Principal Clinical Psychologist (Band 8a/8b development opportunity)

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Congleton; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Congleton is seeking a Principal Clinical Psychologist to provide leadership in the Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team (CRHTT). This role emphasizes improving trauma-informed care and offers flexible working options. Candidates must hold HCPC registration and have relevant experience. Join a supportive environment with strong professional development and training opportunities.

Qualifications

• Must be registered with HCPC.
• Experience in clinical psychology and team leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership within the CRHTT.
• Enhance psychological care in the team.
• Champion person-centred working methods.
• Provide training and support to the team.
• Lead service evaluations and research.
• Conduct specialist psychological assessments.

Skills

HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist

Significant relevant experience

Job description

Vacancy

A Vacancy at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Role Overview

We are looking to recruit a Principal Clinical Psychologist to our CRHTT, based in Congleton in east Cheshire. The post is part of a wider workforce plan in Acute Psychology provision that demonstrates CWP’s commitment to improving the psychological and trauma‑informed care provided to patients, families, and staff in the acute pathway. The position is 0.8 WTE and we are happy to consider flexible and/or hybrid working arrangements.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical and professional leadership within the CRHTT.
• Work with the Consultant Clinical Psychologist and the local leadership team to enhance and evaluate the psychological care offer within your team.
• Champion relational and person‑centred ways of working, based on humanity and compassion across the Acute pathway; embed this ethos in the team.
• Provide training, consultancy, supervision and support to the multi‑disciplinary team.
• Lead on service evaluation, audit and research as part of ongoing quality improvements in the CRHTT.
• Provide highly specialist psychological assessments and interventions, and input to care planning and discharge planning.

Qualifications

All applicants must be HCPC registered Clinical Psychologists with significant, relevant experience as per the job description and person specification.

Additional Information

We have strong connections to the three DClinPsy regional training programmes (Liverpool, Lancaster and Manchester). You will join the CWP Senior Psychologists Group, a group that supports leadership, clinical and professional development of Psychologists. Clinical and professional supervision will be provided, and ongoing continuing professional development supported. Flexible, part‑time and job‑sharing requests will be considered favourably.

We encourage applications from suitably qualified and experienced people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010 and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’. The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.

All new entrants will commence on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction/initial training requirements of the role.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date. Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!

Contact: [e-mail] or call 01244 393100.

Timeline

Shortlisting to commence 12–13 January 2026 and proposed interview date 30 January 2026. This advert closes on Sunday 11 January 2026.