Clinical Psychologist

NHS; Brighton; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Sussex seeks a Band 8a Psychologist for the Long-Term Conditions service, working with children facing various health challenges. Candidates must have doctoral training in applied psychology and be HPC registered. The role includes managing referrals, supervising other psychologists, and liaising with medical staff. The position presents opportunities for innovation in therapy and flexibility in working arrangements. It's a chance to contribute meaningfully in pediatric mental health, impacting young lives positively.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Professional development opportunities

Positive work-life balance

Qualifications

• Registered Practitioner Psychologist with HPC.
• Experience in psychological assessment across various care settings.
• Knowledge in neuropsychology and specialist psychological therapies.

Responsibilities

• Oversee incoming referrals and treatment plans.
• Supervise band 7 psychologists and trainees.
• Liaise with medical teams and other agencies.

Skills

Supervision

Psychological assessment

Clinical treatment

Collaboration with teams

Liaison with medical professionals

Education

Doctoral level training in applied psychology

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 8a Psychologist, to lead the Long-Term Conditions part of Paediatric Psychological Support Service based at the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital.

The post-holder will be part of a small team of psychologists working with children diagnosed with a range of long-term medical conditions (e.g. inflammatory bowel diseases, juvenile arthritis, epilepsy) living in Brighton and Hove. This role includes close collaboration with another 8a psychologist who leads on working with children with long-term conditions living outside of Brighton and Hove.

Main duties of the job

The Long-Term Conditions Service offer short-term therapy, as well as consultation and training to support the needs of children diagnosed with long-term medical conditions. As a service, we draw on a range of therapeutic approaches including CBT, systemic, mindfulness, ACT and EMDR. The focus of this role would be to oversee the incoming referrals to the service and responses to these, including holding a clinical caseload and supervising the clinical work of a band 7 psychologist (and at times a trainee clinical psychologist). This role would suit a flexible and dynamic practitioner who is able to develop treatment plans that are tailored to the needs of children, young people and their families, which might include individual, parent-child, parent or group work, as well as close liaison with medical teams and other agencies. There is room for innovation within the service, with previous practitioners offering Tree of Life groups, Woodland Wellbeing days and sea swimming groups to support young people to have a different experience of themselves and build their confidence. Opportunities to develop appropriate staff training and group work is also supported where this meets a clinical need. The post-holder would be encouraged to supervise or co-supervise a trainee clinical psychologist.

About us

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and learning disability services in and across Sussex. Psychological therapies are highly valued in Sussex Partnership and Psychological therapists occupy a range of senior positions across the Trust, it is a great Trust to work in as a Psychologist. Working here offers continued training and development, variety, plus all the benefits of living in Sussex. Sussex is a beautiful county with good transport links, vibrant communities, rural areas, and tourist attractions, including the Coast and the South Downs. The Trust has recently been rated by the CQC as Good overall and Outstanding for care.

We encourage flexible working.

We know that a positive work/life balance brings about huge health‑related benefits, which has a positive impact on the care we provide. Please speak to us about flexible working, for example, home‑working, part‑time hours, flexible start/finish times or anything else. If it works for you and works for the role, we'll do our best to make it happen.

Details

Date posted: 19 December 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: 8a

Salary: £55,690 to £62,682 a year pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 354-CS-21830

Job location

Royal Alex Hospital, North Drive, Brighton, BN2 5BE

Job responsibilities

We are looking for an enthusiastic and innovative practitioner who is passionate about and skilled in working in health settings and/or with children, who is keen to develop their skills in the psychology of health conditions. If this sounds like you, please contact us.

• Supervision of band 7 psychologists: 2 × 1 hour per month
• Supervision of a trainee: co‑supervise with a colleague (1 hour per week) or supervise full placement (1.5‑2 hours per week)
• Oversight of and responses to referrals/queries about the service outside of referral meetings and afterwards (e.g. reviewing and confirming referral response letters drafted by admin)
• Attendance at referral meetings, LTC team meetings, business meetings (currently all on a Tuesday)
• 4 direct clinical cases weekly if not supervising a trainee. If supervising a trainee, weekly direct clinical hours are replaced by supervision (3 clinical cases for co‑supervising; 2 direct clinical cases if supervising full placement)
• Occasional more urgent response on ward if capacity allows
• Liaison with medical teams, schools, social care and other agencies as needed for cases/ referral queries

Person specification

Qualifications (Essential)

• Doctoral level training in applied psychology, including models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology, approved by the Health Professions Council (HPC).
• Professionally registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council (HPC).

Knowledge / Experience (Essential)

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in‑patient settings.
• Demonstrated specialist experience gained post‑qualification of working as an applied psychologist with evidence of having received a substantial amount of clinical supervision (normally around 50 hours).
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practised within the clinical fields of psychology.
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the full life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity, including 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 the application of applied psychology in different cultural contexts and working within a multicultural framework.
• Knowledge of guidance and legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult‑to‑treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).
• High level of knowledge and skills in neuropsychology and evidence of further practice and/or training since qualification.
• Formal training in supervision of other psychologists.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HPC.

Disclosures and sponsorship

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Applicants who require Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome. For more information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Alex Hospital, North Drive, Brighton, BN2 5BE

Website: https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/