At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative psychological services for children and young people with harmful behaviours.
- Company: Birmingham Children's Trust, rated 'Good' by Ofsted for quality and leadership.
- Benefits: Access to training, supervision, peer support, and a rewarding work environment.
- Other info: Join a supportive team recognised for excellence in social work.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children and young people.
- Qualifications: Experience in clinical leadership and trauma-informed practice is essential.
The predicted salary is between 46300 - 52800 £ per year.
Roles & Responsibilities
- Support the development and delivery of this new service with an emphasis on innovation, psychologically informed practice, working to the best available evidence base, undertaking routine service evaluation and clinically relevant research as appropriate.
- Lead on the development of risk screening and management planning and support the escalation of mental health concerns and partnership working where appropriate.
- Support the professional network around the child/young person; providing psychological consultation, developing shared formulations of complex needs/presentations, contributing to safety plans, developing and delivering teaching/training and clinical supervision of others.
- Carry out specialist assessments, formulation and deliver psychological interventions to children, young people, families &/or caregivers.
About the Trust
We have been rated as 'Good' by Ofsted, following a 2023 inspection. This is a fantastic achievement for Birmingham Children's Trust, with many positive highlights focusing on areas including the quality of staff leadership, partnership working, safeguarding and corporate parenting. If you are a team player, with strengths in multi‑agency and partnership working, who is passionate and experienced in developing and delivering high quality and effective services for this population, we would love to hear from you. Working in Children's Social Care can be pressured and emotionally challenging at times but can also be very rewarding. In 2025, Birmingham Children's Trust won 'Most Supportive Social Work Organisation' at the national Social Work Awards. We will provide you with access to training, regular clinical, professional and management supervision, and on‑going support. You will also have opportunities to link with other psychologists across the Trust for peer support.
Role Overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Principal Psychologist to join our Healthy Safe Behaviours Team (HSB). This newly configured service supports children and young people (7 to 17 years), open to Birmingham Children's Trust, who present with harmful sexual behaviour. The team adopt a multi‑agency approach, supporting Early Help, Safeguarding, Children in Care and Youth Justice Services; delivering bespoke and tailored interventions and programmes of education and support. We are looking for a Principal Psychologist, with significant experience of clinical leadership, service development, and working from a trauma informed, systemic and developmentally sensitive perspective. This new role will work alongside the operational team manager to provide clinical leadership for the ongoing development and delivery of this service in accordance with the evidence base and current best practice guidance. Previous experience working with children and young people with presentations relating to harmful sexual behaviour would be beneficial. However, we are also keen to hear from psychologists from other specialties with strong skills in complex formulation, assessing and managing risk, supporting teams (leadership, consultation, training), and the ability to look beyond behaviour. Experience working with children and young people who have histories of early adversity, social care or youth justice involvement, childhood trauma &/or significant attachment disruption would also be desirable.
Application Requirements
In order to be considered for this role please include a supporting statement and CV demonstrating how you meet the competencies required as outlined in the attached person specification.
Principal Psychologist in Birmingham employer: Job Search Place Limited
Birmingham Children's Trust is an exceptional employer, recognised for its commitment to staff development and support, having been awarded 'Most Supportive Social Work Organisation' at the national Social Work Awards in 2025. With a strong emphasis on innovation and evidence-based practice, employees benefit from regular clinical supervision, training opportunities, and a collaborative work culture that prioritises the well-being of children and young people. Joining our Healthy Safe Behaviours Team means being part of a dedicated multi-agency approach, where your expertise will directly contribute to meaningful change in the lives of those we serve.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Psychologist in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to professionals in the field, attend relevant workshops or webinars, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to the role. Think about how your experience aligns with the responsibilities of a Principal Psychologist and be ready to share specific examples that showcase your skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for the role! When you get the chance to speak with potential employers, let them know why you're excited about working with children and young people, especially in areas like harmful sexual behaviour. Your enthusiasm can set you apart!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team at Birmingham Children's Trust.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Psychologist in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Supporting Statement:Make sure to customise your supporting statement to highlight how your experience aligns with the role. Use specific examples that showcase your skills in clinical leadership and working with children and young people, especially those with complex needs.
Showcase Your Passion:Let your enthusiasm for working in children's social care shine through! Share why you’re passionate about supporting children and young people, particularly those facing challenges like harmful sexual behaviour. We love seeing genuine motivation!
Highlight Relevant Experience:Don’t forget to emphasise any relevant experience you have, especially in trauma-informed practices or multi-agency collaboration. This will help us see how you can contribute to our innovative service right from the start.
Keep It Professional Yet Personal:While we want to see your professional side, don’t hesitate to let a bit of your personality come through. A friendly tone can make your application stand out, so feel free to be yourself while maintaining professionalism!
How to prepare for a job interview at Job Search Place Limited
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest evidence-based practices related to psychological interventions for children and young people. Brush up on trauma-informed care and be ready to discuss how you’ve applied these principles in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Principal Psychologist, you'll need to demonstrate your clinical leadership experience. Prepare examples of how you've led teams, provided training, or developed services in the past. Highlight any successful projects that showcase your ability to innovate and improve service delivery.
✨Be Ready for Complex Scenarios
Expect questions about complex cases involving harmful sexual behaviour or childhood trauma. Think through some challenging situations you've faced and how you approached them. This will show your problem-solving skills and your ability to work under pressure.
✨Engage with Multi-Agency Collaboration
Since this role involves partnership working, be prepared to discuss your experience collaborating with other agencies. Share specific examples of how you’ve worked effectively within multi-disciplinary teams to support children and young people, and how you’ve navigated any challenges that arose.
