Principal Practitioner Psychologist - Transition

Job overview

We are pleased to be recruiting into Psychological Health Services for a post to provide a major contribution to the Children and Young People Gender Service South West (CYPGS SW) as part of the continued growth and development of this paediatric clinical specialty. We are looking for a Principal Practitioner Psychologist with leadership, management and clinical experience to lead the team to provide care to young people aged 17 and over and to support the transfer of care to adult services. As part of this role you would be providing therapeutic care to Children, young people and their families with complex needs.

This role will require working with colleagues from the National Provider Network for Children and Young People’s Gender Service. Knowledge of developmental, psychological and social models will be required with an ability to use data to inform service development.

CPD and learning together is highly valued withing the CYPGS specialty. It enjoys weekly in person clinical development meetings, provided by clinicians within the team and external speakers.

Main duties of the job

• To contribute to development, coordination, clinical care and leadership, to ensure the systematic provision of a psychology service to the Children and Young People’s Gender Service and personally provide highly specialist clinical input (direct and indirect) with all age groups in this service, their management within NHS partnership providers.
• To contribute to work as appropriate with the National Provider Network
• To lead the CYPGS – South West pathway for young people aged 17 and above, developing appropriate time limited interventions.
• To lead the CYPGS – South West process and system for young people moving to adult services.
• To work alongside the Clinical Lead and the National Provider Network to provide effective intervention for young people 17 years and above.
• To provide day-to-day management and professional supervision of staff employed within Psychological Health Services
• To support the provision of a service consistent with the April 2026 Service Specification for CYP Gender Services and in line with the Cass Review Recommendations.

Further duties as per the attached Job Description & Person Spec.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Psychological Health Services

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.

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.