Job summary
- Main area
- Highly Specialist Clinician
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- 13 months (Fixed Term 13 Months Maternity Cover)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 260-TP-998
- Employer
- Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Tavistock and Portman Foundation Trust
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £64,156 - £71,148 Per annum including HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 19/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Highly Specialist Clinician
NHS AfC: Band 8a
It is a condition of this employment that you must live in and remain a resident of the United Kingdom during your employment with the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.
Covid-19 Vaccination
Getting vaccinated, and getting a booster, remains the best defence against COVID-19.
We encourage and support staff to get COVID-19 vaccine and a booster dose as and when they are eligible.
Please note in order to progress your application, your data will be processed by our 3rd party recruitment providers – North London Partners Shared Service, who conduct recruitment activities on behalf of The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust
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The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health trust with a focus on training and education alongside a full range of mental health services and psychological therapies for children and their families, young people and adults.
We are committed to improving mental health and emotional wellbeing, believing that high quality mental health services should be available for all who need them. We bring a distinctive contribution based on the importance we attach to social experience at all stages of people’s lives, and our focus on psychological and developmental approaches to the promotion of health and the prevention and treatment of mental ill health
We contribute to the pool of ideas through our own research and development, but are also committed to bringing together the best ideas of the time, old and new, from inside and out, together with the most gifted and able professionals in our fields of endeavour. We aim to share our ideas and practice through as many routes as possible.
As a Trust we aim constantly to be evolving in nature and form in relation to the environment in which we work, to ensure that our contribution remains relevant.
The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
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Job overview
MHSTs are a national initiative that is intended to provide children, families and school staff with increased access to mental health support. Camden MHST was first launched in January 2019 and provide a school based mental health service that works across Camden Primary and Secondary Schools as well as community hubs and clinics. Our service aims to promote and support child mental health through early intervention; that is before mental health difficulties arise, or when there are mild to moderate concerns relating to a young person’s emotions, relationships and/or behaviour.
To achieve our aims, we offer brief evidence-based approaches through universal (e.g. whole school approach), targeted (e.g. class or small group intervention) and individual therapeutic interventions. The national initiative emphasises the importance of a whole school approach with recognition of the central role that environment plays in fostering good wellbeing and positive outcomes for young people. As such our work endeavours to join with schools in the promotion of a positive ethos and culture surrounding the social, emotional, and mental health of the entire school community.
Camden is a diverse borough and we aim to provide an equitable and culturally sensitive service that reaches all of our communities. We work closely and collaboratively with our school colleagues and other allied child professionals, as we see this as essential for effective practice to be offered to children across Camden
Main duties of the job
The post holder will hold a complex caseload within the multi-disciplinary team, undertaking a range of clinical assessments and offering highly skilled treatments or therapies that are outcome focused and evidence based, using appropriate therapeutic modalities. You will review cases where patients have impasses, complaints or disputes with their clinical care.
You will provide consultation to external agencies such as GPs/schools/Local authorities and expert consultation and specialist psychological advice to other staff and agencies outside the Trust
The post holder will communicate complex information in a highly skilled and sensitive manner, at times dealing with service users who may be hostile or present challenging behaviours.
You will maintain a high standard of clinical records, producing and maintaining good communications with referrers and other professionals involved, liaising with the referrers where appropriate, including liaison with local services and participating in outreach meetings
The post holder will contribute to the quality, safety and continuous improvement of services provided to service users and their families.
Working for our organisation
The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health trust with a focus on training and education alongside a full range of mental health services and psychological therapies for children and their families, young people and adults.
We are committed to improving mental health and emotional wellbeing, believing that high quality mental health services should be available for all who need them. We bring a distinctive contribution based on the importance we attach to social experience at all stages of people’s lives, and our focus on psychological and developmental approaches to the promotion of health and the prevention and treatment of mental ill health
We contribute to the pool of ideas through our own research and development but are also committed to bringing together the best ideas of the time, old and new, from inside and out, together with the most gifted and able professionals in our fields of endeavour. We aim to share our ideas and practice through as many routes as possible.
As a Trust we aim constantly to be evolving in nature and form in relation to the environment in which we work, to ensure that our contribution remains relevant.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Degree level as a minimum plus developed specialist and practical knowledge equating to postgraduate degree/ Masters level Registration with HCPC or relevant body as a Clinical Psychologist, Educational Psychologist, Counselling Psychologist, Social Worker, Nurse, Psychotherapist, or Systemic Therapist
Experience
Essential criteria
- Evidence of clinical experience of working with client population. A clear track record of managing complexity and risk whilst maintaining high standards of service delivery
- A comprehensive understanding of the changing NHS and Social Care environment and the challenges they face
- Experience of working at all levels of the system with internal and external stakeholders
- Expertise of managing and treating the client group Some experience of clinical supervision
Skills
Essential criteria
- High level of skill and knowledge in safeguarding and risk management
- Personal duty of care in relation to equipment or resources
- Basic keyboard skills for updating client records
- Ability to manage own clinical case load
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Willingness to contribute to strategic and business planning
- Skills for assessing and communicating complex client conditions and applying appropriate clinical treatments
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
- Demonstrate equality, diversity and inclusion awareness and application of EDI issues
- Proactive, positive and enthusiastic attitude
- Ability to work effectively within a team
- Ability to remain calm whilst under pressure
- Flexible approach to working hours to meet Services needs
Other
Essential criteria
- Ability to travel Keyboard / IMT skills
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Jessica Powell
- Job title
- Team Clinical Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
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