Job summary
- Main area
- Principle Applied Psychologist (Clinical or Counselling)
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8b
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 376-DCGM-0297-A
- Employer
- Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Forest Gate, Tickhill Road
- Town
- Doncaster
- Salary
- £66,582 - £77,368 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 04/11/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Principle Applied Psychologist
NHS AfC: Band 8b
Job overview
This exciting role provides highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for individuals with complex mental health needs, drawing on a range of evidence-based therapeutic models. The post holder will work with complexity, risk and uncertainty, offering psychological expertise to support formulation-driven and integrated care.
Alongside a significant clinical caseload, the post holder will take a senior leadership role, providing supervision, clinical oversight and consultation to psychological therapists and multidisciplinary colleagues. They will support reflective practice and promote psychologically informed thinking across teams and pathways.
Main duties of the job
Working with senior clinical and operational leads, the post holder will contribute to service development, quality improvement and strategic planning, supporting effective pathways and responsive, high-quality care within system pressures. Strong leadership, communication and consultation skills are essential, with the ability to influence.
A key aspect of the role is shaping and sustaining a culture of psychological safety, containment and shared responsibility. The post holder will promote reflective practice, curiosity and psychologically informed responses to clinical and organisational challenges, supporting staff to think and work with complexity.
They will also support staff wellbeing and resilience, helping teams process the emotional impact of clinical work and maintain effective, cohesive functioning in high-pressure environments.
We particularly welcome applicants with an interest in trauma and complex emotional needs.
Working for our organisation
Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) employ around 4000 talented colleagues who are very much appreciated, valued, and respected.
We have a wide portfolio which includes mental health, physical health, learning disability and drug and alcohol services.
We are dedicated to the development of our our people and hold a learning half day every month for our colleagues.
We are passionate about enhancing the quality of our service and we work hard to attract and select the right colleagues for our organisation. Our goal is to employ those who share our passion for providing first class care while remaining committed to our vision and values. Please view our Strategy using the link below:
https://www.rdash.nhs.uk/documents/clinical-and-organisational-strategy-2023-to-2028/
To find out more about working for RDaSH and the fantastic benefits we offer visit our website:
We are committed to inclusive cultures and really value people in our organisation, view our Allyship video on YouTube to find out more:
The main terms and conditions of service can be found here:
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please view the attached job description and person specification to view the full details about the role
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if there are a high amount of applications
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Post-graduate training (doctoral level equivalent) in clinical / counselling psychology (or its equivalent prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS.
- HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist
- Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice
- Trained in clinical supervision and the supervision of doctoral trainees
- Experienced in care co ordination
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable criteria
- Registration with BPS
- Additional post doctoral training in working with complex emotional needs, e.g., DBT.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Working as a qualified applied psychologist within the designated service including a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and a range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings.
- Working with people with complex emotional needs.
- Exercising full clinical responsibility for clients’ psychological care as a care co ordinator/key worker and leader of a multidisciplinary team
- Liaison and joint working with statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies
- Teaching, training, clinical supervision of other psychological practitioners.
- Active participation in quality and service improvement initiatives.
Desirable criteria
- Leading a therapy team
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health and its implications for clinical practice.
Desirable criteria
- Project Management / audit / quality Improvement knowledge
Skills
Essential criteria
- Evidence- based practice relevant to the role & in the care of difficult to treat groups e.g. dual diagnoses, additional disabilities or severely challenging behavior
- Risk assessment and risk management & clinical governance
- Communicate highly complex, highly sensitive and contentious information effectively, to a wide range of people
- Adapt creatively the evidence base for interventions in mental health for clients with communication difficulties / learning disabilities.
- Articulate the value added by applied psychology services within the context of multidisciplinary mental health and learning disability healthcare provision.
- Undertake complex multiagency working and liaise with multiple systems
- Utilise psychometric tests competently
- Provide effective teaching, training and clinical supervision for the multidisciplinary team.
- Identify, provide and promote appropriate interventions / means of support for carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviours.
- Utilise appropriate clinical governance mechanisms within own work.
Desirable criteria
- Leadership skills
- Project Management / audit / quality Improvement skills
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Kerry Sheldon
- Job title
- Consultant Clinical Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 03000211503
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