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- Tasks: Join a dynamic team to support children facing trauma through innovative psychological practices.
- Company: Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, dedicated to improving young people's mental health.
- Benefits: Gain valuable experience, develop leadership skills, and make a real difference in children's lives.
- Why this job: Be part of a supportive team making impactful changes for vulnerable children and their families.
- Qualifications: Post-graduate training in psychology and experience in child mental health required.
- Other info: Opportunity for professional growth in a rewarding and collaborative environment.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Go back Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist
The closing date is 05 November 2025
This vacancy is for a 12 month post covering maternity leave.
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and motivated Clinical Psychologist to join Durham Children and Young Peoples Service in-house therapeutic team – The Full Circle, based in Annfield Plain, County Durham.
The Full Circle\’s focus is to support children and young people who have experienced developmental trauma due to experiences of neglect and abuse. The team works in close partnership with children looked after, children in need, residential, fostering and adoption services and has close links with partnership agencies including Education and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services within Durham. The post holder will have the opportunity to develop both their clinical and leadership skills and be an integral member of a strong leadership team. The Full Circle team is committed to providing a trauma informed approach and supporting wider children and young people services to understand and respond to children\’s trauma in the most helpful way.
Main duties of the job
The post involves offering clinical support and guidance to the team which consists of therapeutic social workers, a clinical nurse specialist and an existing consultant clinical psychologist. It also includes consultation and training to social workers and other professionals working across CYPS along with support to foster carers, parents and residential services. The post involves working with children complex needs requiring collaboration and partnership working with a range of systems. Part of this role will be to support Durham County Council\’s growing residential services and working in innovative and creative ways to support the most complex young people in Durham\’s care.
About us
The Full Circle are proud of their Investing in Children Membership Award(TM) status, which recognises and celebrates examples of imaginative and inclusive practice with children and young people.
Ofsted have also recognised how valuable Full Circle Support is. \”The therapeutic service provided by Full Circle is invaluable. Using evidence based research, the service is making a real difference to children who have been traumatised by adverse childhood experiences, as well as supporting their carers.\” (September 2019). At their more recent inspection, Ofsted said of children, young people and families, \”They receive tailored and highly effective support with their emotional needs from the specialist therapeutic Full Circle team. Foster carers and adopters are well supported by social workers and Full Circle in the transition and continuing care of children placed with them.\” (May 2022)
Job responsibilities
The post holder will provide a range of roles and responsibilities as detailed within the job description. This will include the delivery of highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and interventions to children and their carers with complex needs through direct clinical work, offering clinical supervision and multiagency consultation, staff training alongside leading on service development and evaluation.
Candidates should be significantly experienced clinicians with excellent interdisciplinary working skills and interested in developing and delivering an innovative service. Experience in the field of community child and adolescent mental health including with children who are looked after is essential. Leadership skills and behaviours are integral to the recruitment process.
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.
For more information on the role please contact in the first instance, Dr Alison Foster, Consultant Clinical Psychologist – alison.foster@durham.gov.uk
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Post‑graduate training (doctoral level equivalent) in clinical / counselling / forensic psychology (or its equivalent prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS.
- Post‑doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice.
- HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist.
- Trained in clinical supervision and the supervision of doctoral trainees.
- Trained in care co‑ordination.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Registration with BPS.
Experience
- Working as a qualified applied psychologist within the designated service including a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and a range of clinical severity across a range of care settings.
- Exercising full clinical responsibility for clients\’ psychological care as a care coordinator within the context of a multidisciplinary team.
- Teaching, training and clinical supervision and field supervisor for doctoral theses.
- Quality and service improvement and evaluation.
Skills
- Communicate highly complex and highly sensitive information effectively, to a wide range of people.
- Provide effective teaching, training and clinical supervision for the multidisciplinary team.
- Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake care co‑ordination/lead practitioner responsibilities.
- Utilise psychometric tests competently.
- Undertake complex multi‑agency working and liaise with multiple systems.
- Identify, provide and promote appropriate interventions / means of support for carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviours.
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.
Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
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Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist employer: Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Contact Detail:
Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the mental health field, especially those who might know about opportunities at Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to job openings that aren't even advertised!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to clinical psychology. Think about how you would apply your skills to support children with complex needs. We want you to shine, so rehearse your answers and maybe even do a mock interview with a friend!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for trauma-informed care! When you get the chance to speak with potential employers, share your experiences and insights on how you've supported children and young people in the past. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly understands the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It's the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining the Full Circle team and making a difference in the lives of children and young people.
We think you need these skills to ace Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role. We want to see how you can contribute to The Full Circle's mission of supporting children and young people.
Showcase Your Experience: Don’t hold back on sharing your relevant experience, especially in community child and adolescent mental health. We’re looking for someone who has worked with complex needs and can demonstrate their clinical expertise.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to explain your qualifications and experiences. We appreciate clarity as it helps us understand your fit for the role quickly.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly and is considered promptly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the specifics of trauma-informed care and the unique challenges faced by children and young people. Brush up on your knowledge about developmental trauma, as well as the services provided by The Full Circle team. This will show that you’re not just interested in the role, but that you understand its importance.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss your previous clinical experiences, especially those involving complex cases and multi-agency collaboration. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully supported children with complex needs and how you’ve worked within a multidisciplinary team. This will highlight your suitability for the role.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Since this position involves leadership, think about times when you’ve taken charge or led a project. Be prepared to discuss your approach to supervision and training, and how you can contribute to the development of the team. Showing that you can inspire and guide others will set you apart.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t shy away from asking questions. Inquire about the team dynamics, ongoing projects, or how they measure the success of their interventions. This not only shows your interest but also gives you insight into whether the role is the right fit for you.
