Job summary
- Main area
- Psychology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (37.5 hours per week)
- Job ref
- 425-26-7893869-A
- Employer
- Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Centenary House
- Town
- Sheffield
- Salary
- £57,528 - £64,750 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 23/09/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Senior Clinical Specialist/Psychologist
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Job overview
Permanent | Full Time
We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled mental health professional to join our developing Enhanced Support Team (EST) within CAMHS. We welcome applications from professionals with nursing, specialist therapy or psychological backgrounds.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a service designed to meet the needs of young people experiencing with high levels of vulnerability, risk unmet need. Young people and families may have experienced trauma, disrupted relationships, social disadvantage, neurodevelopmental differences, exclusion or involvement with multiple services. Their needs often cross organisational boundaries and require an integrated, multi-agency approach.
The EST provides specialist support for young people whose needs are not met through existing models of care. We are committed to understanding young people within the context of their experiences, relationships and wider environments, working collaboratively with young people, families and professional networks to achieve meaningful change.
As a Band 8a Specialist Practitioner, you will provide specialist assessment, formulation and intervention for young people. You will also contribute to consultation, capacity-building and collaborative multi-agency working.
You will be confident working with young people whose presentations can evoke anxiety in professional networks or result in fragmented responses.
Main duties of the job
As a Band 8a Specialist Practitioner, you will hold a key clinical role within the team.
You will provide specialist assessment, formulation and intervention for young people experiencing severe and complex difficulties, whilst also supporting consultation, capacity-building and collaborative multi-agency working.
You will be confident working with complexity, risk and uncertainty, and able to support systems to think differently about young people whose presentations can evoke anxiety and drive fragmented responses.
Working for our organisation
At Sheffield Children’s, our purpose is clear: to provide healthier futures for children and young people. Our three strategic aims are Outstanding Patient Care, Brilliant Place to Work, and Leaders in Children’s Health.
We work with partners across local, regional, and national levels to deliver physical and mental healthcare in both acute and community settings. Many of our clinicians are nationally and internationally recognised for their expertise.
We’re proud that 73% of colleagues would recommend Sheffield Children’s as a place to work, placing us among the top five NHS trusts in England — and the top-ranked trust in the North East and Yorkshire — in the latest NHS Staff Survey.
Our nearly 4,000 colleagues bring our CARE values — Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence — to life every day, creating a kind, welcoming environment where patients and families feel safe and supported.
As we approach our 150th anniversary in 2026, we’re excited to keep building our leadership in children's health, improve experiences for patients and staff, and focus on our communities and population health.
We also offer excellent benefits to support your wellbeing, with generous annual leave and pension schemes, health and wellbeing programmes, and exclusive discounts — helping you thrive at work and beyond.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For more information on the main responsibilities for this post, please refer to the job description and person specification.
*****We strongly encourage all applicants to review their right to work eligibility before submitting an application to help avoid any disappointment during the recruitment process.
Depending on the applicants prof registration a occupation code will be assigned.
Diversity Statement
At Sheffield Children’s, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and supports everyone’s success. We prioritise Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in our recruitment practices, creating a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ members.
Recognising that inclusivity is an ongoing effort, we review our processes and welcome feedback to enhance our practices. A diverse team strengthens our organisation and the quality of care we deliver. For ideas on how we can improve, please contact our Recruitment Manager at [email protected]. Together, we’re building a workplace where everyone belongs.
Person specification
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
- Highly developed knowledge of child and adolescent mental health and evidence-based assessment and intervention approaches.
- Advanced clinical skills in assessment, formulation, intervention and risk management for children and young people with complex mental health needs.
- Ability to communicate complex, sensitive or contentious information effectively to children, young people, families and professional networks.
- Highly developed consultation, reflective practice and collaborative problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work across organisational, professional and agency boundaries to influence practice, support service development and improve outcomes.
- Understanding of clinical governance, quality improvement, service evaluation and outcome measurement processes.
- Ability to analyse and interpret complex clinical information and data to inform decision-making and service development.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, national policy and guidance relating to children and young people's mental health services.
Desirable criteria
- Additional specialist training in therapeutic approaches relevant to the service.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant post-registration experience working with children, young people and families experiencing mental health difficulties.
- Experience of undertaking highly specialised assessment, formulation and therapeutic interventions for children and young people with complex mental health needs.
- Experience of managing complex clinical risk and safeguarding concerns
- Experience of providing clinical leadership, consultation and specialist advice within multidisciplinary and multi-agency environments.
- Experience of providing clinical and/or professional supervision to staff, trainees or students.
- Experience of contributing to service development, quality improvement, audit or service evaluation activities.
- Experience of managing a complex caseload and exercising a high level of professional autonomy and clinical decision making.
Desirable criteria
- Experience within a CAMHS service or related specialist children's mental health setting.
Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria
- Professional qualification in a relevant mental health profession (e.g. Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Clinical Psychology, Family Therapy, Art Therapy, Drama Therapy, Music Therapy or equivalent).
- Current registration with the relevant professional or regulatory body (e.g. HCPC, NMC, Social Work England, UKCP or equivalent).
- Postgraduate training in a recognised evidence-based therapeutic modality relevant to the client group.
- Leadership, management or quality improvement training.
- Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development relevant to child and adolescent mental health practice.
Desirable criteria
- Additional specialist training in therapeutic approaches relevant to the service.
Pesronal Attributes
Essential criteria
- Commitment to child-centred, family-focused and inclusive practice.
- Ability to demonstrate leadership, initiative and professional accountability.
- Ability to maintain professional resilience when working with highly complex and emotionally demanding situations.
- Commitment to promoting the voice and participation of children, young people and families.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working with diverse communities and adapting practice to meet differing cultural needs.
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Rachael Johnson
- Job title
- Consultant Clinical Psychologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07557 564296
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