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Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

About

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) is one of the largest trusts in the UK, caring for people with a wide range of physical and mental health needs. We have approximately 7,000 staff who provide healthcare to a third of London's population and across wider geographical areas, including Milton Keynes, Kent, Surrey and Hampshire.

As a Foundation Trust we involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run and our future development. If you are interested in becoming a member of our Foundation Trust please visit: www.cnwl.nhs.uk

(source: Central and North West London NHS Foundation NHS Trust website)

Contact

Address: 350 Euston Road; Regent's Place; London; London; NW1 3AX
Contact Number: 02032145700

Find out more

Jobs Website

Open

Ref: 333-D-HJ-2080 Vacancy ID: 8341223

Senior Psychologist / Psychotherapist / Systemic Therapist

Accepting applications until: 24-Oct-2026 23:59

Vacancy status: Open

Accepting applications until: 24-Oct-2026 23:59

Location

Site: Oasis Restore Secure School
Address: Sir Evelyn Road
Town: Rochester
Postcode: ME1 3YB
Major / Minor Region: London

Contract type & working pattern

Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Mon - Fri)

Salary

Salary: £57,528 - £64,750 per annum (pro rata if P/T)
Salary period: Yearly
Grade: (NHS AfC: Band 8a)

Specialty

Main area: Health and Justice

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical and Therapeutic Practice

The postholder will provide a comprehensive, highly specialist therapeutic service to children at Oasis Restore Secure School, including psychological assessment, formulation and intervention, alongside advice and consultation to colleagues within the child’s multidisciplinary team.

The postholder will:

Undertake specialist assessments using a range of appropriate information sources, including psychological and neuropsychological assessments, self-report measures, rating scales, structured and semi-structured interviews and direct or indirect observation.
Develop psychological formulations that integrate complex clinical, developmental, historical, social and environmental factors.
Formulate and implement evidence-based psychological treatment and management plans.
Deliver a range of individual, family and group psychological interventions, adapting approaches according to the child’s needs and presentation.
Evaluate treatment options and review interventions in response to progress, changing needs and clinical risk.
Exercise autonomous professional responsibility for assessment, treatment and discharge where care is managed through psychologically based care plans.
Contribute specialist knowledge of complex mental health presentations to multidisciplinary assessment and care planning.
Provide advice regarding psychological aspects of physical and mental healthcare and treatment.
Undertake risk assessment and risk management and provide specialist advice to colleagues regarding psychological aspects of risk.
Undertake family therapy or systemic work with children and their carers where appropriate.
Respond to urgent referrals and participate in relevant duty arrangements.

Trauma-Informed and Relational Practice

The postholder will contribute to the development of a trauma-informed and psychologically informed culture across ORSS.

This will include:

Developing therapeutic relationships that recognise the individual experiences, strengths, needs and developmental stage of each child.
Supporting children to express their views and ensuring their voice is incorporated into their care and service development.
Considering diversity, culture, identity, gender and sexuality sensitively within assessment, formulation and intervention.
Supporting residential and education colleagues to develop psychologically informed approaches to working with children.
Participating in and contributing to Reflective Practice and staff support activities.
Supporting the development and delivery of therapeutic activities and opportunities for expression, exploration and empowerment.

Multidisciplinary and Partnership Working

The postholder will work closely with healthcare colleagues and the wider ORSS team, including residential and education staff, families, carers and professionals within each child’s community network.

Responsibilities will include:

Providing authoritative specialist psychological advice within multidisciplinary care.
Contributing to formulation, diagnosis, treatment planning and risk management.
Communicating complex and sensitive clinical information clearly and appropriately.
Working collaboratively with colleagues where there are differing views or complex clinical and safeguarding considerations.
Supporting a shared understanding of children’s psychological needs across the residential, education and healthcare environments.
Contributing to the development of effective professional networks and collaborative working arrangements.

Supervision, Training and Staff Development

The postholder will contribute to the development of the wider workforce through:

Providing professional and clinical supervision to Band 7 Highly Specialist Clinical Practitioners, Assistant Practitioners and other colleagues as appropriate.
Providing teaching, training and consultation to healthcare, residential and education staff.
Contributing to whole-school training and liaison programmes.
Supporting pre- and post-qualification teaching within the relevant professional discipline.
Participating in Reflective Practice and other activities supporting staff development and wellbeing.
Sharing specialist knowledge and good practice within CNWL and, where appropriate, nationally.

