At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a multi-agency team to provide trauma-informed support for children in care.
- Company: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, dedicated to mental health services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with strong support and career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children and young people.
- Qualifications: Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and HCPC registration required.
The predicted salary is between 57528 - 64750 £ per year.
Following a successful pilot delivered by Portsmouth City Council alongside Portsmouth CAMHS, we are seeking a Senior Clinical Psychologist to support the new Intensive Fostering Team. This role will specifically work within the newly developed Therapeutic Fostering Hub led by Portsmouth City Council. The successful Psychologist will be part of a multi-agency team working alongside a Team Lead, Advanced Social Worker and two Family Support workers.
The role will also be part of the established Specialist Trauma and Relational Therapies (STaRT) team within the Portsmouth Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). STaRT provides a dedicated multi-disciplinary Mental Health Service for Portsmouth children and young people who have experience in care (including unaccompanied minors seeking asylum), Care Leavers, or who are supported by the Edge of Care Team or Staying Close Team. This post would be closely supported by the senior Clinical Psychologists and Team Manager working across Portsmouth CAMHS, as well as the Head of Clinical Service for CAMHS. Supervision and development opportunities will therefore be accessed through the wider HIOW CAMHS system.
Main duties of the job:
- The successful candidate will provide a range of trauma informed formulation, consultation, networking and targeted interventions for ten Therapeutic Foster Carers to enable children who currently are in external children's homes to move back to their communities in Portsmouth.
- Two of these would provide respite care for children in the hub.
- Two Specialist Therapeutic Foster Carers who will provide short-term bridging placements, supporting children to successfully transition to a longer term home arrangement.
- They will be a qualified specialist Clinical Psychology service to the client group and their families/carers.
- They will provide high quality therapeutic interventions to children, young people and their families/carers who are open to the service for a range of different mental health difficulties.
- They will offer leadership and consultation and supervision to the multiagency team within the Therapeutic Fostering Hub.
- They will provide high quality clinical supervision to other clinical psychologists, trainee clinical psychologists and assistant psychologists and to other practitioners in the service where relevant.
- They will work in close partnership with and offer psychological consultation to the multiagency networks around the children and young people open within the Therapeutic Fostering Hub, and other fostering placements when required.
- They will contribute where needed to core CAMHS duties as required.
About us:
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides joined-up mental and physical healthcare for around two million people across our communities. With over 13,000 staff working in the community and local hospitals, we deliver care at every stage of life, helping people live their best and healthiest lives.
Our mental health services include community-based support and early intervention in psychosis (EIP) for both adults and young people, alongside a network of specialist inpatient wards covering forensic, learning disability, eating disorder and older person's care.
We deliver extensive physical health services too, from urgent community response teams helping frail and older patients remain safely at home, to hospitals at home teams providing acute-level care in familiar surroundings. Our neurological services offer rehabilitation and treatment for conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Head Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Stroke. Across Hampshire, our community hospitals provide inpatient rehabilitation as a step down from acute care, and our dedicated teams also staff Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Portsmouth, offering expert, compassionate support.
Everything we do is underpinned by our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect and excellence.
Details:
- Date posted: 03 August 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 8a
- Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time
- Reference number: 348-CFS-12060
- Job locations: Portsmouth Civic Offices, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 2GJ, United Kingdom; Falcon House, St James' Hospital, 22 Edenbridge Rd, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO4 8PF, United Kingdom
Person Specification:
- Qualifications:
- Essential: Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
- Registered with HCPC
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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.
Senior Clinical Psychologist in Southampton employer: National health service
The London Ambulance Service NHS Trust is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises patient safety and service improvement. With a strong commitment to employee development, including leadership training and apprenticeship programmes, staff are empowered to grow their skills while contributing to the health of London. The Trust's inclusive culture and focus on quality management ensure that employees feel valued and supported in their vital roles.
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Before stepping into the interview with National health service, revisit key psychological theories that are relevant to the role, like cognitive behavioural therapy or humanistic psychology. Expect to discuss these during your interview, as they want to see how you apply theory to practice.
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