Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, empathic and optimistic Principal Clinical Psychologist to work within the locality Forensic Services. The Service consist of three wards; two inpatient secure wards for men with complex mental health and risk patterns and one inpatient step down mental health service. At the current time, the team are at the exciting stage of developing a new model of care for one of the secure wards. The wards are integrated with community based forensic in reach and outreach services.
The post is offered as a permanent 8B position for a senior and experienced Clinical Psychologist,
The team provides multiple opportunities to access CPD training options in differing formats and is valued by the service. There will be very supportive and close links to the other Clinical Psychologists and Psychological Practitioners across the trust and region including others in senior roles and in particular Clinical Psychologists within Forensic, Mental health/complex care, Step Down and Learning Disability services.
The Soss Moss site has excellent spacious office and meeting facilities. The site also benefits from free parking facilities and a nature trail which is used by all parties to enjoy the rural nature of the locality.
Shortlisting for this vacancy is due to commence on 24/04/2026 and the proposed interview date is 01/05/2026
Main duties of the job
We are looking for applicants who have an interest in or experience of working with people with mental health difficulties and potentially other additional psychological needs such as neurodiversity; all of whom will have significant risk histories. Applicants should demonstrate enthusiasm, compassion and optimism for the recovery and increased quality of life of the service user group.
The successful candidate will provide in depth psychological assessments (including structured professional judgement tools), individual and systemic formulations, evidence based specialised psychological interventions (direct and indirect), and clinical supervision and training to internal and external agencies. The successful applicant will be working alongside an integrated enthusiastic and innovative multi-disciplinary staff teams who are fully supportive of psychological approaches.
About us
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.
We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.
Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.
As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.
Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you'll find something to suit you at CWP.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please download a copy of the job description (see documents to download section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trusts Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trusts Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at: cwp.recruitment@nhs.net or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
Person Specification
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Highly specialist skills - complex assessment, intervention and evaluation - sustained and intense concentration
- Well-developed skills for communicating effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
- Formally trained and expert in supervising trainee clinical psychologists
- Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of applied psychology and specialised psychological therapies in working with people with complex difficulties (e.g. severe MH problems; personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).
Desirable
- Leadership training / awareness of different leadership models and systems thinking
Qualifications
Essential
- Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS
- Post doctoral training in one or more additional specialised area of psychological practice
- HCPC registration
Desirable
- Formal qualification in supervision
- BPS chartered status and/or membership of ACP UK.
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist
- Experience of providing consultation, training, support and supervision/reflective practice to other professionals and non professionals
- Experience in working in multidisciplinary teams
- Service development experience
Desirable
- involvement in local and /or national academic and /or professional body and other professional activities
Person Specification
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Highly specialist skills - complex assessment, intervention and evaluation - sustained and intense concentration
- Well-developed skills for communicating effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
- Formally trained and expert in supervising trainee clinical psychologists
- Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of applied psychology and specialised psychological therapies in working with people with complex difficulties (e.g. severe MH problems; personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).
Desirable
- Leadership training / awareness of different leadership models and systems thinking
Qualifications
Essential
- Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS
- Post doctoral training in one or more additional specialised area of psychological practice
- HCPC registration
Desirable
- Formal qualification in supervision
- BPS chartered status and/or membership of ACP UK.
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist
- Experience of providing consultation, training, support and supervision/reflective practice to other professionals and non professionals
- Experience in working in multidisciplinary teams
- Service development experience
Desirable
- involvement in local and /or national academic and /or professional body and other professional activities
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
