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Job overview
Looking for the next step in your career? Look no further! We have an opportunity for a Principal Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to work in our South Bedfordshire Adult Community Mental Health Services network in a post which has leadership elements alongside clinical and supervision responsibilities. You will provide senior clinical and strategic input into these two local services which provide care and support for people (and their families) who experience serious mental health difficulties, such as psychosis and complex emotional needs. Whilst we are seeking full time hours for this post, we could consider an applicant who can offer part-time hours of 0.8wte or more, or applicants who can offer a job-share at 1.0wte hours. The main duties involve ensuring the systematic provision of a high-quality comprehensive specialist psychological service to the service users of the Community Mental Health Teams. You will work closely with the team managers and senior clinicians in leadership roles, and be part of a thriving multi-disciplinary network of mental health professionals, Peer Support Workers, VCSE partners and administrators. There is a dedicated group of psychologists (including assistant psychologists and Clinical Associates in Psychology) and therapists for whom you would provide supervision and leadership.
Main duties of the job
The candidate will be experienced in working with this client group and be familiar with NHS services, have a track record of working to develop and support multidisciplinary approaches and pathways, and have experience in the management of demand and flow through services. Experience in supervision, consultation, leadership, and service development is essential, along with highly developed clinical skills in assessment, formulation and evidence-based interventions for people presenting in secondary care mental health services. The psychologists and services in our area place high value on trauma-informed care and on co-production, quality improvement and innovation, and on improving access for people in our diverse and rural communities - so we are very interested in hearing from people whose core values align with those.
The post requires people to be able to travel to locations around rural South Bedfordshire.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please read the attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the vacancy.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a qualified Clinical Psychologist including substantial post-qualification experience within speciality.
- Experience of working with teams and team leads to provide specialist psychological consultation, advice and support.
Desirable
- Experience of proposing and implementing service development projects within relevant service area.
- Relevant management / leadership training certificate.
- Post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities.
- Experience of providing teaching and training to psychologists and/or other professional groups.
Knowledge & skills
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of NHS psychology careers and the barriers experienced by some socio-demographic groups
- A knowledge and understanding of organisational development and change
- Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies
- Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis. Up to date knowledge of psychological research and national guidance Knowledge of legislation and its implications for clinical practice with this client group.
- Aware of the potential impact of discrimination & disadvantage on mental health.
- Able to be flexible and adapt approach according to need.
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- Post-Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology or equivalent accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)
- Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.
- Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Principal Psychologist – South Beds CMHT with East London NHS Foundation Trust in London, London, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is £66,582 - £77,368 Per Annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 22 Jul 2026.
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