Clinical psychologist

Practitioner Psychologist

Salary: £57,000 – £67,000 (approximately equivalent to NHS Band 8a, dependent on experience)

Location: Cambian Group Merida, Newmarket

Join us in shaping our Therapeutic Service. We are looking for a compassionate, creative and motivated Practitioner Psychologist to join our developing Specialist Mental Health Service (SMHS) at Merida.

Main duties of the job

This is a rare opportunity to be part of an evolving and ambitious therapeutic service supporting looked‑after children and young people with complex emotional and mental health needs. At Merida, we are committed to creating environments where young people feel safe, understood, connected and genuinely cared for, and where clinicians are empowered to innovate, collaborate and make meaningful change.

About us

This is an exciting period of development for the service, with a newly developing clinical model, expanding multidisciplinary team and a strong focus on embedding trauma‑informed and neurodiversity‑affirming practice throughout the organisation. We are particularly passionate about clinicians who value relationship‑based practice, curiosity, compassion and creativity in their work with young people.

Job responsibilities

• Deliver evidence‑based psychological interventions for children and young people
• Develop collaborative formulations and therapeutic care plans
• Complete assessments, including risk assessments and recommendations
• Support teams to integrate psychologically informed approaches into everyday care
• Provide consultation, training and reflective spaces for residential colleagues
• Help shape a therapeutic culture grounded in trauma‑informed and strengths‑based practice
• Supervise and support junior clinical colleagues
• Work collaboratively with external professionals, families and networks around the young person
• Contribute to innovative service development and clinical leadership initiatives

Qualifications and experience

• Experience working with care‑experienced children and young people
• Experience within residential care, CAMHS, inpatient or complex mental health settings
• Confidence supporting young people who present with high levels of distress and risk
• Experience delivering DBT‑informed approaches alongside at least one other therapeutic modality

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.