Principal Clinical Psychologist

NHS; Hereford; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Hereford seeks a Principal Clinical Psychologist to improve care for individuals with psychosis and bipolar disorder. You will lead interventions and supervise teams within the Early Intervention in Psychosis service, contributing to quality initiatives and research. The role demands strong communication skills and at least 4 years of relevant experience. Offering up to £74,896 pro rata for part-time work, with various benefits including flexible working options.

Benefits

27 days leave plus bank holidays

Generous NHS pension

Flexible working opportunities

Great maternity, paternity, and adoption support

Health and wellbeing opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years experience as a qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist.
• Training and experience in psychological techniques for complex presentations.
• Experience of multi-agency/ multidisciplinary working.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist assessment and intervention for psychosis and bipolar disorder.
• Support MDT through supervision and training.
• Engage in audit and research aligned with key priorities.

Skills

Highly developed communication skills

Initiative

Ability to work within MDTs

Education

BSc/BA Honours degree in Psychology

Post‑graduate Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology

Eligible for registration as Chartered Psychologist

Job description

Go back Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Principal Clinical/Counselling/Applied/Practitioner Psychologist

The closing date is 08 February 2026

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced psychologist who is motivated to improve the care and support of people experiencing psychosis and bipolar disorder.

You will be based in our well established Early Intervention in Psychosis service where you will be an essential part of the leadership team and supervise a senior psychological therapist.

In addition, you will input to our Neighbourhood Mental Health Teams to provide access to specialist psychological intervention and promote psychologically informed ways of working with people with psychosis or bipolar disorder.

Psychologists in Herefordshire are integrated within MDTs and are also part of a wider supportive network of psychological professionals.

The post is advertised as 1 wte but we would consider 0.8 wte or job share. At least 0.5 wte would be dedicated to EIP working.

We welcome enquiries so please contact the recruiting manager (details at the top right-hand side of the advert) for informal discussion.

Main duties of the job

This post is integral to the provision of NICE recommended psychological interventions for people with diagnoses of psychosis or bipolar disorder.

You will provide specialist assessment, formulation, and intervention (including but not limited to CBTpbd and Family Interventions) and support the MDT through supervision, reflective practice, training and consultation.

You will contribute to clinical leadership within the EIP service and be supported to develop quality improvement initiatives promoting trauma‑informed care and co‑production, as well as engaging in audit and research as appropriate, in line with key national and local priorities and with local partners.

Your personal and professional development will be key, fostered within a culture of strong, compassionate working relationships. Leadership skills and experience working in the field of Psychosis/Bipolar Disorder will be an advantage, as well as the ability to work within different MDTs and clinical settings.

About us

At Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, we are working together to deliver outstanding care. We run community hospitals and community health services across Worcestershire and provide mental health and learning disability services across both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Our people (all 4500+ of them) provide services for people of all ages, experiencing both physical and/or mental health conditions from over 100 sites.

We will support you to thrive; offer flexible working options for a great work‑life balance, help you fulfil your ambitions, and empower you to make positive changes within your team or service. We valuediversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities.

What we offer

• 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
• Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours
• Flexible and agile working opportunities
• Great maternity, paternity, and adoption support
• Wide range of supportive staff networks
• Health and wellbeing opportunities

If you would like to know more, please visit our website.

We encourage you to read the attached applicant guidance notes.

Sharing your data - As a data controller we may sometimes need to process your data to pursue our legitimate business interests, for example to request a survey from you (optional), to support the Trust’s understanding of where you gained interest in working for the Trust.

Job responsibilities

The postholder will:

• Behave consistently with and promote the values and beliefs of the organisation.
• Use their initiative, be responsible and accountable for providing a systematic psychology service, specialist psychological interventions, clinical and research supervision and training to other health and care staff as agreed with the service lead/manager.
• Receive and actively participate in regular clinical supervision in accordance with good practice.
• Participate in national and regional professional specialty meetings and seminars as appropriate.
• Meet and maintain targets appropriate to the service.
• Undertake assessments, formulation, interventions, group, individual and indirect work with clients, staff teams, and families/carers.
• For full details of the duties and criteria for the role please refer to the job description and person specification attached.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience required specific to the role and clinical area.
• A minimum of 4 years of experience working as a qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist within the relevant area.
• Experience of leading in relation to the development and organisation of psychological interventions within a given clinical area.
• Sufficient training and experience to be recognised by the Division of Clinical/Counselling Psychology as a suitably qualified psychologist to offer clinical placements to trainee Clinical/Counselling Psychologists.
• Training and experience in the application of psychological knowledge across range of mental health presentations, including organic illness, functional mental health, and physical health.
• Experience of assessing and providing a wide range of psychological interventions to patients presenting with the full degree of clinical severity and across a range of clinical mental health presentations across the life span and care settings.
• Experience of multi‑agency/ multidisciplinary working.
• Therapeutic expertise in working with carers/families/couples.
• Experience of conducting clinically relevant research.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of relevant legislation and national guidance and their implication for clinical practice.
• Knowledge required specific to the role and clinical area.

Skills & Abilities

• Highly developed and effective communication skills, both oral and written, including ability to communicate complex, highly personal and sensitive information.

Qualifications

• BSc/BA Honours degree at 2:1 or above in Psychology.
• Post‑graduate Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
• Post‑qualification training/experience in specific, evidence based techniques for use with clients with complex psychological presentations and/or physical health difficulties, across the age span.
• Evidence of regular further professional training and experience as required by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the BPS.
• Eligible for registration as a Chartered Psychologist (Clinical or Counselling) by the BPS.
• Eligible for registration as a Practitioner member of the BPS Division of Clinical/Counselling Psychology.
• Registered with HCPC as a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist.
• I understand that I will be asked to provide original certificates to verify my qualifications at point of offer.
• Post graduate advanced training in CBTp and Family Intervention e.g. PGDip.
• BABCP accreditation.

Additional Criteria

• Ability to meet the travel requirements of the role.

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.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

£64,455 to £74,896 a year pro rata for part time