Clinical Psychologist
Posted 11 days 8 hours ago by NHS
Clinical Psychologist Residential Care &Specialist SEMH School
Location: Ripponden, West YorkshireSalary -Band 7/8a equivalent- depending on experience.Hours -Full-time / Part-time consideredContract: Permanent
Help children heal, connect, and thrive.
We are seeking a compassionate and skilled Clinical Psychologistto join our therapeutic team within a dynamic, trauma-informed service forchildren and young people living in residential care and attending ourspecialist SEMH school.
Our integrated model combines residential care, specialist education,and clinical input to provide holistic support for children with complex traumahistories, attachment difficulties, and neurodevelopmental needs. As part of amultidisciplinary team, you will play a central role in supporting recovery,relational repair, and emotional development.
Main duties of the jobWhat You'll Be Doing -
- Conducting psychological assessments and formulations
- Delivering individual, group, and systemic interventions
- Supporting staff teams through consultation, reflective practice, and training
- Working closely with education and care colleagues to embed trauma-informed practice
- Contributing to care planning, risk assessment, and outcome monitoring
- Engaging families where possible in therapeutic and systemic work
What We Offer -
- Opportunity to train in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), with supervision from accredited practitioners
- A supportive clinical team with regular supervision and CPD
- The chance to influence whole-system thinking in a truly child-centred setting
- Access to a broad, multidisciplinary team including SLTs, OTs, and art therapists
- A working culture that values reflective practice, curiosity, and relational safety
What Were Looking For:
- HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist (newly qualified or experienced)
- Experience or interest in working with looked-after children, complex trauma, and SEMH needs
- A collaborative, emotionally attuned approach and commitment to trauma-informed care
- Knowledge of attachment theory, systemic thinking, and therapeutic models such as DDP, CAT, EMDR, or ACT is desirable
Join Us
This is a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children who have experienced significant adversity and to grow your expertise in a setting that values connection, compassion, and clinical excellence.
To apply, please send your CV and a brief covering letter to . For an informal conversation about the role, contact .
We welcome applications from psychologists at all stages of their careers who share our belief that every child deserves to feel safe, seen, and supported.
Job responsibilitiesMain Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical
- Undertake psychological assessments, including cognitive, emotional, behavioural, and risk-based evaluations.
- Develop collaborative psychological formulations and deliver interventions to individuals and groups.
- Work systemically with families and carers where appropriate.
- Offer psychological consultation and reflective practice to care and education staff.
- Contribute to individual care and education plans in multidisciplinary meetings.
- Ensure the safeguarding and well-being of young people at all times.
Professional
- Adhere to HCPC and BPS ethical and professional guidelines.
- Maintain accurate and timely clinical records and reports.
- Participate in clinical supervision, peer review, and CPD in line with professional standards.
- Contribute to service evaluation, audit, and quality improvement initiatives.
Developmental (Preceptorship to Band 8a)
- Engage in a structured development plan with support from a senior psychologist.
- Undertake additional responsibilities as competencies develop, including complex casework, staff supervision, and service development tasks.
Person Specification
Criteria
Qualifications
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
(or equivalent)
Further training in a relevant therapy model (e.g. DDP, EMDR, CAT, ACT)
HCPC registration as a Clinical Psychologist
Completion of DDP Level 1 training
Experience
Experience working with children and young people
Experience working with looked-after children or in residential/SEMH settings
Experience of psychological assessment and delivering interventions
Experience delivering training or consultation to staff
Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team
Experience in systemic or family-based work
Knowledge & Skills
Understanding of attachment, developmental trauma, and neurodiversity
Awareness of safeguarding processes and care planning frameworks
Ability to develop and communicate psychological formulations
Skills in risk assessment and safety planning
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Understanding of therapeutic models such as DDP
Values & Attributes
Child-centred and trauma-informed approach
Flexible, creative, and reflective thinker
Ability to build relationships and work across disciplines
Commitment to anti-oppressive practice
Other Requirements
Enhanced DBS clearance
Full UK driving licence (if travel between sites is required)
Person Specification Values & Attributes- Child-centred and trauma-informed approach
- Ability to build relationships and work across disciplines
- Flexible, creative, and reflective thinker
- Commitment to anti-oppressive practice
- Experience working with children and young people
- Experience of psychological assessment and delivering interventions
- Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Experience working with looked-after children or in residential/SEMH settings
- Experience delivering training or consultation to staff
- Experience in systemic or family-based work
- Understanding of attachment, developmental trauma, and neurodiversity
- Ability to develop and communicate psychological formulations
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Awareness of safeguarding processes and care planning frameworks
- Skills in risk assessment and safety planning
- Understanding of therapeutic models such as DDP
- Enhanced DBS clearance
- Full UK driving licence (if travel between sites is required)
- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
- (or equivalent)
- HCPC registration as a Clinical Psychologist
- Further training in a relevant therapy model (e.g. DDP, EMDR, CAT, ACT)
- Completion of DDP Level 1 training
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.