Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Epsom; On-site; GBP 66,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Epsom is looking for an experienced Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to lead the psychology service in the Perinatal Mental Health team. Candidates should hold a doctorate in psychology and have significant clinical experience, particularly in perinatal mental health. The successful applicant will work within a multidisciplinary team to enhance mental health services and implement specialized care pathways, ensuring high standards and effective advocacy for patients. Salary is £66,653 to £77,094 inclusive of fringe payments.

Qualifications

• Extensive post-qualification clinical experience in a relevant setting.
• Experience in leading clinical practice and service development.
• Ability to implement changes following audits and evaluations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the psychology provision across the Perinatal Mental Health Service.
• Maintain high standards of care according to professional guidelines.
• Communicate healthcare needs and advocate for the service.

Skills

Clinical Leadership

Supervision Skills

Therapeutic Modalities (CBT, EMDR, etc.)

Policy Development

Advocacy Skills

Education

Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology qualification

Completion of clinical supervision course

Additional leadership/management study

Job description

Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Closing date: 10 December 2025.

We have an opportunity for an experienced Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to lead the psychology provision across the three teams of the Perinatal Mental Health Service.

The service delivers a range of therapeutic modalities including CBT, EMDR, Systemic Couples therapy, IPT, CFT, and ACT. The role is suitable for applicants interested in transgenerational patterns of trauma, attachment, and parent and infant mental health. Our multidisciplinary team is supported by Psychiatrists, perinatal mental health nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, peer support workers, and nursery nurses. We are accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Main duties of the job

• Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of clinical work and care.
• Maintain high standards of care in accordance with the HCPC Code of Conduct, professional guidelines and Trust Policies and Procedures.
• Act within the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act (2005), and implement Safeguarding Adult and Child Protection Policies and legislation.
• Plan and deliver a highly specialist psychology service, oversee its clinical governance, and lead on service development.
• Supervise and contribute to Individual Performance Review/Appraisal of psychology staff as required.
• Communicate healthcare needs to and work in partnership with service commissioners and other healthcare providers, and advocate for the service.
• Develop and implement policies, protocols and care pathways.

Qualifications

• Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology qualification or equivalent.
• Completion of an appropriate clinical supervision course to enable supervision of trainees.
• Additional leadership/management study.

Experience

• Extensive post‑qualification clinical experience in a relevant clinical setting.
• Experience of leading in clinical practice, service development or project work.
• Experience supervising trainees, assistant psychologists, qualified clinical/counselling psychologists and others providing psychological therapies.
• Experience of implementing change following audit and service evaluation.
• Experience of specialist parent‑infant interventions (e.g., VIG, VIPP, COSP) and development of integrated care pathways supporting early bonding and infant mental health.
• Substantial experience in the assessment, formulation and treatment of perinatal mental health conditions, including birth trauma, perinatal OCD, perinatal loss, postpartum psychosis, complex trauma and its impact on the perinatal period, and parent‑infant relational difficulties.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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

Salary: £66,653 to £77,094 a year, incl. 5% Fringe HCAS.

Please note that we reserve the right to close posts as soon as sufficient applications are received.

Working from home contracts do not attract high cost area payments.