Consultant Practitioner Psychologist- Acute CAMHS: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

We are seeking to recruit an experienced and creative Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical or Forensic) to provide Professional Leadership to the Psychological Professions (PP) during a phase of significant transformation across the Acute CAMHS Care Service.

The role provides an opportunity to provide strategic leadership within a service which is dedicated to ensuring that children and young people living in Sussex receive timely, integrated and high-quality care to meet their clinical needs. As the Consultant Practitioner Psychologist and Lead for Psychological Professions, you will ensure that young people and their families receive targeted assessments and effective psychological interventions.

As well as influencing the way in which care is delivered across the inpatient services, the role also offers the opportunity to work clinically with young people and their families, while providing clinical leadership within the enhanced seven-day Crisis and Home Treatment Service (COAST). This service offers an alternative to inpatient admission for children and young people (12-18 years) experiencing acute mental health difficulties and has been established for just over a year. You will work closely alongside colleagues from psychology, nursing, psychiatry, occupational therapy, family therapy, social work and mental health practitioner backgrounds to deliver truly integrated care.

Main duties of the job

Working clinically alongside the Leadership Team as part of the Sussex CAMHS COAST team, you will provide professional and clinical leadership across the service, leading the delivery of assessment, consultation and psychological interventions.

You will be joining a team which currently includes a Senior Practitioner Psychologist, a Principal Family and Systemic Therapist, and an Assistant Psychologist. A part of the Inpatient service expansion, there will be an additional Senior Psychological Practitioner role, a Family and Systemic Psychotherapist and an Assistant Psychologist in post. You will also provide supervision to the Principal Psychological Professional at the Lansdowne Children’s Service.

This is a Band 8c, full-time post covering Sussex-wide. We would consider flexible working patterns and job sharing opportunities for the ideal candidate(s).

You will receive monthly supervision from the CAMHS PP Professional Lead for CAMHS and join monthly PP Leads meeting alongside the Consultant PP Leads across CAMHS. You will have opportunities to network with Psychological Professions colleagues across CAMHS, the wider SPFT NHS Trust, and join National Networks for professionals working in inpatient CAMHS.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology as approved by the HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology. See Appendix A for exceptions.
• Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.
• Accredited / registered with professional body / regulator as detailed above.

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

• Doctoral level knowledge of applied psychology and psychological therapy with advanced knowledge of lifespan developmental psychology, models of psychopathology and research design/methodology, reflecting consultant-level competence.
• Extensive, post-qualification experience as a registered practitioner psychologist within the relevant care group/service, demonstrating expert clinical and professional judgment
• Comprehensive knowledge, formal training, and substantial experience in leading and managing multidisciplinary mental health services.
• In-depth knowledge of national policy frameworks, initiatives, and the mental health economy within which Trust services operate
• Highly developed expertise in the theory and practice of specialised psychological interventions
• Advanced clinical skills in highly specialised psychological practice and clinical risk management consistent with a consultant -level practitioner.
• Significant experience representing the psychological professions and/or services in local or regional policy forums or equivalent strategic settings.
• Expertise in applying psychology and psychological therapies within diverse cultural contexts and multicultural frameworks, demonstrating advanced cultural competence.

Closing Date: 7 October 2026