Service Development, Governance and Quality Improvement

The postholder will contribute to the development and evaluation of psychological and therapeutic services at ORSS and across the Health and Justice Children and Young People Service Line.

This will include:

Participating in audit, research and service evaluation.
Supporting the development and implementation of evidence-based practice.
Identifying opportunities for service development and innovation.
Contributing to policy and practice development within the relevant professional discipline.
Supporting clinical governance and maintaining high professional standards.
Using research evidence and current professional guidance to inform clinical practice.
Maintaining accurate and timely clinical records, reports and statistical information.
Contributing to quality improvement and the ongoing development of the ORSS therapeutic model.

Professional Responsibilities

The postholder will:

Work autonomously within professional standards, relevant legislation and CNWL policies and procedures.
Maintain professional registration and undertake continuing professional development relevant to the role.
Participate in regular professional supervision and appraisal.
Maintain awareness of current developments in psychological and therapeutic practice, particularly in relation to children and young people in secure settings.
Maintain high standards of clinical record keeping and professional self-governance.
Work in accordance with Health and Justice security, health and safety and safeguarding procedures.
Promote equality, diversity and human rights throughout all aspects of clinical and professional practice.
Work flexibly in response to the developing needs of the service.

This job description provides an outline of the duties and responsibilities of the post and is not intended to be exhaustive. The role may develop over time in response to the changing needs of Oasis Restore Secure School, CNWL and the children and young people receiving care.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI can be used as a support tool, not a replacement for the applicant’s own work. Applications must remain personal, accurate, and reflective of the candidate’s real experience. AI-generated content must not misrepresent skills, qualifications, or experience. Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct. Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.

Vaccination

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system
Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

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.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

A good honours degree in Psychology as accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). A recognised professional post-graduate qualification in Systemic Therapy, Family Therapy, Arts Therapies, Psychotherapy or relevant core mental health professional therapeutic training.
Doctoral level training in clinical psychology, including specific models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology, equivalent to that accredited by the BPS
Evidence of post-qualification specialist training, experience and developing expertise in a specialist area of clinical practice.
HCPC Registration.

Desirable criteria

Pre- or Post-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.
Reflective practice training and experience
Post-qualification experience and training in neurodevelopmental assessment and intervention in a forensic mental health setting.
Completion of supervisor training course.
Post-qualification training in a recognised psychological therapy for trauma
Post-graduate training or experience in a forensic mental health setting.

Skills , Knowledge and Abilities

Essential criteria

Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
Broad knowledge of models of assessment, management and treatment of children and young people in secure settings.
Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
Ability to work intensively with people who present challenges in the complexity of their problems and needs, including sexual and violent offending and self-harming and suicidal behaviours.
An understanding of the social determinates of health inequalities and relevant psychological theory and practice
Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology or equivalent for non-psychology professionals
Possesses range of clinical knowledge, skills & information technology expertise relevant to post
Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings
Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour
• Ability to work intensively with people who present challenges in the complexity of their problems and needs, including sexual and violent offending and self-harming and suicidal behaviours

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult-to-treat groups (e.g. people with additional disabilities).
Ability to write reports for varied audiences, including courts and purchasers of services.
Can apply psychological knowledge creatively in developing new initiatives

Previous Experience

Essential criteria

Demonstrate further specialist training / experience through having received a minimum of 50 hours clinical supervision of working as a specialist clinical psychologist or equivalent professional mental health disciplines, or an alternative agreed by the Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Experience of using a trauma informed approach
Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse
Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings
Experience of working effectively in multidisciplinary settings and preferably within a secure or education setting.
Advanced knowledge, experience and expertise in at least one specialist area of clinical practice gained through specialist training and supervised practice (e.g. psychotherapy, neuropsychology, risk assessment, clinical supervision
Experience of working with adolescents/children

Desirable criteria

Experience of teaching and training
Experience of representing psychology/psychotherapy within the context of multi-disciplinary care
Experience of working with neurodevelopmental difficulties among children
• Experience of working with sexual behaviour difficulties and/or sexual offending.