8b Applied Principal Psychologists
Closing date: 09 June 2026
The Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHFT) is delighted to advertise various full‑time and part‑time psychological therapy opportunities for AFC qualified Band 7, 8a and 8b roles in Adult Secondary Care Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs). The role may require working across any or all of our four localities: Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Dudley and Walsall.
Psychology is a vital and influential field within our Trust, represented at every level, including the Chief Therapies Officer and the Chief Clinical Information Officer, both of whom are Consultant Clinical Psychologists.
Main duties of the job
In the CMHTs we are a combination of Practitioner Psychologists, CBT Therapists and DBT Therapists offering a range of group and individual therapies in line with recovery models of care and trauma‑informed practice. We welcome applications from practitioner psychologists and qualified therapists across modalities such as CBT, DBT, EMDR and CAT. Applications from those with interest, further training or specialism in psychosis and/or personality disorder are particularly welcomed.
There are opportunities to apply and develop time‑limited psychological skills in CBT, DBT, EMDR, ACT, CFT and CAT. Clients have a range of complex mental health problems including CPTSD, personality disorders, psychosis, bipolar disorder, and moderate to severe presentations of depression, anxiety (including OCD, health anxiety, social anxiety) with comorbidities. There are ample opportunities to develop leadership, supervision and further clinical competencies.
All CMHTs have a strong multi‑disciplinary ethos, with good links with staff from Tier 1 (primary care and talking therapies), our Recovery College and VCSE partners. Specialist services supporting the CMHTs include Complex Emotional Needs, Eating Disorders, Perinatal, 18‑25s Transitions Team, Early Intervention in Psychosis and Clinical Health Psychology.
About us
All our psychological staff are supported to access further training through NHS England’s continuing PT‑SMHPs strategy, and we fully invest in staff support and wellbeing. Staff receive regular supervision, reflective practice and access to CPD to support professional growth. Operational managers provide line management; Consultant Clinical and Counselling Psychologists provide supportive professional leadership and clinical supervision.
Whatever you see as your future in psychology services, BCHFT can help you get there. Join us and be part of a Trust that truly values your growth and wellbeing. We will empower you to provide exceptional care and services. We provide an extensive array of support, development and progression opportunities, including the following benefits:
* Support systems
* Professional groups
* University links
The Black Country is a vibrant and diverse region in the West Midlands, near Birmingham. It is known for its strong community spirit and rich heritage.
Job responsibilities
Accountable for your own professional practice and delivery of highly specialist psychological care to clients with highly complex and contentious mental health conditions or learning disabilities, including challenging behaviours and possible risk of physical aggression.
To be compassionate in meeting the needs of clients, their carers and families.
To promote at all times a positive image of people with mental ill health or learning disabilities.
To promote at all times a positive image of the service and the wider Trust.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
* Post‑graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology (or its equivalent) accredited by the BPS, including models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
* Post‑doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice.
* HCPC registration as an Applied Psychologist with Chartered Status.
* Training in clinical supervision and supervision of doctoral trainees.
* Evidence of continuing professional development.
* Registration with BPS.
Experience
* Working as a qualified applied psychologist within the designated service, covering a wide variety of client groups, life stages and a range of clinical severity and care settings.
* Exercising full clinical responsibility for clients’ psychological care as a care coordinator within a multidisciplinary team.
* Liaison and joint working with statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies.
* Teaching, training, consultancy and clinical supervision, and field supervision for doctoral theses.
* Research and development.
* Active participation in quality and service improvement initiatives.
* Project management.
Knowledge
* Evidence‑based practice relevant to the role.
* Risk assessment and risk management.
* Clinical governance.
* Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health, including implications for clinical practice.
* Audit and research methodology.
* Social inclusion agenda.
* The Trust’s Quality Improvement System.
* Highly developed knowledge and skills in the care of difficult‑to‑treat groups (e.g. dual diagnoses, additional disabilities or severely challenging behaviour).
Skills/Personal Qualities
* Communicate highly complex, sensitive and contentious information effectively to a wide range of people.
* Adapt creatively the evidence base for the interventions relevant to the client group.
* Articulate the value added by applied psychology services within a multidisciplinary mental health and learning disability setting.
* Undertake complex multi‑agency working and liaise with multiple systems.
* Utilise psychometric tests competently.
* Provide effective teaching, training, consultancy and clinical supervision for the multidisciplinary team.
* Identify, provide and promote appropriate interventions/means of support for carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviour.
* Utilise appropriate clinical governance mechanisms within own work.
* Utilise multimedia materials for presentations in professional, academic and public settings.
* Work in accordance with the Trust values and behaviours.
* Engage with vulnerable people and work effectively in highly distressing and challenging circumstances.
* Respect and awareness of the advantages of joint working with other experienced professionals in a multidisciplinary setting.
* Work flexibly and cooperatively as part of a team.
* Use own initiative and make decisions independently.
* Committed to continual quality and service improvement.
* Self‑aware and committed to professional and personal development; accept and respond positively to feedback from supervision.
* Enthusiasm for a broad range of psychological phenomena, theories and application.
* Project management.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Contact
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Jobs are Pan‑Trust
Penn Road, Wolverhampton or Rounds Green Road, Oldbury
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