perspectives. For example, there are opportunities to work systemically or from a trauma informed perspective”

We are currently working as a city-wide team and you will be expected to travel throughout Birmingham, with occasional out of area visits. You will be based at Riverside Lodge, our Learning Disabilities MDT base in Small Heath, with the aim ofpredominantly working with clients in the East of Birmingham. There may be opportunities for remote working within your working week, in balance with the needs of the MDT and our clients.

Working for our organisation

Be Part of Our Team...

BCHC has more than 5000 staff working across Birmingham and the West Midlands in a wide range of community nursing and specialist healthcare roles. BCHC delivers over 100 clinical services, in people's homes, health centres, clinics and inpatient facilities. We deliver a wide range of services for children, young people and families as well as adults and community services, two community hospitals, services for people with learning disabilities, the internationally recognised West Midlands Rehab Centre and one of Europe’s leading Dental Hospitals and School of Dentistry. We deliver all of this with a commitment to integrated, personalised care that is rooted in local communities. We have an ambition to deliver outstanding, integrated care as one of the key NHS providers in the West Midlands.

If you want to ‘Be Part of Our Team’ and work with a Foundation Trust which is continuously striving for best care and healthy communities, we want to hear from you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be joining an established group of friendly, committed, and supportive Psychologists, banded from 8C to 7, as well as Honorary Assistant Psychologists and trainees. We have psychology colleagues in the Intensive Support Team and Community Forensic Team. We utilise an exceptionally broad range of psychological models depending upon client need, including behavioural (primarily PBS), adapted CBT, systemic, narrative, ACT, CAT, attachment, CFT and EMDR. Working within our team would give you exposure to these models and additional training is actively encouraged using our Learning Beyond Registration scheme. We have developed a thriving family therapy/ staff consultation service and have links with local and national LD services.

Our psychologists work closely with colleagues within our leadership team and MDT to strive for care that is trauma informed, compassionate and formulation based. We facilitate rolling group interventions, including Emotion Regulation and Tree of Life groups. We support a small number of clients who are living with complex physical health conditions, pain and co-morbidity, in order to improve their quality of life and reduce health inequalities. As Birmingham is a diverse and multi-cultural community, we are mindful of the additional challenges that clients from marginalised communities may encounter when accessing our services. Our team is actively engaged in research; we are keen to facilitate opportunities for supervising doctoral research as well as smaller scale quality improvement projects.

Our service offers opportunities to develop clinical leadership skills, be involved with clinical projects and pathway development. The Psychology Service offers connection to and support from other psychologists through facilitated reflective practice groups, CPD events, forums and Special Interest Groups. There are strong links with the DClinPsy training course and the MSCi pathway at Birmingham University, as well as Coventry. There are opportunities for service user involvement work through our Service User Group. This challenges us to reflect upon and adapt our working practices and improve our clinical environment.

Key points to note

The relevant Band 8a Job Description and Person Specification is attached to this document .

For a discussion about the above post, you are very welcome to contact one of our senior Community LD psychologists: Dr Lisa Morris Consultant Clinical Psychologist at [e-mail] or leave a message for Lisa on 0121 466 3900.

Job title: Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Telephone number: 0121 466 3900

Additional contact information

Job title: Service Manager

Person specification

Qualifications

• Post graduate Doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
• HCPC Registration as a Practitioner Psychologist
• Post-doctoral qualification, training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice.
• Training in the supervision of doctoral level trainee psychologists.
• Training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology

experience

• experience of specialist psychological assessments /treatment
• experience of working with a wide variety of client groups

skills/knowledge

• skills in use of complex psychological assessments
• self motivated
• ability to manage under pressure /tight deadlines /time management

other job requirements

• ability to teach/train others
• ability to work within a multicultural framework
• travel independently
• ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance

In accordance with UK Home Office requirements, Band 2 clinical and non-clinical roles and Band 3 Non-Clinical roles are not eligible for sponsorship.

Please note that the majority of non-clinical roles (Agenda for Change Band 3 - 6) with the exception of those which appear on this list - link , will not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK.

All non-clinical roles (Agenda for Change Bands 7 - 9) that meet the prescribed skill level (RQF 6) and salary threshold will be eligible for sponsorship.

The Trust will accept applications from candidates who can evidence their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes.

Disability Confident Employer and Guaranteed Interview Scheme

BCHC offers a guaranteed interview to any candidate who is Disabled, Neurodiverse, has a hidden or long term health condition as recognised under the Equality Act 2010, providing they meet the essential criteria of the job role, as set out in the person specification. We encourage applicants to submit their applications and to request any reasonable adjustments where required.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As part of our ongoing commitment to being a Great Place to Work, we actively foster and support a workplace culture that is inclusive and equitable for all staff, patients and service users.

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed and valued. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with diverse abilities, experiences, and perspectives.

We are also dedicated to supporting the career progression of colleagues from underrepresented backgrounds into this role and more senior roles within the Division and the wider organisation.

Promoting Workforce Equality

In response to data held by BCHC which demonstrates that individuals from particular protected characteristics are under-represented, BCHC are striving to redress these imbalances. In order to do this, the Trust is committed to the employment and career development of individuals with these protected characteristics. As part of this commitment and given this under-representation, the Trust guarantees an interview to any applicants from under-represented groups for positions at Band 8a and above whose application meets the essential criteria for the post as detailed on the Person Specification.

The Trust is currently under-represented in terms of people who identify as Black, Minority Ethnic (BME) and welcomes applicants from these communities. Selection will be on the basis of merit. In order to ensure the diversity of our workforce and understand the differing needs of our communities, the Trust is committed to the principles of Positive Action.

DBS Costs

Please be aware that all new employees starting work with the Trust will be charged for the cost of their DBS check if it is required for the role. The cost will be deducted from your salary in 3 payments over a 3-month period once you start employment. By applying for this role, you are agreeing to these deductions being made. The charges for the DBS include the administration fee. The total costs are £26.40 for a standard check and £54.40 for the enhanced check. The level of check will be determined by the post you are applying for. For bank Workers the full cost of the DBS check (as detailed above) will be deducted from your pay following completion of your online mandatory training. No payment will be made for your online training until it is all complete and verified by the Temporary Staffing Team. Please note: You will not be able to work any bank shifts until you have completed your mandatory training, and your DBS is in place.

Flexible Working

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC) supports a variety of flexible working practices and, given our range of services and community settings, dependent upon the requirements associated with the role, will actively consider requests made and support these where practically possible. This may include hybrid patterns of working to enable colleagues to request the flexibility of a mixture of home/base working.

In accordance with the NHS People Promise, the Trust is committed to facilitating a healthy work/life balance that is essential to health and wellbeing and to making BCHC a ‘Great Place to Work’. We will be happy to discuss and consider all requests relating to working patterns and hours at your interview so please do ask!

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust acknowledges Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Generative AI (GenAI) tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini etc; are powerful tools that can help you in various stages of your job application and how they can be used in certain circumstances during your application process with BCHC. You can read more about acceptable use on our internet pages here

Benefits of working for us:

• Full NHS terms and conditions including extensive holidays, Agenda for Change pay with enhancements
• Attractive relocation payment if you relocate to the local area.
• Discounts for local and national retailers
• Dedicated well-being services for all employees
• Flexible working where possible

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.