Specialist Clinical Psychologist

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Specialist Clinical Psychologist (Band 8a) for a fixed-term 12-month maternity cover in Bristol. The post offers flexible working options and a 37.5-hour week, with the possibility of full-time, part-time or job-share patterns.

The successful applicant will join the Children and Young People’s Services, delivering clinical psychology to the Surgery and Rheumatology psychology provisions, and contribute to service development and research within a

Qualifications

• Doctorate in clinical psychology or equivalent.
• HCPC registration as a practitioner psychologist.
• Training in clinical supervision.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical psychology services to Women and Children Service teams, primarily Surgery Psychology and/or Rheumatology Psychology.
• Lead psychological care with children, young people and families including diabetes-related care.
• Participate in research and audit activities to strengthen evidence base and practice.
• Provide clinical supervision and training for psychologists and other staff.
• Advise Head of Psychological Health Services on developing policies, protocols and guidelines.

Skills

Clinical psychology

Multi-disciplinary teamwork

Assessment & formulation

Psychometric testing

Leadership

Education

Doctorate in clinical psychology or equivalent

HCPC registration

Clinical supervision training

Job description

Main area Paediatrics Grade Band 8a Contract Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity leave cover) Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Job share
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week Job ref 387-W&C3837-NG

Employer Bristol NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Bristol Royal Hospital for Children Town Bristol Salary £57,528 - £64,750 per annum, pro rata for part time roles Salary period Yearly Closing 03/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 16/11/2026

Specialist Clinical Psychologist

Band 8a

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1 st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust. Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic, innovative, adaptable Clinical Psychologist keen to develop experience, knowledge and skills in working in Paediatric Medical Specialties. The fixed term post holders will be contributing to the care provided by the Children and Young Peoples Surgery Psychology provision and/or Rheumatology Psychology.

This post is recruiting to 41.25 hours in total please state in your application how many hours you would like to work and if you have a preference of clinical speciality.

The post holder will be part of experienced multidisciplinary teams in which psychology is well established and valued. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a thriving health psychology service. The post holder will provide assessment, formulation and interventions in innovative and compassionate ways in a fast-paced acute health setting, in addition to leadership roles within the medical specialty and within Psychological Health Services. This role will sit within a small team of psychologists including an experienced consultant lead.

Main duties of the job

To provide clinical psychology services into teams within Women and Children Service, primarily but not exclusively within the Surgery Psychology provision and/or Rheumatology Psychology providing specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.

• To share with the multi professional clinical team, through joint working, consultation, training and service development activities, psychological knowledge and skills to enable individualised psychological care in partnership with children, young people and families with diabetes.
• To participate in research and audit activity in collaboration with other professional groups and other providers as appropriate, to increase the evidence base and support the sharing of good practice in psychological and social care for the children, young people and families with diabetes receiving services.
• To provide a clinical health placement and opportunities for research for trainee clinical psychologists as requested.
• To provide clinical supervision and training for psychologists and other staff as requested by the Head Psychological Health Services.
• To advise and work with the Head of Psychological Health Services to develop and implement: service developments, policies, protocols and guidelines relating to the psychological services provided for this population.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The award-winning Psychological Health Services is recognised for leadership and the development of Trust wide psychological services. As a university teaching trust, research and quality improvement forms part of BFT’s mission to support excellence in delivery of patient care, alongside education and applied research of the highest quality.

We are engaged in high profile national professional networks at a senior level across BPS, NHS and charitable sector organisations. We have strong links to local and regional universities providing access to support research and clinical training with honorary appointment up to professorial level. Psychological Health Services has an expanding research portfolio. Psychological Health Services take pride in their commitment to providing high quality and accessible CPD and access to skilled clinical and peer supervision. Examples of current CPD opportunities include monthly Trust wide departmental CPD meetings, journal clubs and an ACT supervision group.

Although the current recruitment is for a specific post, we welcome enquiries from those who are interested in wider opportunities within our portfolio.

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and person specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

If you are interested in joining us, we warmly welcome informal enquiries by contacting us as below.

Person specification

Education and Qualification

• Doctorate in clinical psychology, Counselling psychology or equivalent
• Current registration as a practitioner psychologist with the Health Care Professions Council
• Training course in clinical supervision

Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrable understanding of the roles of a clinical psychologist within multi-professional health teams in relation to the young person/adult, the staff team and the organisation
• Demonstrable understanding of the implications of acute and long-term conditions and disability for young people/adults as applicable
• Demonstrable knowledge of legislation and guidance pertaining to safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults, consent, confidentiality and standards of psychological care within relevant NICE and other guidance.(A/I)
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for children and young people with diabetes
• Theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment of common mental health difficulties experienced by children and young people with diabetes
• Ability to assess the psychological needs of children and young people with diabetes, including the use of cognitive and developmental psychometric tests.(
• Ability to generate systemic and individual psychological formulations and interventions based on applying psychological theories and models to the complex information generated by the young person/adult and social care systems
• Ability to access, record and manage information and data pertaining to the work undertaken in medical and psychology notes, data bases and electronic records as required
• Ability to prioritise and manage available time for clinical work and professional activities effectively and safely
• Able to travel to regional clinics, meetings and home visits if required (A)
• To be skilled in the administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials

Experience

• Experience of working as a clinical psychologist providing psychological consultation, case management supervision and training to multi-professional and multi-agency teams
• Experience of working as a clinical psychologist undertaking consultation and service development work within a multi-disciplinary physical health setting
• Evidence of having worked in an area of clinical practice relevant to CYP with diabetes
• Formal teaching /presentation sessions to health and other professionals
• Experience of working as a clinical psychologist with CYP within diabetes services (A/I)

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.

BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.

If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

IMPORTANT:

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.