Specialist Senior Clinical Psychologist: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

Senior Clinical Psychologist – Band 8a

1.0 WTE (37.5 Hours Per Week)

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a newly forming psychology team developed for the North West Spinal Injuries Centre. You will work clinically with spinal injuries patients in line with national spinal standards, onto the inpatient ward, have opportunity to support outreach work, outpatients and work with spinal MDT colleagues to increase the psychological mindedness of the whole service. You will be part of a broader network of multi-specialist Psychologists across MWL who pride themselves on being high quality and dynamic.

Southport is a lovely place to live and work. A seaside town with thriving businesses and a great welcoming and friendly culture.

Our psychology workforce are all trained in EMDR and the successful candidate will be offered the opportunity to be trained in EMDR too once these pathways are established for our spinal injury service users.

Interviews will take place w/c 30th November, 2026

The JD & PS are currently under AfC review and are submit to change

Main duties of the job

• To provide a highly specialist clinical psychology service to inpatients within the NWSIC, across the acute and rehabilitation wards with some outreach where clinically indicated
• To lead on the ongoing development and delivery of a highly specialist clinical psychology service to the paediatric and young person’s SCI rehabilitation service and supervise junior colleagues as needed
• To deliver highly specialist psychological assessment and treatment to adult inpatients at the NSIC, on an individual and group basi
• To provide advice and consultation regarding inpatients psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues
• To provide consultation to the NSIC outreach service regarding admission of inpatients with complex psychological / psychiatric needs
• To contribute to the strategic planning of clinical psychology services within the NSIC, including leading upon the ongoing development and delivery of the paediatric psychology service within the NSIC, with the aim of maintain high levels of psychosocial care for patients
• To represent Clinical Psychology in aspects of the NWSIC’s wider organisational development and as part of MWL Psychology.
• To contribute to the planning, development and delivery of the Department’s teaching and training commitments

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Post-graduate doctoral level training (or equivalent) in clinical psychology, including specific models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the BPS.
• Professional registration as Practitioner Psychologist with HCPC.

Desirable

• Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.

Knowledge

Essential

• Doctoral level knowledge of clinical psychology including highly developed specialist knowledge of clinical psychology in physical health, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, particularly the literature pertaining to two or more distinct psychological therapies for adults referred to Clinical Health Psychology
• Skills in the use of highly complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
• A high level of ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to adults, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups
• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical psychology
• Knowledge of safeguarding vulnerable adults and other key legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and supervision regarding work with adults and their families/carers.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS.
• Ability to plan and prioritise own clinical workload and research programmes.
• Advanced word processing skills. Advanced use of presentation software such as MS PowerPoint. Use of internet for searching documents and research. Use of email.

Desirable

• Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in Spinal trauma
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialised psychological therapies and assessment methodologies
• Experience of conducting holistic and comprehensive assessments for the purpose of producing psychological reports.
• Completion of supervisor training to enable the supervision of practicing Clinical Psychologists/ trainees
• Skills in the use of statistical packages such as SPSS. Use of MS EXCEL or similar spreadsheets to analyse data numerically and graphically.

Skills

Essential

• Assessed experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist at a specialist level.
• Experience of working with adults with long term physical health problems in a hospital setting.
• Experience of working with adults with complex psychological presentations
• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients’ psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified autonomous practitioner and also within the context of a multidisciplinary treatment plan
• Experience of delivering teaching, training and/or offering professional and clinical supervision to other professionals working with adults who have psychological difficulties

Desirable

• Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care.
• Experience of assessing and treating adults across the full range of care settings, particularly inpatient and outpatient.
• Experience of working in pain management and complex pain.
• Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.
• Experience of working with clinical risk.

Other

Essential

• Ability to sit in constrained positions when working with clients
• Ability to sustain intense levels of concentration, responding and participating as required.
• Ability to self-reflect and use clinical supervision appropriately

Our Values

Essential

• We are Kind
• We are Open
• We are Inclusive

Closing Date: 22 November 2026