Principle Applied Psychologist

Rotherham Doncaster And South Humber Nhs Foundation Trust; Doncaster; On-site; GBP 67,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a highly experienced psychologist to provide specialist assessment, formulation and intervention for individuals with complex mental health needs. The post holder will support integrated care, manage risk, and contribute to service development within a busy NHS setting.

The role requires leading a multidisciplinary team, advancing staff wellbeing and psychological safety, and coordinating care across agencies.

Qualifications

• Post-graduate training in clinical/counselling psychology with HCPC registration is required.
• Experience as a qualified applied psychologist in the designated service.
• Experience with care coordination and leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience with complex emotional needs and trauma.
• Active participation in quality and service improvement initiatives.
• Desirable: leadership of a therapy team.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to service development, quality improvement and strategic planning.
• Provide highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention.
• Support staff wellbeing and resilience; promote psychological safety.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team and supervise trainees.
• Liaise with statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies.
• Teach, train and supervise clinical staff.

Skills

Evidence-based practice

Risk assessment

Complex communication

Multiagency working

Psychometric tests

Clinical supervision

Team leadership

Staff teaching

Care coordination

Interventions for trauma

Education

Post-graduate training in clinical/counselling psychology

HCPC registration as Practitioner Psychologist

Post-doctoral training in specialised areas

Trained in clinical supervision

Experience in care coordination

CPD evidence

Job description

Job summary

This exciting role provides highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for individuals with complex mental health needs, drawing on a range of evidence-based therapeutic models. The post holder will work with complexity, risk and uncertainty, offering psychological expertise to support formulation-driven and integrated care.

Main duties of the job

Working with senior clinical and operational leads, the post holder will contribute to service development, quality improvement and strategic planning, supporting effective pathways and responsive, high-quality care within system pressures. Strong leadership, communication and consultation skills are essential, with the ability to influence.

A key aspect of the role is shaping and sustaining a culture of psychological safety, containment and shared responsibility. The post holder will promote reflective practice, curiosity and psychologically informed responses to clinical and organisational challenges, supporting staff to think and work with complexity.

They will also support staff wellbeing and resilience, helping teams process the emotional impact of clinical work and maintain effective, cohesive functioning in high-pressure environments.

We particularly welcome applicants with an interest in trauma and complex emotional needs.

About us

Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) employ around 4000 talented colleagues who are very much appreciated, valued, and respected.

We have a wide portfolio which includes mental health, physical health, learning disability and drug and alcohol services.

We are dedicated to the development of our our people and hold a learning half day every month for our colleagues.

We are passionate about enhancing the quality of our service and we work hard to attract and select the right colleagues for our organisation. Our goal is to employ those who share our passion for providing first class care while remaining committed to our vision and values. Please view our Strategy using the link below:

https://www.rdash.nhs.uk/documents/clinical-and-organisational-strategy-2023-to-2028/

To find out more about working for RDaSH and the fantastic benefits we offer visit our website:

https://workwithrdash.co.uk/

We are committed to inclusive cultures and really value people in our organisation, view our Allyship video on YouTube to find out more:

https://youtu.be/WMJSkLoTk4Q

The main terms and conditions of service can be found here:

https://www.nhsemployers.org/publications/tchandbook

Details

• Date posted: 14 October 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 8b
• Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
• Reference number: 376-DCGM-0297-A
• Closing date: 04 November 2026

Job locations

Forest Gate, Tickhill Road, Western Road, Doncaster, DN4 8QN, United Kingdom

Job description

Please view the attached job description and person specification to view the full details about the role.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if there are a high amount of applications.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Post-graduate training (doctoral level equivalent) in clinical / counselling psychology (or its equivalent prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS.
• HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist
• Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice
• Trained in clinical supervision and the supervision of doctoral trainees
• Experienced in care co ordination
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Registration with BPS
• Additional post doctoral training in working with complex emotional needs, e.g., DBT.

Experience

• Working as a qualified applied psychologist within the designated service including a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and a range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings.
• Working with people with complex emotional needs.
• Exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care as a care co ordinator/key worker and leader of a multidisciplinary team
• Liaison and joint working with statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies
• Teaching, training, clinical supervision of other psychological practitioners.
• Active participation in quality and service improvement initiatives.

Desirable

• Leading a therapy team

Knowledge

• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health and its implications for clinical practice.

Desirable

• Project Management / audit / quality Improvement knowledge

Skills

• Evidence-based practice relevant to the role and in the care of difficult to treat groups e.g. dual diagnoses, additional disabilities or severely challenging behavior
• Risk assessment and risk management and clinical governance
• Communicate highly complex, highly sensitive and contentious information effectively, to a wide range of people
• Adapt creatively the evidence base for interventions in mental health for clients with communication difficulties / learning disabilities.
• Articulate the value added by applied psychology services within the context of multidisciplinary mental health and learning disability healthcare provision.
• Undertake complex multiagency working and liaise with multiple systems
• Utilise psychometric tests competently
• Provide effective teaching, training and clinical supervision for the multidisciplinary team.
• Identify, provide and promote appropriate interventions / means of support for carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviours.
• Utilise appropriate clinical governance mechanisms within own work.

Desirable

• Leadership skills
• Project Management / audit / quality Improvement skills

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHSFT

Employer's website: https://www.rdash.nhs.uk/

Contact

Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Dr Kerry Sheldon, [e-mail], 03000211503

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