Overview
We are looking for an experienced Band 8a Clinical Psychologist or a Band 7 Clinical Psychologist who we would support to develop within a preceptorship model.
You would be a key part of our multi-disciplinary CAMHS Therapeutic Education Team, which is part of the innovative Homes and Horizons project. Homes and Horizons is a partnership between the NHS, Social Care, Education and The Shaw Trust. It provides homes, therapeutic education, foster care and trauma-informed environments for a cohort of complex young people in Somerset.
We believe that healthy systems create good outcomes. This post will suit someone who wants the challenge of applying all areas of their psychological knowledge and skill to helping young people and the systems that care for them. Within our educational settings, aside from direct clinical work, this is a unique opportunity to contribute to a rich therapeutic environment, collaborating closely with a range of staff to help young people reach their full potential. Across the wider project, you would contribute to the development of sustainable, psychologically-informed processes, which support both our young people and staff to thrive.
We would warmly welcome informal conversations about the role.
Main duties
As a Clinical Psychologist in this innovative and dynamic project, you will provide a broad and impactful psychological service to young people and the systems that support them. This role requires a high level of adaptability, collaboration, and clinical expertise, with a strong emphasis on trauma-informed and relational care.
Your key responsibilities will include:
* Delivering comprehensive psychological assessments, including cognitive, adaptive functioning, risk assessments, and contributions to ADHD and autism diagnostic pathways.
* Developing collaborative formulations with young people and the adults around them to guide effective, trauma-informed interventions.
* Providing individual, group, and team-based interventions, and designing therapeutic packages for delivery by colleagues.
* Offering clinical supervision to team members and care home staff, supporting reflective practice and professional development.
* Contributing to service evaluation, audit, and research to inform ongoing development and ensure high standards of care.
* Helping to maintain and nurture the psychological, trauma-informed culture of the project.
* Delivering training to staff from a range of professional backgrounds to enhance psychological understanding and practice.
* Supporting the growth and sustainability of a complex, community-focused project, drawing on relational, systemic, and community psychology models.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we are committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
* Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
* NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
* Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
* A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London. The region is home to excellent educational facilities and, with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Details
Date posted: 10 September 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £55,690 to £62,682 per year. A preceptorship model is also offered, from Band 7 to 8a
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 184-OL-GR-3119
Job locations: Foundation House, Wellsprings Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 7PQ; Trustwide, The Crescent, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DY
Job description
Key Working Relationships
* Service Users, families and carers
* Therapeutic Education staff
* Multi Professional agencies
* Care home staff and foster carers
* Operational Managers CAMHS
* Consultant Psychiatrists
* Other members of the multi-disciplinary team
* Members of range of CAMHS teams including inpatient and community teams
* Children's Social Care staff
* Voluntary and private sector care organisations providing services for children and young people
* Principal psychologist for Therapeutic Education
* Head of Child Psychology
Planning and Organisation
* To ensure client records are maintained in line with Trust policy
* To work in line with Trust Lone Working Policy
* To ensure your diary is kept up-to-date
* To ensure work is prioritised in line with clinical need
Analytics
* To take part in the on-going evaluation of the post and advice/ consultation model of service delivery
* To participate in clinical or administrative audits as required
Clinical Responsibilities
* Responsible for providing specialist psychological assessment (including neuropsychological assessments); developing and implementing a psychological service for young people and their carers; maintaining a clinical caseload
* To formulate and implement plans for the psychological treatment and/or management of a client's mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the client's problems, and employing methods of proven efficacy, across the full range of care settings
* To liaise with appropriate professionals and to contribute to multi-disciplinary case discussions/planning meetings
* To provide consultancy to colleagues from different professional groups and non-professionals
* Responsible for updating electronic patient record systems and other IT functions
* To be responsible for managing one's own workload and also to allocate work to trainees and assistants as appropriate
* To interpret agreed guidelines and policies as an autonomous practitioner and to seek consultation appropriately from peers, the Head of Speciality and Clinical Supervisor
* To write reports summarising complex information to guide clinical care
Service development responsibilities
* To work with the relevant operational managers and to advise regarding service priorities and effective implementation of best practice guidelines and propose changes for policy or service development as necessary
