Principal Clinical Psychologist or CB Psychotherapist

South West London and St Georges Mental Health Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent mental health service provider in the UK seeks a Clinical / Counselling Psychologist or CBT Therapist to join their National OCD/BDD Service. The successful candidate will deliver high-quality, evidence-based psychological care, primarily focused on patients dealing with severe OCD and BDD. The role includes conducting assessments, providing therapeutic interventions, and overseeing training for other clinicians. This position offers opportunities for professional development and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Flexible working

Career development opportunities

Diverse and inclusive work environment

Qualifications

• Experience in delivering high‑quality psychological care.
• Ability to conduct specialist assessments and interventions for OCD/BDD.
• Skills in providing training and supervision to other professionals.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist cognitive‑behavioural assessments and interventions.
• Contribute to training and supervision of clinical psychologists.
• Participate in service development and clinical audits.

Skills

Cognitive‑behavioural assessments

Communication skills

Clinical supervision

Training and consultation

Education

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent

Job description

A Vacancy at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.

We are seeking a passionate and dedicated Clinical / Counselling Psychologist or CBT Therapist to join our highly respected National OCD/BDD Service at Springfield Hospital. This is a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of specialist care for individuals with obsessive‑compulsive disorder (OCD) and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).

The National OCD/BDD Inpatient Service at Springfield University Hospital, operated by South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, provides intensive, specialist care for adults experiencing severe and treatment‑resistant Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). As part of a nationally commissioned specialist consortium, the service plays a vital role in supporting individuals across the UK who have not responded to conventional treatments.

Located on Seacole Ward, a 14‑bed mixed‑gender facility for adults aged 18 and over (with no upper age limit), the unit offers a structured, evidence‑based six‑month treatment programme. This programme is delivered by a highly skilled multidisciplinary team, including specialist nursing staff, and is designed to address OCD and BDD alongside complex comorbidities—ensuring a holistic and person‑centred approach to recovery.

The postholder will be based on Seacole Ward, our specialist inpatient unit, and will play a key role in delivering high‑quality, evidence‑based psychological care.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist cognitive‑behavioural assessments and interventions for patients referred nationally.
• Offer consultation and expert advice on psychological care to healthcare professionals across the UK.
• Contribute to the training and supervision of clinical / counselling psychologists and cognitive behavioural psychotherapists working on the ward, supporting the delivery of effective, evidence‑based interventions.
• Lead on clinical supervision and offer education, training, and consultation to multidisciplinary team (MDT) colleagues.
• Work closely with the Consultant Psychiatrist Lead and Team Manager to ensure the safe and efficient running of the service and jointly lead on service improvement projects.
• Participate in service development and clinical audit, using research skills to inform and enhance practice.
• Provide comprehensive specialist assessment and high‑intensity therapeutic service for adult patients with OCD/BDD.
• Identify the nature, severity and complexity of adult patients’ mental health problems, and advise both patients and referrers on appropriate management.
• Formulate and implement plans for the intensive CBT treatment and/or management of clients’ mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework and evidence of treatment efficacy.
• Make appropriate use of specialist assessments (structured interviews, questionnaires, rating scales, guided inquiry methods).
• Undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and advise other clinicians in Secondary and Primary Care on psychological aspects of risk.
• Evaluate and make decisions about treatment options, considering theoretical and therapeutic models and complex factors.
• Exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the efficiency of all aspects of the service, including assessment, treatment and discharge of clients.
• Communicate skillfully and sensitively, conveying information concerning assessment, formulation and treatment plans, and monitor progress.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti‑racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co‑produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Application deadline: Sunday 25 Jan 2026.