Job requirements
Essential
22 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Knowledge
Highly developed knowledge and skills in the care of difficult to treat groups e.g. dual diagnoses, additional disabilities or severely challenging behaviour
- Knowledge
Doctoral level knowledge of: Evidence- based practice relevant to the role
- Knowledge
Risk assessment and risk management
- Knowledge
Proven ability and experience of devising and delivering specialist training in a range of subjects relevant to the clinical area
- Knowledge
Clinical governance
- Knowledge
Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health and its implications for clinical practice.
- Knowledge
Audit and research methodology
- Knowledge
Social Inclusion agenda
- Knowledge
Communicate highly complex, highly sensitive and contentious information effectively, to a wide range of people
- Experience
Working as a qualified applied psychologist with a wide variety of client groups, with a range of clinical severity across care settings.
- Experience
Experience of working with people with complex co-morbid physical and mental health needs.
- Experience
Experience of taking full clinical responsibility for clients with risk issues and range of complex psychological and physical health problems.
- Experience
Teaching, training, clinical supervision and field supervisor for doctoral theses.
- Experience
Experienced in delivering supervision to psychology and non-psychology staff.
- Experience
Experience in providing consultation to non-psychology staff including medical professionals
- Experience
Lead in quality and service improvement initiatives.
- Experience
Experience of working with or within the maternity system
- Qualifications
Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, including models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
- Qualifications
Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice
- Qualifications
HCPC registration as a practitioner psychologist
- Qualifications
Trained in clinical supervision and the supervision of doctoral trainees
- Qualifications
Clear ongoing commitment to specialist area of expertise through post-doctoral study and experience.
Desirable
8 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Knowledge
Experience working as a qualified psychologist within a relevant clinical setting (e.g. any maternity setting, perinatal mental health, paediatrics, acute hospital settings, staff support services).
- Knowledge
Lead and development of research projects
- Knowledge
Experience of management and/or leadership of professional staff
- Experience
Experience working as a qualified psychologist within a relevant clinical setting (e.g. any maternity setting, perinatal mental health, paediatrics, acute hospital settings, staff support services).
- Experience
Lead and development of research projects
- Experience
Experience of management and/or leadership of professional staff
- Qualifications
Registration with BPS
- Qualifications
Training in, and experience of delivering trauma models (EMDR, TF-CBT)
Job overview
Principal Clinical Psychologist
Band 8b
- WTE
Permanent
Are you a Clinical Psychologist who is passionate about delivering compassionate support to maternity staff? We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and dedicated Clinical Psychologist to support development of psychologically informed maternity care, building staff support and developing a trauma informed workforce.
This is a varied Clinical Psychology role; providing assessment, formulation and intervention to maternity staff, as well as working creatively to support the leadership team within maternity to develop an approach to prevention of post traumatic stress within the staff team. This will involve inputting into policy, as well as delivering training and supervision.
The post holder would join our committed leadership team within maternity. The post will be hosted and supported by the perinatal and maternal mental health teams within Combined healthcare, specifically with regular supervision provided by the Consultant Clinical Psychologist.
Main duties of the job
We offer excellent clinical supervision and support. There are a wide range of CPD opportunities available. EMDR training and ongoing supervision will be available to the postholder. The post is hospital based and will involve a combination of face to face and remote working. There will be dedicated office space and administrative support. Flexible working can be considered.
The University Hospitals of North Midlands are proud to provide safe, compassionate and personalised maternity care to families across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. Our maternity services have been rated Good by the Care Quality Commission, reflecting the significant improvements and dedication of our teams in delivering high‑quality, well-led and safe care.
We are equally committed to caring for the people who make this happen: our workforce. We prioritise staff wellbeing, development and a supportive culture where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to grow.
University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. We serve around three million people and we're highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Trust has around 1,450 inpatient beds across two sites n Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford. Our 11,000 strong workforce provide emergency treatment, planned operations and medical care from Royal Stoke University hospital and County Hospital in Stafford.
Our mission to provide the very best health care includes recruiting the best people. Our goal is to be a world-class centre of achievement, where patients receive the highest standards of care and the best people come to learn, work and research.
We would be delighted to discuss this opportunity with you. Please contact:-
Dr Rebecca Hutton (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) on 03001231769 or rebecca.hutton@combined.nhs.uk
Rachael Topping (Lead Midwife for Recruitment and Retentions) on 01782 671765 or Rachael.Topping@uhnm.nhs.uk
Applicant requirements
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.
WhatsApp job alerts
Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 8 Psychology roles in Stoke-on-Trent
Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.
Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Principal Clinical Psychologist with North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust in Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is £66,582 - £77,368 per annum pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 22 Sep 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (08 Sep 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.