Clinical Psychologist - Band 8a or Band 7-8a Development post

Job summaryAn opportunity has arisen to recruit to our well established and supportive Primary Care Psychological Therapies Service, based in Chester. The role can be offered at band 8a for suitably qualified and experienced candidates, or as a band 7/8a development post for newlyqualified psychologists. We would welcome candidates with an interest in working with adults of working age. There is the flexibility of either full or part-time hours. For those thinking of applying for the development post, we have a clear plan to support the successful applicants in meeting the competencies for 8a.The Primary Care Psychology Team are part of a stepped care model and have close working relationships and links with the other steps in the service and teams within the trust. We provide assessment, consultation, and a range of therapeutic interventions (both individual and group) to clients referred to our service. Main duties of the jobThe post holder will be responsible for providing assessments, formulations, and therapeutic interventions (both individually and in group format) to people with complex psychological and mental health difficulties. The post holder will also support the wider team to developpsychological understandings of people's difficulties through consultation, supervision, and training. The post holder will be joining an established and growing team with clear job plans and continued opportunities for training and development across the service. Based near the historical Roman city of Chester, the service has good links with the three local universities (Liverpool, Lancaster and Manchester) providing ample opportunity to develop supervisory skills and to support trainees with research projects/audits and input into the teaching programmes.The service currently offers flexible working with a mixture of both remote and face to face encouraged.About usCheshire 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.DetailsDate posted20 October 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 7Salary 49,387 to 64,750 a year per annum pro rata ContractPermanentWorking pattern Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours Reference number373-SMH2789Job locationsChesterRedesmere Building, Countess of Chester siteChesterCH2 1BQUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease 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 Trusts 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 Trusts 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 Trusts 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! Job description Job responsibilitiesPlease 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 Trusts 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 Trusts 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 Trusts 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 EssentialPost-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996)HCPC registrationDesirableAdditional Psychotherapy qualification relevant to working with clients with complex psychological and mental health difficultiesPost graduate diploma in clinical neuropsychology Knowledge and Expertise EssentialSkills in conducting complex psychological assessment and intervention frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.Skills in completing neuropsychological assessments, interpretation of results, and ability to communicate these sensitively as appropriate.Skills in adapting assessment and intervention to meet the needs of older adult clients with cognitive difficulties.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.Evidence of continuing professional development.Skills in providing Consultation to other professionals and non professional groups.Evidence of supervisor training/qualificationExperience of supervising Assistant Psychologists, other psychological practitioners and/or MDT colleagues in psychological approachesExperience of research, audit/service evaluation.Experience of working as a clinical psychologist therapeutically with older adult clients with varied complex, psychological and mental health difficulties.Experience of working within multi-professional teams.Experience of engaging and sustaining work with ambivalent clientsExperience of exercising clinical responsibility for clients' psychological careDesirableExperience of liaison with other health professionals.Experience of providing teaching and training. Experience EssentialExpertise in neuropsychological assessmentDesirableExperience of liaison with other health professionals.Experience of providing teaching and training.Experience of contributing to policy and service development.Experience of working with adults with complex mental health difficulties.Experience with clients who are on the autistic spectrumExperience of working with groups Trust Values EssentialDemonstrate alignment with Trust Values (6 C's: Commitment, Communication, Care, Courage, Compassion, Competency) Person Specification Qualifications EssentialPost-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996)HCPC registrationDesirableAdditional Psychotherapy qualification relevant to working with clients with complex psychological and mental health difficultiesPost graduate diploma in clinical neuropsychology Knowledge and Expertise EssentialSkills in conducting complex psychological assessment and intervention frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.Skills in completing neuropsychological assessments, interpretation of results, and ability to communicate these sensitively as appropriate.Skills in adapting assessment and intervention to meet the needs of older adult clients with cognitive difficulties.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.Evidence of continuing professional development.Skills in providing Consultation to other professionals and non professional groups.Evidence of supervisor training/qualificationExperience of supervising Assistant Psychologists, other psychological practitioners and/or MDT colleagues in psychological approachesExperience of research, audit/service evaluation.Experience of working as a clinical psychologist therapeutically with older adult clients with varied complex, psychological and mental health difficulties.Experience of working within multi-professional teams.Experience of engaging and sustaining work with ambivalent clientsExperience of exercising clinical responsibility for clients' psychological careDesirableExperience of liaison with other health professionals.Experience of providing teaching and training. Experience EssentialExpertise in neuropsychological assessmentDesirableExperience of liaison with other health professionals.Experience of providing teaching and training.Experience of contributing to policy and service development.Experience of working with adults with complex mental health difficulties.Experience with clients who are on the autistic spectrumExperience of working with groups Trust Values EssentialDemonstrate alignment with Trust Values (6 C's: Commitment, Communication, Care, Courage, Compassion, Competency)Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer nameCheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation TrustAddressChesterRedesmere Building, Countess of Chester siteChesterCH2 1BQUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameCheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation TrustAddressChesterRedesmere Building, Countess of Chester siteChesterCH2 1BQUnited KingdomEmployer's website