Clinical Psychologist- CAMHs Acute Care

Integrated Care System; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Integrated Care System seeks a Clinical Psychologist for its CAMHs Acute Care at Dorset HealthCare. This role involves working within a dynamic multidisciplinary team to provide direct therapeutic support to young patients, ensuring high standards and compassion in care. Candidates must meet qualifications that align with advanced clinical practices and be ready to embrace a commitment to mental health improvement for families in the community.

Benefits

Generous relocation package of up to £10,000

Support for newly qualified psychologists

Qualifications

• Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS.
• Relevant specialist training for Band 7 Psychologist.
• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with young people and families providing assessments and therapeutic work.
• Consultation and training for clinical team on psychological formulation.
• Supervision provided by a Clinical Lead Psychologist.

Skills

Communication

Clinical Supervision

Research Methodology

Risk Assessment

Education

2:1 honours degree in Psychology

Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology

Job description

Go back Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Psychologist- CAMHs Acute Care

The closing date is 30 July 2025

We are looking for Newly Qualified or Principal Clinical Psychologists who shares our vision to work within our CAMHS acute care pathway, specifically in our inpatient service.

The inpatient CAMHS offer is expanding to include a brand new purpose built 8 bed High Intensity Environment alongside our 10 bed General Adolescent Unit.

In Dorset, we are transforming our child and adolescent mental health service into a Family Mental Health model that embraces and adopts the Thrive framework. The inpatient service falls within the Getting More Help and Getting Risk Support quadrants of Thrive.

We aspire to offer families a service that is built on compassion, social connection, and participation with our peers and parent peers, and a service that is understanding of the need to work in partnership with the wider network of education, social care and 3rd sector services in order to deliver support for families based on their needs.

The interviews will be held on the week commencing Monday 14th July

Main duties of the job

There is the opportunity to become part of a multidisciplinary therapies team within our inpatient unit. Other team members include Occupational Therapy and Systemic Psychotherapy who work alongside the Mental Health Nursing, Social Work and Psychiatry team. The wards also have a specialist education, that you would work with in supporting the young people and families on the ward.

The post-holder would work directly with young people and their families providing a range of assessments and therapeutic work. You would also provide consultation and training for the clinical team to ensure that psychological thinking and formulation is at the core of service delivery.

Supervision from a Clinical Lead Psychologist will be provided and training will be arranged where needed.

We believe in supporting clinicians who have more recently qualified and help them to progress and develop, so we are also keen to hear from newly qualified psychologists who would like to take a preceptorship and progress to a Band 8a when all competencies are met.

About us

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact [e-mail]

If you are interested in moving to Dorset we also offer a generous relocation package of up to £10,000. For further details on relocation expenses please email [e-mail]

Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

Person Specification

Knowledge, skills and training

• 2:1 honours degree in Psychology or better. Eligibility for Graduate Membership of BPS.
• Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996 or those in lateral transfer or with Statement of Equivalence) as accredited by the BPS or HPC.
• Relevant specialist training or qualifications for Band 7 Psychologist
• clinical supervision for trainee and assistant clinical psychologists
• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical psychology
• Knowledge of legislation, white papers, etc. and implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to CAMHS
• Extended skills and training specifically related to child and adolescent mental health

Job specific experience

• Training to work as a qualified clinical psychologist.
• Clinical experience with children and adolescents mental health
• Ability to sit in a restricted position for a substantial proportion of the working time Ability to concentrate intensely for long periods of time
• Ability to deal with exposure to highly distressing/ emotional circumstances
• Ability to undertake clinical audits

Information Technology

• Ability to use a computer and Internet for word processing, keeping electronic notes, spreadsheets, presentations, teaching and information seeking purposes

Personal Qualities/Attributes

• Must be capable of working on own initiative and acting independently
• Need to tolerate working conditions which may be unpleasant and where there is some exposure to vandalism and aggressive incidents.
• Ability to communicate highly complex, sensitive information where there may be barriers to understanding or where professional opinions may differ and to form relationships where there may be barriers to these relationships being formed.
• Ability to use a range of assessment materials (including psychometric tests). Ability to manipulate test materials that require a high level of speed, accuracy and concentration.
• Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to "hold" the stress of others.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to conduct complex risk assessments and develop appropriate strategies to minimise risk.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the BPS and HPC and working to professional guidelines. Must be capable of working on their own initiative and acting independently
• Subject to the provisions of the Equality Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business.
• Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English to a standard which enables the post holder to carry out the full range of duties and responsibilities of the role effectively

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.

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

£46,148 to £60,504 a yearp.a., pro rata for part time