Specialist Paediatric Clinical Psychologist

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent children's hospital in London is seeking a Senior Clinical Psychologist for a fixed-term maternity cover. The role involves providing clinical psychology services to children with visual conditions, working within multidisciplinary teams. Candidates should hold a relevant degree, have experience in clinical psychology, and exceptional communication skills. This position offers the opportunity for professional development within a supportive environment.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Work in a diverse and inclusive environment

Engagement in special interest groups

Qualifications

• Experience as a qualified clinical psychologist at specialist level.
• Ability to work with diverse client groups and manage clinically severe cases.
• Experience supervising trainee psychologists.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical psychology services to children with visual conditions.
• Utilize therapeutic modalities including Narrative and CBT.
• Contribute to psychology services across different medical specialties.

Skills

Psychological assessment

Excellent communication skills

Multidisciplinary team working

Complex intervention methods

Education

Honours degree in Psychology

Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology

Registration with the Health and Care Professionals Council

Job description

Job Summary

Senior Clinical Psychologist in Paediatrics – Band 8a. Contract: Fixed term maternity cover until 31st August 2026.

Working pattern: 22.5 hours/week (0.6 WTE). Essential working days: Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays.

Why we are recruiting

We have an exciting opportunity for a senior clinical psychologist to join the Psychological and Mental Health Services (PAMHS) department at Great Ormond Street Hospital covering maternity leave. You will be providing a service to children with visual conditions and their families.

The successful candidate will provide a specialist clinical psychology service to children and families referred to the Ophthalmology team at GOSH, working closely with consultants and allied health professionals. The role includes provision of psychological assessment, formulation and evidence-based interventions on a predominantly outpatient basis.

What we can offer

You will be working with the Surgery & Development Stream – a team of paediatric clinical psychologists who offer psychological input to children under the care of thirteen medical specialties. In addition to your work with the Ophthalmology team you will contribute to the flexible delivery of psychology services across the stream, responding to new developments and organisational changes.

We are one of three paediatric psychology streams within the hospital and sit within the wider psychological and mental health services.

Main duties

Utilise a range of therapeutic modalities, including Narrative, CBT, Systemic, ACT, compassion‑focused therapy. Offer individual, family, parent, and group psychological interventions, working within GOSH MDTs and with external agencies.

Strong commitment to continuing professional development in line with job planning. Academic teaching and special interest groups in medicalised trauma, medically unexplained symptoms, narrative therapy, cognitive assessment, and others are available. Utilisation of research skills for audit, policy and service development and research is encouraged.

As the post is fixed‑term, we will think with you about your development within and beyond this contracted post to support your career.

Qualifications and experience

• Academic/Professional qualification: Honours degree in Psychology. Post‑graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) accredited by the BPS/HCPC, including clinical psychometrics, neuropsychology, and lifespan developmental psychology. Registration with the Health and Care Professionals Council as Practitioner Psychologist. Post‑doctoral training and recorded CPD experience and/or further qualifications in specialised areas of psychological practice.
• Experience and knowledge: Assessed experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist at specialist level. Experience working with a wide variety of client groups across the life course and presenting with a full range of clinical severity. Experience representing psychology within multidisciplinary care. Experience applying psychology in different cultural contexts and working in a multicultural framework. Experience presenting psychology to multidisciplinary audiences at conferences or other educational settings. Experience and expertise with a specialist paediatric client group. Experience supervising trainee psychologists and/or other professionals.
• Skills and abilities: Skilled in complex psychological assessment, intervention and management methods. Excellent communication skills – oral and written – conveying technical and clinically sensitive information. Experience providing consultation to professional and non‑professional groups. Ability to identify, provide and promote support to carers and staff exposed to distressing situations and challenging behaviours. Ability to develop and use complex multi‑media materials for presentations. Evidence of productive multidisciplinary team working. Ability to maintain professionalism in highly emotive and distressing situations, including verbal abuse. Evidence of specialised psychological therapeutic skills used in complex paediatric cases.

Person specification – GOSH Culture and Values

• Always welcoming, helpful, expert, and one team.
• Knowledge and understanding of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Understanding of diversity and inclusion challenges in the workplace.
• Demonstrable contribution to advancing equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Equal Opportunities

Great Ormond Street Hospital is committed to recruiting the best person for the job, based on ability and merit, in a process that is fair, open, consistent and free from bias and discrimination.

We are a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture where all staff are valued, respected and acknowledged. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability status or length of time spent unemployed. We particularly welcome applications from BAME communities, people with disabilities and/or long‑term health conditions and LGBT+ community members.

We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants and employees are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, a member of the Business Disability Forum and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

We support active employee‑led networks for BAME, LGBT+ and allies, disability, long‑term health conditions and women.

Additional information – Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check to confirm no prior 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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants needed a criminal record certificate from each country they have lived in for at least 12 months over the past ten years. Adult dependants (over 18) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found on the UK Visas and Immigration site.

UK Registration

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

Reference Number

271-BBM-7345916

Location

Great Ormond Street Hospital, Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3JH.

Employer Details

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust. Employer website: https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/.