Highly Specialist Clinical or Counselling Psychologist

South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading mental health service provider in London seeks a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist for a part-time maternity cover role. The position involves working with young people facing systemic challenges, conducting assessments, and providing therapy. Ideal candidates will have experience in trauma-focused interventions and a passion for improving mental health outcomes for children in care.

Benefits

Flexible working

Career development opportunities

Trust-wide CPD opportunities

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in psychological assessment and treatment.
• At least 50 hours of clinical supervision over 18 months.
• Experience in teaching, training, or service development is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Conduct complex assessments and offer therapy to young people.
• Provide mental health advice and consultation to professionals.
• Facilitate groups and deliver training.

Skills

Psychological assessment

Therapeutic interventions

Communication skills

Leadership

Supervision

Education

Qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist registered with HCPC

Post-qualification training in clinical supervision

Training in CYP IAPT

Job description

Job summary

18.75 hours per week Fixed term post - Maternity Cover until June 2026

Our Wandsworth Social Care CAMHS team is seeking a motivated, skilled, and adaptable Clinical or Counselling Psychologist for this exciting opportunity. If you are passionate about improving the mental health of young people in care or with social workers, and have experience in supervision, leadership, and service development, we would love to hear from you.

We are a team of Clinical Psychologists, valued within the local authority, dedicated to trauma-informed practices and providing specialised mental health consultations and interventions to young people, families, and professionals to improve outcomes for children in social care.

Main duties of the job

This role involves working with young people facing systemic challenges, conducting complex assessments, offering therapy, consulting with social workers and foster carers, facilitating groups, and delivering training. We are particularly interested in applicants with experience in Evidence-Based Trauma Focused interventions and additional training such as NVR, DDP.

We collaborate with colleagues in Access Assessment, Tier 3 CAMHS, and the neurodevelopmental team to deliver comprehensive mental health services to children involved with social services.

Wandsworth CAMHS Teams

Our teams serve a diverse London borough. We value inclusivity and partner with community organisations to reach young people who find traditional mental health services inaccessible. We support staff development with trust-wide CPD opportunities (e.g., EMDR, IPT-A, DDP, NVR). We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds.

About us

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust. We have expert services, a rich history, and a commitment to quality care. Our services are rated 'good' by CQC, with aspirations to be 'outstanding'.

This is an exciting time to join us as we transform community care, with new facilities at Springfield University Hospital and ongoing developments. We are committed to inclusion, diversity, and co-production with local communities. We offer flexible working, career development, and benefits to support our staff.

About our locations:

Springfield University Hospital, Tooting

Our largest site, created after a £150m investment, is in Springfield Village, with upcoming amenities like parks, shops, and cafes. Conveniently located near Tooting Bec (Northern Line), Earlsfield, and Tooting rail stations.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

1. Provide specialist assessments of young children and their parents/carers using complex data, including psychological measures, rating scales, observations, and interviews, aligned with CYP IAPT methodology.
2. Formulate and implement evidence-based intervention plans to improve parent/child relationships.
3. Implement a range of psychotherapeutic interventions, maintaining hypotheses, and adjusting formulations based on evidence and models.
4. Evaluate treatment options considering theoretical and developmental factors.
5. Exercise autonomous responsibility for assessment, treatment, and discharge within standard care plans.
6. Provide mental health advice, guidance, and consultation to other professionals involved in care.
7. Use evidence-based tools to ensure holistic, coordinated services for young children and families.
8. Undertake risk assessments and manage risks appropriately.
9. Communicate assessment, formulation, and treatment information sensitively and effectively.
10. Monitor progress, ensuring interventions meet CYP IAPT standards.
11. Maintain accurate healthcare records in line with policies.
12. Demonstrate high-level communication skills within all agencies.

Note: The job responsibilities section is repeated; ensure clarity and avoid duplication in final version.

Person Specification

Training & Qualifications

• Essential: Qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist registered with HCPC, evidence of CPD, post-qualification training in clinical supervision.
• Desirable: Training in CYP IAPT, supervision of psychotherapeutic modalities, further evidence-based psychological training.

Experience

• Essential: Extensive experience in psychological assessment and treatment across various settings, working with diverse client groups, including high-severity problems, and at least 50 hours of clinical supervision over 18 months.
• Desirable: Experience in teaching, training, supervision, service development, or leadership roles.

Additional Requirements

Post subject to DBS check. Applications from those requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome. Applicants must present a criminal record certificate from countries of residence over 12 months in the past 10 years.

Employer details

Employer name: South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust

Address: Springfield Hospital, Tooting, SW17 7DJ

Employer's website: [Insert URL]