Job overview
Are you a experienced Clinical Psychologist or a newly qualified? We could have the opportunity that you have been waiting for. Wirral Children & Young People's Mental Health Service 0-18 Team is seeking an enthusiastic and committed individual to join our friendly and support team. The role will be a Band 7 or Band 8a depending on experience.
We are seeking to appoint a Clinical Psychologist to join our multi-disciplinary team, which includes existing Clinical Psychologists. The successful candidate will participate in the delivery of specialist evidenced based interventions, in-depth assessments, formulations and supervision to other practitioners and psychology trainees. The post is temporary but will offer excellent experience and opportunities to take forward in a career.
Shortlisting for this vacancy is due to commence on 1 April 2026 and the proposed interview date is 13 April 2026.
Main duties of the job
We offer an excellent developmental post, with the opportunity to develop skills within a specialist setting and to be part of the development of an evidenced based service. There is a strong commitment to professional development through Appraisal and the provision of individual supervision.
Applicants should possess a Post-graduate/ doctoral level qualification in Clinical Psychology.
There are opportunities to be involved in service development and improvement. We offer a range of group work and individual therapeutic interventions. Consultation and joint working is also part of the day to day work
There are lots of great opportunities to develop your CPD as this is highly valued and supported within the service along with further specialist training.
Working for our organisation
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.
We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.
Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.
As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.
Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you’ll find something to suit you at CWP.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see ‘documents to download’ section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Doctoral level training in clinical psychology, as accredited by the BPS or Doctoral level training in clinical psychology, including specific models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology, as accredited by the BPS.
* HPC Registered
* Maintain Chartered status.
* Completed post qualification training re: Clinical Supervision
Desirable criteria
* Prequalification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology
* Specialist therapy training, (e.g. CBT, DDP, Family and Systemic therapies.)
* Previous experience of working in teams
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential criteria
* Skills in conducting complex psychological assessment and intervention frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
* Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex and /or clinically sensitive information to clients and professional colleagues within and outside the NHS.
* Ability to function independently as a Clinical Psychologist in a team.
* Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex multivariate data analysis, as
* Practised within the clinical fields of psychology
* Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS.
* Specialist knowledge and expertise in relation to a particular speciality as demonstrated by post-doctoral training. This may take the form of a continuous training course, or a number of short courses, or evidence of workplace training via specialist supervision.
* Ability to use this specialist knowledge for service development as well as in a clinical capacity.
Desirable criteria
* Knowledge of psychological techniques to treat a range of disorders with specific reference to difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).
* High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.
* Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non professional groups.
* Knowledge of legislation in relation to children and young people and mental health
* Experience or special interest in. areas such as Attachment Theory and associated therapeutic interventions, vulnerable groups and their specific needs e.g. CIN. CP, CLA, YOS and/or Eating Disorders and their specialist treatment programmes
Experience
Essential criteria
* Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients or Minimum two years’ experience post qualification of specialist psychological assessment and intervention with children/young people across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in-patient settings
* Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity, including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems and verbal/physical abuse.
* Experience of working as a qualified Clinical Psychologist for two years, with full responsibility for children/young people’s psychological care, individually and as part of a multi-professional care-plan.
Desirable criteria
* Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
* Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts.
* Experience of working with clients with a learning disability
* Experience of service users and carer involvement in services.
* Post qualification experience of working with children and young people with chronic health conditions.