Band 8a Senior Clinical Psychologist

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A community health service provider in Birmingham is seeking a Clinical Psychologist to provide specialized assessments and therapies for children with mental health challenges, including neurodevelopmental differences. The role involves working collaboratively in a professional setting and requires a Doctoral qualification and relevant HCPC registration. Opportunities for flexible working arrangements are available.

Benefits

Full NHS terms and conditions

Extensive holidays

Discounts for local and national retailers

Dedicated well-being services

Qualifications

• Post-doctoral qualification in psychological practice is desirable.
• Experience of maintaining professionalism in emotive situations is essential.
• Knowledge of child development, including neurodevelopmental conditions is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychological assessment for children with diverse needs.
• Conduct individual and group-based treatment.
• Collaborate with professionals and agencies for comprehensive care.

Skills

Psychological assessment

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Time management

Education

Post graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology

HCPC Registration as a Practitioner Psychologist

Tools

ADOS-2

ADI-R

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for information on the main duties of the post.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• 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

Desirable criteria

• 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

Essential criteria

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and individual and group-based treatment of children, including children with neurodevelopmental differences.
• Experience of maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
• Experience of liaison work with other professionals and agencies.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity
• Experience of teaching, training and supervision.
• Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts.
• Relevant R&D or clinical audit work post-qualification

Skills/Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Highly specialist skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, including psychometrics such as ADOS-2 and, or, ADI-R, intervention and management including specialist clinical interviewing, behavioural observation, complex psychometric testing and specialist neuropsychological testing.
• Knowledge of the presentation, assessment of and intervention with people with complex neurodevelopmental and mental health difficulties.
• Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to children, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
• Skills and experience in providing consultation to other professional and non professional groups, across agencies
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.
• Knowledge of typical and atypical child development including neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD/ASD
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. dual diagnoses, children with additional learning disabilities or difficulties etc).
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to children

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria

• Self-motivated
• Positive, energetic, enthusiastic in outlook and able to set a good example
• Ability to manage under pressure; work to tight deadlines, evidencing excellent time management
• Able to work independently or as part of a team.

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of strong leadership skills, the ability to negotiate, persuade and influence at a senior level with a supportive style whilst also able to take difficult decisions and act assertively
• Keen to develop services in line with service, educational and research priorities with the service.

UK Home Office Visa Sponsorship requirements

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.

Flexible Working

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC) supports a variety of flexible working practices and, where possible (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!

Using Artificial Intelligence

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

Applicant requirements

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.

Application numbers

***This job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested***
Documents to download

• Clinical Psychologist (PDF, 184.4KB)
• BCHC Local benefits (PDF, 99.6KB)