Senior Practitioner Psychologist: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

Senior Practitioner Psychologist (8A) – SWIFT CAT

We welcome a Clinical Psychologist to our integrated multi-agency service, a partnership between East Sussex County Council (ESCC) – Children’s Services and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) CAMHS. As a valued member of the collaborative SWIFT Children’s Assessment and Treatment (SWIFT CAT) team you will contribute to work that can have a profound and lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable children and their families.

Your role will be a key part of the development of the service for children under 11 years who are on the Edge of Care, subject to Child Protection Plans and at risk of family breakdown. You will support social workers in formulating child and family presentations and where deemed necessary provide clinical assessment. This may include working alongside multidisciplinary colleagues in the Neurodevelopmental Pathway co-ordinated by SWIFT CAT.

There may also be the opportunity to provide some tailored interventions to children and families.

Main duties of the job

Alongside wider Specialist Children Services colleagues, you will:

• Provide crucial support and guidance through consultation with parents, caregivers and professionals.
• Conduct specialist clinical assessments for Under 11’s with complex emotional, behavioural, neurodevelopmental and safeguarding needs
• Support our social work colleagues in care planning and risk management, ensuring that these foster children’s well-being.
• For a small cohort of children, deliver evidence-based interventions to address identified needs where these can not be met by another service and are within the remit of the SWIFT CAT team.
• Work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team to enhance outcomes for children subject to Child Protection Plans and Pre-Care Proceedings.
• Liaise with key agencies, including Education, to ensure integrated care.
• Contribute to the development of evidence-based practice and improvement initiatives within the service.

An informal discussion is strongly encouraged.

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

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

• Experience in highly specialist psychological assessment and treatment across outpatient, community, primary care, and inpatient settings
• Post-qualification experience as a practitioner psychologist with approximately 50 hours of clinical supervision
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, design and complex data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of applied psychology
• Experience working with diverse client groups across the lifespan, addressing a wide range of clinical severities, and maintaining a high degree of professionalism in challenging situations
• Skilled in teaching, training and/or supervision
• Experience of applying psychology in different cultural contexts and working within a multicultural framework.
• Experience of representing psychology within the context of multidisciplinary care.
• Experience or demonstrable knowledge of working with the particular client group served by the team/service.
• Knowledge of relevant national and local guidance, legislation, and mental health frameworks
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).
• High-level proficiency in at least two specialised psychological therapies and neuropsychology, with continued practice or training post-qualification.
• Formal training in supervision of other psychologists
• Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC

Closing Date: 14 September 2026