Clinical Psychologist

Job summary

CAMHS Clinical Psychologist, Looked after children

We are excited to be recruiting into our Band 8a post for a Clinical Psychologist in Bedfordshire and Luton CAMHS Looked After Children's Team. We are looking for someone to join us who has passion and experience of working with looked after children and able to contribute positively to the growing team.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a dynamic and highly motivated individual, with a strong professional identity to work as part of an integrated multi-disciplinary team. You will work with children and adolescents who have highly complex and persistent mental health difficulties, using evidence based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions. You will provide a range of highly skilled therapeutic trauma-informed interventions, which will be delivered on an individual, group or family basis, provide consultations to social workers/foster carers, provide support to professional networks working with the children in care, and share OT specialist skills to the multi-disciplinary team.

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Details

Date posted

12 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year PER ANNUM

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

363-SSLB7454548

Job locations

North Beds CAMHS

9 Rush court

Bedford

MK40 3JT

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post will be based in Bedford but you will be expected to work across our Bedfordshire and Luton clinics. The team works with looked after children including those placed on SGO orders and Unaccompanied asylum seeking children. There are many opportunities for development with the team and being a part of a wider collaborative CAMHS service.

We place a high value on staff wellbeing and investment in teams to ensure a high quality service provision. Benefits of working for the Trust include a Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), Child care vouchers, Relocation packages and Wellbeing sessions

For further details please see attached job description

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post will be based in Bedford but you will be expected to work across our Bedfordshire and Luton clinics. The team works with looked after children including those placed on SGO orders and Unaccompanied asylum seeking children. There are many opportunities for development with the team and being a part of a wider collaborative CAMHS service.

We place a high value on staff wellbeing and investment in teams to ensure a high quality service provision. Benefits of working for the Trust include a Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), Child care vouchers, Relocation packages and Wellbeing sessions

For further details please see attached job description

Person Specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

• A qualification and professional registration in Clinical / Counselling Psychology
• or CBT profession Clinical / Counselling Psychology Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
• OR Counselling Psychology
• OR Health Psychology
• OR Education Psychology (or equivalent) as accredited by the HCPC.

Desirable

• Further training in DDP

Experience

Essential

• Work as a qualified Clinical Psychologist for a minimum of two years including relevant experience - working with young people with psychosis and emerging personality disorder. Emergency assessments and crisis intervention work.
• Experience of care planning
• Experience of providing a direct clinical service, including specialist assessment, psychological formulation of problems and intervention (minimum 500 hours supervised practice), offering interventions in an individual al, family-based or group-based formats.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary way
• Looked after children's knowledge and experience

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in CAMHS
• Experience of working with a wide range of CAMHS problems

Skills

Essential

• Previous experience of delivering CBT.
• Specialist clinical skills within in specific therapeutic modalities
• Able to manage own time and caseload
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Evidence of ability to lead, support and influence others
• Able to work effectively across organisational boundaries
• Teaching skills, both in clinical setting and education centres
• Basic computer skills

Desirable

• Previous experience of facilitating group work would be desirable.
• Evidence of well developed clinical skills and knowledge in CAMHS

Person Specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

• A qualification and professional registration in Clinical / Counselling Psychology
• or CBT profession Clinical / Counselling Psychology Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
• OR Counselling Psychology
• OR Health Psychology
• OR Education Psychology (or equivalent) as accredited by the HCPC.

Desirable

• Further training in DDP

Experience

Essential

• Work as a qualified Clinical Psychologist for a minimum of two years including relevant experience - working with young people with psychosis and emerging personality disorder. Emergency assessments and crisis intervention work.
• Experience of care planning
• Experience of providing a direct clinical service, including specialist assessment, psychological formulation of problems and intervention (minimum 500 hours supervised practice), offering interventions in an individual al, family-based or group-based formats.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary way
• Looked after children's knowledge and experience

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in CAMHS
• Experience of working with a wide range of CAMHS problems

Skills

Essential

• Previous experience of delivering CBT.
• Specialist clinical skills within in specific therapeutic modalities
• Able to manage own time and caseload
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Evidence of ability to lead, support and influence others
• Able to work effectively across organisational boundaries
• Teaching skills, both in clinical setting and education centres
• Basic computer skills

Desirable

• Previous experience of facilitating group work would be desirable.
• Evidence of well developed clinical skills and knowledge in CAMHS

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications 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 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications 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 details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

North Beds CAMHS

9 Rush court

Bedford

MK40 3JT

Employer's website

https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

North Beds CAMHS

9 Rush court

Bedford

MK40 3JT

Employer's website

https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)