Clinical Psychologist
The closing date is 12 November 2025
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Clinical Psychologist to join the Children's Psychological Medicine team based at the Children's Hospital Oxford. This established role supports the delivery of a psychological service to young people and their families who are seen by the Oncology Service, as well as providing General Paediatric input within the Children's Hospital. Psychology plays a key role within these services, embedded within the MDT to deliver high‑quality, evidence‑based, and family‑integrated care. You would be joining another psychologist who also works in the Pain Management Service.
Children's Psychological Medicine consists of psychologists, psychiatrists, and a family therapist, providing opportunities for both formal and informal consultation with staff experienced in a range of therapeutic approaches. The department operates an inpatient rota for the children's hospital, and there are numerous opportunities to seek advice and support from colleagues on a daily basis.
This post is a full‑time position. The Trust is supportive of flexible working arrangements and would be happy to discuss this further if needed. The team runs monthly Continuing Professional Development (CPD) slots, and there are several opportunities to develop interests in specific therapeutic models, with funds available for additional training.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will provide a highly specialised paediatric clinical psychology service to children, young people, and their families referred to Children's Psychological Medicine. Responsibilities include assessment, intervention, consultation, research and audit, supervision, and training.
Specifically, the postholder will:
Deliver a specialist service for 6 sessions per week (0.6 WTE) to the Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) Oncology Service, which provides both out‑patient and in‑patient care for young people up to age 25 and their families referred from across the region.
Act as a key member of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), contributing to service development and improvement through:
* Attendance and participation in departmental and MDT meetings
* Development and facilitation of therapeutic groups for young people
* Providing consultation and advice to colleagues
Provide the remaining 4 sessions (0.4 WTE) to the general paediatrics waiting list, including support for the in‑hours psychologist‑of‑the‑week service on the wards.
In all aspects of the role, the postholder will collaborate with a specialist team of clinicians, including paediatricians, psychologists, physiotherapists, play specialists, and specialist nurses. The postholder will work autonomously as an independent practitioner, within defined professional guidelines, and be fully accountable for all professional actions.
About us
Oxford is a nationally recognised centre for medical education, professional training, and research, seeking to recruit and retain those at the forefront of their field. The Trust has a strong ethos of supporting staff to achieve their potential, with opportunities for conducting research alongside clinical work and access to both internal and external training and professional development opportunities.
Oxford University Hospitals offer a wide range of general and specialist clinical services, which includes a thriving psychological presence across the lifespan. Alongside this, there is access to various resources across the site, including library facilities, canteens, and cafés, as well as an established staff support and well‑being service.
The city itself is large and cosmopolitan, offering opportunities to visit a range of museums and art galleries. There are diverse shopping locations, a vibrant café and bar scene, and numerous established music venues to suit all tastes. The city has served as the backdrop for many films and television series, with specialist tours for those eager to explore further. The surrounding picturesque countryside, including the Otmoor wildlife reserve, historic Woodstock, and Blenheim Palace, is less than 30 minutes away. We are also within an hour of London and Heathrow for those looking to travel further afield. For more information, see https://www.visitoxford.org.
Job responsibilities
For a more detailed description of the job, please see the attached job description and person specification. You are also welcome to contact Dr Isabel Paz, at isabel.paz@ouh.nhs.uk should you have any specific queries regarding the post.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent
* Eligible for chartered status as a clinical psychologist
* HCPC Registration as a practitioner psychologist
* Additional specialist therapeutic training/qualification
Experience
* Significant post‑qualification experience working with children and young people presenting with a range of health and developmental difficulties
* Experience of delivering highly skilled assessments, interventions, follow‑up and data monitoring utilizing at least two therapeutic models
* Experience of working with parents who may be dealing with a complex range of issues including, though not restricted to, significant concerns for their child, anxiety and/or adjustment issues as well as possible health concerns of their own.
* Experience of clinical work with infants, children, young people and families experiencing acute or chronic illness and life‑limiting conditions
Knowledge and Skills
* Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multi‑disciplinary team
* Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance, including regular supervision, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour
* Up to date knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies as applied in a clinical health setting and working with families with CF
* Ability to work with highly distressed adults, adolescents and family members
* Experience in individual therapy, work with families and group work
* Competence in assessing and managing risk
* A commitment to the evaluation of services, enthusiasm for both multi and uni‑professional audit and a desire to continue to apply and develop expertise in this area
Personal
* Ability to work effectively under pressure
* Ability to exercise autonomy/initiative
* To be able to think clearly and to communicate this well to others
* To be able to remain calm and behave in a confident and professional manner in challenging situations
* To enjoy working in a fast‑paced lively environment
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
£50,952 to £57,349 a year per annum pro rata
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