Principle Applied Psychologist

The Methodist Church in Britain; Doncaster; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Monthly learning half day for Kollegen

Job summary

RDaSH seeks a senior applied psychologist to lead complex clinical work and shape therapeutic practice across teams. The post combines a substantial clinical caseload with a senior leadership role, supervising psychologists and multidisciplinary colleagues.

You will influence across services, promote psychological safety, and support staff wellbeing. HCPC registration and doctoral training are required, with ongoing CPD and leadership contributions.

Qualifications

• Post-graduate doctoral-level training in clinical or counselling psychology accredited by the BPS, or its pre-1996 equivalent.
• Post-doctoral training in one or more specialised areas of psychological practice
• Training in clinical supervision and the supervision of doctoral trainees
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for people with complex mental health needs.
• Carry a significant clinical caseload.
• Provide supervision, clinical oversight and consultation to psychological therapists and multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Take a senior leadership role, influencing across services and pathways.
• Support reflective practice and psychologically informed thinking across teams.
• Shape and sustain a culture of psychological safety, containment and shared responsibility.
• Support staff wellbeing and resilience, helping teams process the emotional impact of clinical work.
• Contribute to service development, quality improvement and strategic planning with senior clinical and operational leads.
• Support effective pathways and high-quality care within system pressures

Skills

Legislation knowledge

Risk assessment

Communicating complex information

Psychometric testing

Carers & staff support

Evidence-based practice

Leadership

Education

Doctoral-level training (clinical or counselling psychology) BPS accredited

Post-doctoral training in specialised areas

Clinical supervision training

CPD evidence

Job description

This senior applied psychology post at RDaSH combines a significant clinical caseload with a senior leadership role. The post holder provides specialist assessment and intervention for complex mental health needs, and supervises psychological therapists and multidisciplinary colleagues. Its distinct focus is shaping psychological safety and reflective practice across teams, and supporting staff wellbeing. Doctoral training in clinical or counselling psychology and HCPC registration are required.

What the job involves

• Provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for people with complex mental health needs, using a range of evidence-based therapeutic models
• Carry a significant clinical caseload
• Provide supervision, clinical oversight and consultation to psychological therapists and multidisciplinary colleagues
• Take a senior leadership role, influencing across services and pathways
• Support reflective practice and psychologically informed thinking across teams
• Shape and sustain a culture of psychological safety, containment and shared responsibility
• Support staff wellbeing and resilience, helping teams process the emotional impact of clinical work
• Contribute to service development, quality improvement and strategic planning with senior clinical and operational leads
• Support effective pathways and high-quality care within system pressures

What’s required

Qualifications

• Post-graduate doctoral-level training in clinical or counselling psychology accredited by the BPS, or its pre-1996 equivalent
• Post-doctoral training in one or more specialised areas of psychological practice
• Training in clinical supervision and the supervision of doctoral trainees
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Registration & licences

• HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist

Experience

• Qualified applied psychology practice across a wide range of client groups, life stages, severity levels and care settings, including people with complex emotional needs
• Full clinical responsibility for psychological care as a care coordinator or key worker, and leading a multidisciplinary team
• Liaison and joint working with statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies, including complex multiagency working
• Teaching, training and clinical supervision of other psychological practitioners
• Active participation in quality and service improvement initiatives

Skills & knowledge

• Knowledge of legislation relevant to the client group and its implications for clinical practice
• Evidence-based practice for difficult-to-treat groups, adapted for communication difficulties or learning disabilities
• Risk assessment, risk management and clinical governance, including using governance mechanisms in own work
• Communicating highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, and articulating the value of applied psychology within multidisciplinary services
• Using psychometric tests competently
• Identifying and providing support for carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviour

Nice to have

• Registration with the BPS
• Additional post-doctoral training in working with complex emotional needs, such as DBT
• Experience of leading a therapy team
• Project management, audit or quality improvement knowledge and skills
• Leadership skills

What’s offered

• Monthly learning half day for colleagues