Practitioner Psychologist

NHS; Bristol; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The NHS is seeking a compassionate Practitioner Psychologist to join their multidisciplinary team within a paediatric health setting. This role involves providing psychological assessments and interventions, contributing to service development, and collaborating with various health professionals to enhance patient care. The successful candidate will have a postgraduate qualification and HCPC registration, along with experience working with children and young people in health contexts.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant field required.
• Current HCPC registration is mandatory.
• Experience with children/young people in health settings is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychological assessments and interventions for children and young people.
• Deliver services in ward-based and outpatient settings.
• Consult and support other professionals in the care pathway.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Time Management

Psychometric Testing

Teamwork

Education

Postgraduate qualification in clinical, counselling, or Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy

Current registration with HCPC or relevant regulatory body

Job description

Go back University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

Practitioner Psychologist

The closing date is 08 June 2025

We are seeking thoughtful, compassionate, and innovative Clinical Psychologists eager to lead in a new multi-professional service within a paediatric health setting. Staff working with the NHS Children and Young People Gender Service (South West) will operate within Psychological Health Services. As part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT), you will develop, deliver, evaluate, and contribute to services provided by various clinicians and health professionals, including clinical services, research, quality improvement, dissemination, training, and consultation to partner services and agencies. All staff will have additional clinical and professional roles based on skills, interests, and service demands, which may include Staff Support.

Psychological Health Services is an award-winning department known for leadership and the development of Trust-wide psychological services. As a university teaching trust, research and quality improvement are integral to UHBW's mission to deliver excellent patient care, education, and high-quality applied research.

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Main duties of the job

To provide therapeutic services in paediatric medical and surgical specialties, including CYP gender services, involving direct and indirect clinical work.

• To provide psychological assessments, formulation, and interventions for children, young people, adults, and their families.
• To deliver services in ward-based and outpatient settings as needed.
• To offer psychological advice, consultation, training, and support to other professionals involved in the care pathway.
• To assist in the development and evaluation of services.
• To propose changes for service development, guidelines, and protocols related to psychological health across care pathways.

About us

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is among the largest acute trusts in the UK, with over 13,000 staff and more than 100 clinical services across 10 sites, serving a population of over 500,000 in South West England. Rated 'Good' by the CQC, we pride ourselves on delivering excellent care, supported by world-leading research and innovations. Our hospitals are located in Bristol and Weston, offering city living close to countryside or seaside environments, with excellent access to the South West's amenities. UHBW is committed to safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and promoting diversity and inclusion in our workforce. We use anonymous data from applications to ensure our commitments are met.

Job responsibilities

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We participate in high-profile national networks across BPS, NHS, and charitable sectors. We have strong links with local and regional universities, supporting research and clinical training, including honorary appointments up to professorial levels. Our department has an expanding research portfolio and offers various CPD opportunities, including departmental meetings, journal clubs, and supervision groups. We foster a collaborative environment with regular communication via notice boards and involve staff in wider psychology initiatives through Service Delivery Groups (SDGs).

Our department provides psychology services to a broad range of multidisciplinary teams. While this recruitment is for a specific post, we welcome applications for other opportunities within our portfolio. We collaborate closely with paediatric colleagues, offering advice and guidance outside our core patient group, which is highly valued by the Trust.

We support staff development through opportunities to work in different clinical areas, planned in collaboration with line managers and service heads. This is a core aspect of our staff's professional growth.

For detailed job description, main responsibilities, and person specification, please refer to the attached document.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

• Postgraduate qualification in clinical, counselling, or Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, recognized for HCPC registration or equivalent.
• Current registration with HCPC or relevant regulatory body.

Knowledge and Experience

• Doctoral-level understanding of research design and methodology.
• Experience working with children/young people with physical health conditions.
• Experience as a clinical psychologist in consultation and service development within a multidisciplinary health setting.
• Experience providing psychological consultation, case management supervision, and training to multi-professional teams.
• Experience delivering formal teaching and presentations to health professionals.
• Knowledge of legislation and guidance on safeguarding, consent, confidentiality, and standards of psychological care, aligned with NICE guidelines.
• Experience working with individuals with acute or long-term medical conditions.
• Experience working with populations presenting to gender services, understanding their unique needs.
• Knowledge of psychopathology and evidence-based treatments for mental health conditions in gender-diverse youth.
• Supervision experience of qualified clinical psychologists and accredited supervision training.
• Experience working with children/young people in paediatric services.
• Empathy and excellent communication skills at all levels.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to assess psychological needs using cognitive and developmental psychometric tests.
• Capability to generate systemic and individual formulations and interventions based on psychological theories.
• Understanding of the psychological implications of care pathways for individuals and families.
• Knowledge of the roles of a practitioner psychologist in relation to patients, families, staff, and organizational systems.
• Effective time management strategies to handle conflicting demands.
• Advanced communication skills for conveying complex information sensitively and accessibly.
• Proficiency in managing clinical data and records securely.
• Aware of potential work-related stress and strategies to mitigate it.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams, contributing to team functioning.
• Willingness to travel to clinics, meetings, and community visits as required.
• Proficiency in administering complex psychometric and neuropsychological tests.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to DBS checks under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975 (Exceptions Order). A disclosure submission will be required to check for any criminal convictions.

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)