* Contribute to strategic planning and proposing changes to service delivery to ensure / promote effective service delivery
Clinical Governance
* To promote the use of effective psychological models and interventions in the service
* To participate in and promote clinical audit within the service, alongside discussion with the wider team
* To liaise with other disciplines and agencies, as appropriate, to ensure best practice is shared
* To liaise with other disciplines & agencies to ensure that best practice is shared
Research & Development
* To regularly participate in relevant areas of research & evaluation and undertake service evaluation as agreed with the education team. -- and / or supervise the research of others
* To encourage a culture of evidence-based practice in all parts of the service
Clinical Supervision, Teaching & Training
* To provide specialist clinical supervision to less experienced clinical psychologists, trainees in psychology and other professionals, as appropriate
* Responsibility for organising and undertaking teaching and training in relevant psychological skills as agreed with both professional and operational managers
* To develop a personal professional development plan in collaboration with the principal psychologist, to be updated annually, and to participate in annual review process. To fully observe the BPS (1996) Code of Conduct and DCP (1995) professional practice guidelines
* To participate in psychology service business and professional meetings, as appropriate, and in discussion with the Head of Child & Adolescent Psychology
* To maintain and further develop high standards of clinical psychology Practice through co-operative work with other clinical psychologists through audit and supervision
* To be aware of, adhere to Trust policies and procedures
* To receive regular clinical and management supervision in an agreed and appropriate format, as provided by the psychology team
* To keep abreast of developments in the practice of clinical psychology, as agreed with the Head of Child Psychology
Information Resources & Administrative Duties
* To make accurate observations and recordings, using Rio (electronic patient recording system)
Other Specific Tasks Required
* To undertake any other duties at a comparable level of responsibility as may be allocated or deemed appropriate by your line manager
Qualifications and Experience
Essential
* Doctoral Clinical Psychology qualification or equivalent as accredited by the BPS
* Eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status
* Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council
Desirable
* Relevant specialist CPD qualification
* Clinical supervision training
Experience
* Well-developed knowledge of specialist therapeutic interventions with the client group, underpinned by comprehensive theoretical knowledge
* Ability to develop therapeutic relationships with young people and families in which the presentation is complex and the dynamic may involve rejection or disconnect
* Teaching/training with psychology staff and other professions
* Clinical Supervision experience
Desirable
* Specialist post qualification experience in CAMHS / with young people
* Work with Children who are looked after or in an education setting
* Experience of working systemically with teams and/or across agencies
* Experience of Service Development/Project Work
* Consultancy work in multi-professional setting
Additional Criteria
* Advanced psychological/ neuropsychological assessment and formulation skills
* Doctorate level knowledge of research design and data analysis
* Knowledge of the role & functions of other agencies in respect of children and young people
* Effective communication with colleagues at all levels within the organisation and external organisations
* Ability to sit for long periods in front of a VDU and physical dexterity for keyboard use
* Advanced use of judgement and analytical skills in interpreting overall health service policy and strategy in order to establish goals and standards
* Communication skills
* Evidence of a good standard of literacy / English language skills
* Planning & organizing skills
* Ability to organise diary and work and maintain good boundaries
* Desire to work with children and young people with complex presentations
* Open minded, treat colleagues, patients, carers and relatives with compassion, dignity and respect
* Effective team player with good leadership, communication and negotiation skills
* Empathy/engagement skills with the client group, families, carers and colleagues
* Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and ability to "hold" the stress of others
* Ability to work independently
* Self-awareness and emotional resilience
* Skills in clinical supervision
* Consultancy skills to other professions/ agencies
* Ability to sit in a restricted position for long periods of time maintaining continuous, intense concentration, in working with challenging people and their families
* Active commitment to children and young people's participation in their own care and treatment, and promotion of their wider involvement in the service
* Own transport available for work purposes
* Full UK driving licence
Desirable
* Knowledge of legislation and its implications for clinical practice and professional management, including complex child protection issues
* Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS and HCPC
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.
Employer details
Employer name: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Foundation House, Wellsprings Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 7PQ
Employer's website: https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/
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