Principal Psychologist

Birmingham Children's Trust; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading children’s services organization in Birmingham is seeking a motivated Principal Psychologist for their Healthy Safe Behaviours Team. The role involves providing clinical leadership and developing innovative interventions for children and young people (7 to 17 years) with harmful sexual behaviors. The ideal candidate will have significant clinical leadership experience and a strong background in assessing and managing risks associated with complex behaviors. The organization supports ongoing training and professional development.

Benefits

Access to training and supervision

Peer support opportunities

Qualifications

• Significant experience in clinical leadership and service development.
• Strong skills in complex formulation and assessing/manage risk.
• Experience with children displaying harmful sexual behavior is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and delivery of innovative psychological services.
• Lead in risk screening and management planning.
• Provide clinical consultation and supervision to professionals.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Complex formulation

Risk assessment and management

Support and training of teams

Education

Doctorate in Psychology

Job description

Roles & Responsibilities

• Support the development and delivery of this new service with an emphasis on innovation, psychologically informed practice, working to the best available evidence base, undertaking routine service evaluation and clinically relevant research as appropriate.
• Lead on the development of risk screening and management planning and support the escalation of mental health concerns and partnership working where appropriate.
• Support the professional network around the child/young person; providing psychological consultation, developing shared formulations of complex needs/presentations, contributing to safety plans, developing and delivering teaching/training and clinical supervision of others.
• Carry out specialist assessments, formulation and deliver psychological interventions to children, young people, families &/or caregivers.

About the Trust

We have been rated as 'Good' by Ofsted, following a 2023 inspection. This is a fantastic achievement for Birmingham Children's Trust, with many positive highlights focusing on areas including the quality of staff leadership, partnership working, safeguarding and corporate parenting. If you are a team player, with strengths in multi‑agency and partnership working, who is passionate and experienced in developing and delivering high quality and effective services for this population, we would love to hear from you. Working in Children's Social Care can be pressured and emotionally challenging at times but can also be very rewarding. In 2025, Birmingham Children's Trust won 'Most Supportive Social Work Organisation' at the national Social Work Awards. We will provide you with access to training, regular clinical, professional and management supervision, and on‑going support. You will also have opportunities to link with other psychologists across the Trust for peer support.

Role Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Principal Psychologist to join our Healthy Safe Behaviours Team (HSB). This newly configured service supports children and young people (7 to 17 years), open to Birmingham Children's Trust, who present with harmful sexual behaviour. The team adopt a multi‑agency approach, supporting Early Help, Safeguarding, Children in Care and Youth Justice Services; delivering bespoke and tailored interventions and programmes of education and support. We are looking for a Principal Psychologist, with significant experience of clinical leadership, service development, and working from a trauma informed, systemic and developmentally sensitive perspective. This new role will work alongside the operational team manager to provide clinical leadership for the ongoing development and delivery of this service in accordance with the evidence base and current best practice guidance. Previous experience working with children and young people with presentations relating to harmful sexual behaviour would be beneficial. However, we are also keen to hear from psychologists from other specialties with strong skills in complex formulation, assessing and managing risk, supporting teams (leadership, consultation, training), and the ability to look beyond behaviour. Experience working with children and young people who have histories of early adversity, social care or youth justice involvement, childhood trauma &/or significant attachment disruption would also be desirable.

Application Requirements

In order to be considered for this role please include a supporting statement and CV demonstrating how you meet the competencies required as outlined in the attached person specification.