Principal Clinical Psychologist

NHS; Leatherhead; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 67,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading mental health charity for veterans is seeking a Senior Psychologist to provide clinical and professional leadership for their psychological therapies team. Candidates should have extensive experience in trauma-focused CBT and a strong understanding of mental health issues faced by veterans. The role involves overseeing treatment programmes and clinical assessments to ensure excellent care delivery. The position offers a salary of £65,241 to £66,992 annually, part-time contract for 12 months.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years post qualification experience required.
• Experience of psychological therapies to veterans preferred.
• Completion of post-qualification clinical supervision training.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership for the psychological therapies team.
• Oversee assessments and group treatment programmes.
• Work closely with senior staff for service planning.

Skills

Psychological assessment and formulation

Delivering trauma-focused CBT

Clinical supervision

Experience with veterans

Education

Post Graduate Doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology

Current registration with HCPC as a clinical psychologist

Job description

Overview

Provide clinical and professional leadership for the psychological therapies team in the region, with the psychological therapy team staff located at the Combat Stress Treatment Centre/Hub.

Contribute to the development and implementation of clinical interventions in the region, as a senior clinician within the inter-disciplinary team

Systematically plan and oversee delivery of assessments, group treatment programmes and provision of individual psychological therapy to meet agreed organisational targets, ensuring effective monitoring and reporting of team activity and outcomes

Along with Band 8a, ensure that the workload of the psychological therapy team is effectively managed and that staff resources are used effectively

Provide highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and treatment using evidence-based trauma-focused CBT for Veterans with PTSD, Complex-PTSD, depression, emotional dysregulation, inter and intrapersonal problems and other complex trauma-related mental health problems

Clinically supervise Band 8a deputy, Band 7 psychologists/cognitive behavioural psychotherapists and trainees/assistants; provide expert psychological consultation for the inter-disciplinary team and lead on psychologically-informed treatment planning, development of a reflective team approach and trauma-informed services

Job responsibilities

• Work closely with the Consultant Clinical Psychologist, South England and the Head of Psychological Therapies to identify and contribute to service planning and programme development and to identify staff resource requirements
• Promote the work of Combat Stress amongst other professionals by leading on training and consultation both internally and externally

About us

Combat Stress is the UKs leading mental health charity for veterans. For over a century weve been helping former service personnel deal with issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. Today we provide specialist treatment and support for veterans from every service and conflict, focusing on those with complex mental health issues related to their military service. We provide a range of community, outpatient and residential mental health services to veterans with complex mental health problems. We provide servicesin-person, and viaphoneandonline.

Details

Date posted: 18 September 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8b

Salary: £65,241 to £66,992 a year plus 5% Outer London Fringe Allowance

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 12 months

Working pattern: Part-time

Reference number: B0373-25-0007

Job locations: Tyrwhitt House, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 0BX

Job description

GENERAL OVERVIEW OF ROLE

Provide clinical and professional leadership for the psychological therapies team in the region, with the psychological therapy team staff located at the Combat Stress Treatment Centre/Hub.

Contribute to the development and implementation of clinical interventions in the region, as a senior clinician within the inter-disciplinary team

Systematically plan and oversee delivery of assessments, group treatment programmes and provision of individual psychological therapy to meet agreed organisational targets, ensuring effective monitoring and reporting of team activity and outcomes

Along with Band 8a, ensure that the workload of the psychological therapy team is effectively managed and that staff resources are used effectively

Provide highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and treatment using evidence-based trauma-focused CBT for Veterans with PTSD, Complex-PTSD, depression, emotional dysregulation, inter and intrapersonal problems and other complex trauma-related mental health problems

Clinically supervise Band 8a deputy, Band 7 psychologists/cognitive behavioural psychotherapists and trainees/assistants; provide expert psychological consultation for the inter-disciplinary team and lead on psychologically-informed treatment planning, development of a reflective team approach and trauma-informed services

Work closely with the Consultant Clinical Psychologist, South England and the Head of Psychological Therapies to identify and contribute to service planning and programme development and to identify staff resource requirements

To promote the work of Combat Stress amongst other professionals by leading on training and consultation both internally and externally.

Person Specification

Experience

• Minimum three years post qualification experience
• Experience of psychological assessment, formulation and treatment of clients across a range of care settings, including community, primary care, outpatient and inpatient settings
• Substantial experience of delivering CBT and at least one other evidence-based therapeutic modality
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups presenting with problems that reflect the full range of mental health disorders experienced by veterans (including, but not restricted to PTSD, Complex-PTSD, depression, substance misuse difficulties, emotional dysregulation, inter and intrapersonal problems and other complex trauma-related mental health problems, in 1:1 and group contexts)
• Experience of delivering evidence-based trauma-focused psychological therapies to adults with PTSD and/or C-PTSD
• Experience of designing, coordinating, and evaluating training programmes, including the use of online materials
• Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.

Desirable

• Experience of delivering mental health/psychological services to British Veterans
• Experience of clinical or research leadership role(s)
• Experience of clinically supervising qualified clinical or counselling psychologists or Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapists
• Experience of delivering clinical services, including psychological therapies, online
• Experience of developing multi-media clinical resources
• Experience of delivering services within a context of co-production with experts by experience / service users and their families

Qualifications

• Post Graduate Doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology as accredited by the British Psychological Society, or British Psychological Society Statement of Equivalence
• Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a clinical psychologist or a counselling psychologist
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology
• or
• Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (BABCP accreditation)
• Completion of post-qualification clinical supervision training

Desirable Qualifications

• Completion of further post-qualification specialist training in areas of practice relevant to the post, in particular: BABCP accreditation or eligibility for accreditation (psychologists)
• Completion of post-qualification clinical supervision training
• Veteran of the UK-armed forces
• Expert-by-experience either own experience of MH difficulties or carer/supporter of others with MH difficulties

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Combat Stress

Tyrwhitt House

Oaklawn Road

Leatherhead

Surrey

KT22 0BX