Principal clinical/counselling psychologist/clinical lead

Principal Clinical/Counselling Psychologist/Clinical Lead

Band 8b

Main area Adult Community Mental Health Services Grade Band 8b Contract 9 months (Until end of March 2027 - fixed term for external candidates and secondment for internal candidates) Hours Full time - 30 hours per week Job ref 277-8072563-CMH

Site Queen Mary’s Hospital Sidcup Town Sidcup Salary £72,719 - £83,505 pa inc pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 25/06/2026 23:59 Interview date 10/07/2026

Job overview

This post provides strategic and operational leadership for the Maternal Mental Health Service across Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich, delivering highly specialist psychological assessment and intervention for women experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties related to maternity.

The post holder leads and develops a multidisciplinary psychological service, ensures high standards of clinical governance, and contributes to service development, evaluation and trauma‑informed maternity care aligned with Trust and NHS Long Term Plan objectives.

Main duties of the job

Provide highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for women with complex perinatal mental health presentations (e.g. PTSD, tokophobia, psychosis, personality disorder). Lead implementation, evaluation and ongoing development of the Maternal Mental Health Service. Provide specialist consultation, advice and supervision to psychology staff and the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT). Ensure delivery of culturally competent, accessible psychological services. Undertake and oversee risk assessment and safeguarding in line with Trust policy. Lead service evaluation, audit and research activity to inform evidence‑based practice. Take autonomous professional responsibility for assessment, treatment and discharge of service users. Manage psychological resources and staff within the service. Operate within Trust, professional, HCPC and BPS frameworks.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Further detailed information relating to the role and responsibilities can be found in the attached supporting documentation.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

• Post‑graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (BPS accredited or equivalent).
• Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Practitioner Psychologist.
• Completed training course in clinical supervision.
• Additional specialist training (e.g. CBT, trauma‑focused CBT, or equivalent advanced post‑qualification training).
• Leadership or management training.

Experience

• Considerable experience of working as a clinical psychologist in relevant settings (e.g. perinatal mental health).
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with complex needs in perinatal mental health.
• Experience of leading and managing services, including managing staff and implementing service development.
• Experience of teaching, training and professional and clinical supervision.
• Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists.
• Experience of carrying out post‑doctoral research, audit or service evaluation.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

• Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for women with perinatal mental health difficulties.
• Advanced knowledge of the impact of maternal mental illness on the baby, including the mother–infant relationship.
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management.
• Doctoral‑level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex data analysis.
• Knowledge of approaches to leadership and management.
• Skills in providing consultation to professional and non‑professional groups.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that welcomes and supports individuals of all abilities. If you meet the minimum criteria for this role and you have a disability, you can be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme – please ensure you select this on your application form. Any information you provide regarding a disability or a need for adjustments will be treated in confidence and will only be shared with colleagues who are supporting this request.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.