Clinical Psychologist

NHS; Brighouse; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in the UK is seeking a Clinical Psychologist to deliver high-quality psychological assessments and therapeutic interventions. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, support staff training, and develop evidence-based services. The ideal candidate will have a doctoral level qualification in Clinical Psychology, HCPC registration, and significant experience in working with children and families. This role is essential in contributing to the mental health and wellbeing of young individuals, promoting trauma-informed care.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children, young people, and families.
• Experience of complex assessment, formulation, and intervention.
• Proven leadership and supervision experience within multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality psychological assessment and therapy.
• Provide specialist formulation, consultation, and advice for complex MDT cases.
• Lead and contribute to service development, quality improvement, and audits.

Skills

Psychological assessment

Therapeutic intervention

Clinical supervision

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Doctoral level qualification in Clinical Psychology

HCPC registration

Job description

Job Summary

This role combines direct therapeutic work, strategic service development, and professional supervision and training. You will work closely with the Head of Therapeutic Practice and Health to lead psychologically informed care across the Foundation and to develop a high-quality, evidence-based therapeutic service. You will provide assessment, formulation and intervention for complex presentations, while supporting and developing a multidisciplinary workforce through supervision, reflective practice and training.

Main Duties

Clinical Practice

• Deliver high-quality psychological assessment and therapy (individual and group).
• Provide specialist formulation, consultation and advice for complex MDT cases.
• Offer support to children, young people, families and staff, delivered onsite, offsite and remotely.
• Embed psychological input within IEPs, EHCPs and wider educational planning, promoting trauma-informed, PBS and psychologically informed practice.

Leadership & Service Development

• Provide clinical leadership, supervision and training within the Health, Therapies and Families Team.
• Supervise assistant psychologists, trainees and MDT colleagues.
• Lead and contribute to service development, quality improvement, audits, research and policy implementation.
• Support recruitment and champion trauma-informed care across the organisation.

Collaboration & Advocacy

• Work collaboratively with families, education staff and health and social care partners.
• Liaise with external agencies to advocate for children and families.
• Contribute to crisis responses and safeguarding processes.
• Promote equality, inclusion and culturally responsive practice.

Professional Practice

• Maintain HCPC registration and adhere to professional codes.
• Engage in supervision and CPD, contribute to research and evidence-based practice, and remain up-to-date with legislation, NICE guidance and national policy.

About You

• Doctoral level qualification in Clinical Psychology (or equivalent).
• HCPC registration.
• Significant experience working with children, young people and families.
• Experience of complex assessment, formulation and intervention.
• Proven leadership and supervision experience within multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong knowledge of trauma-informed care, PBS and psychologically informed practice.
• Excellent communication, report writing and relationship-building skills.
• Personally aligned with our values and committed to our mission.

Qualifications

Essential

• Post-graduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS.
• Relevant & significant post-qualification experience.
• Registered as a clinical psychologist with the HCPC.
• Fully competent as a Clinical Psychologist with up-to-date knowledge of mental health and wellbeing in children.
• Evidence of and commitment to continuing professional and personal development since qualification and registration.
• Clinical supervision training.

Desirable

• Evidence of further qualification or training relevant to the field of SEMH.
• Post qualification training in CAT, Schema Therapy, systemic therapy, DBT or CBT.
• Additional training in HSB, violence and aggression, safeguarding.
• Up to date knowledge of issues in special education.

Personal Qualities

• Enthusiasm for work within an education system.
• Ability to work under pressure and set priorities.
• Ability to cope and work with frequent exposure to highly distressing and emotional situations including children, young adults and parents or carers who may be distressed, angry, confrontational or violent.
• Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and the ability to hold the stress of others.
• Ability to work within teams and motivate others as well as working autonomously.
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods during assessments, patient interviews, case conferences.
• Has integrity, is reliable, self-aware and remains calm in crisis.
• Is warm and empathic with a compassionate and non-judgmental approach to working, with a commitment to empowering families.
• Resilient, with the ability to manage emotional challenges and maintain professional boundaries.
• A collaborative mindset, with the commitment and ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team and under the supervision of the Head of Therapeutic Practice and Health.
• Commitment to the Foundation's aims, ethos and values including promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, quality of life and positive behaviour support in all aspects of the role.
• Possesses a determination to succeed, and is passionate about their work, discipline and professional interests.
• Has the ability to adapt to and promote change.
• A strong team player with the ability to work collaboratively across different teams and the William Henry Smith Foundation functions.

Experience

Essential

• Considerable experience of working as a psychologist with children and adults with SEMH, neurodevelopmental conditions, social, emotional and behavioural difficulties and experiences of trauma.
• Experience of teaching, training and providing professional and or clinical supervision.
• Experience of and ability to conduct and develop assessment and formulations to inform and implement intervention plans and recommendations for others in a range of settings.
• Experience of effective working within multidisciplinary services (working with both clinical and non-clinical, internal and external professionals).
• Experience of offering consultation and advice to staff groups supporting vulnerable clients.
• Experience supporting families facing complex challenges, including trauma, family breakdown, behavioural difficulties and of working with children who are looked after (CLA) and or adopted and their families.
• Experience of effectively working across different systems and levels within an organisation e.g. service development, group and individual levels.

Desirable

• Published research or writing in professional or academic outlets.
• Experience as a qualified psychologist across multiple services.
• Previous experience working in an educational setting or SEMH school.
• Experience delivering workshops or training sessions for parents and carers.

Additional Factors

• Willingness to work flexible hours, to accommodate child and family needs.
• Holds a valid UK driving licence, and can undertake home or external visits as required.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Ability to analyse and interpret highly complex situations involving a range of options to make decisions about an appropriate course of action or solution to a problem.
• Skilled in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management with both children and adult service users and their families.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families and professionals both within and outside clinical or therapeutic services.
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for complex problems (e.g. trauma, communication challenges, behaviours that challenge).
• The ability to lead psychological services within an MDT and to work collaboratively with professionals from other disciplines.
• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology and the ability to use evaluation tools to demonstrate and improve service effectiveness and outcomes.
• Knowledge of legislation and national standards and guidelines that relate to this client group.
• Familiarity and proficiency with evidence-based, client and family centred approaches, including Systemic Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), or trauma-informed practices.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and build trust and rapport with families from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, including the ability to manage multiple cases effectively and maintain accurate records.
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures and the ability to identify and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Sound understanding of client confidentiality and ethics.

Desirable

• Familiarity with the challenges faced by families in navigating educational systems and mental health services.
• Ability to develop creative and adaptable strategies to meet the unique needs of children, young adults and families.
• Awareness of local community resources and services to support children and families.

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.

Employer Details

Employer: The Smith Foundation

Address: William Henry Smith School, Boothroyd Lane, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, HD6 3JW

Website: https://www.whsschool.org.uk/