ConsultantPsychiatry

Consultant Psychologist Child & Family Mental Health - Early Help Lead

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

CQC: Good

Wareham

Salary

£66,582 – £91,609

Posted

7 weeks ago

About the role

We are seeking an outstanding Consultant Psychologist to take up a new senior Clinical Lead role across our Early Help provision, which includes a new Integrated Front Door, Getting Help teams and the existing and expanding MHST provision. The role exists as part of a bold and ambitious THRIVE‑aligned transformation programme for children, young people and families across Dorset.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of early intervention at system level, embedding psychologically informed, needs‑led approaches across universal and targeted services, and strengthening partnership working across health, education, local authority and voluntary sector organisations.

As Clinical Lead, you will provide strategic, clinical and professional leadership across the Child and Family Mental Health Early Help provision. You will play a central role in redesigning pathways, influencing culture and practice, and ensuring child and family mental health services are aligned to THRIVE principles including shared decision‑making, improved access to help, clarity around need and choice, and proportionate responses.

Consultant Psychologist Child & Family Mental Health - Early Help Lead

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

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You will work closely with senior leaders, commissioners and partners, contributing to transformation at scale while maintaining clinical credibility and a strong focus on quality, governance and impact. A key element of the role is developing psychological capability across the wider workforce, supporting sustainable change beyond specialist services.

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Working closely with the existing clinical, medical and operational leadership team, provide senior clinical leadership and oversight across Early Help services.

Lead the implementation of the new THRIVE‑aligned service delivery model for Dorset CAMHs and promoting the adoption of a preventative clinical model of delivery

Influence system‑wide service design and pathway development

Strengthen psychologically informed practice across partner organisations

Champion prevention, early intervention and population‑based approaches, with specific consideration for health inequalities across the target population.

Ensure children, young people and families shape service design and delivery.

Contribute to quality improvement, governance and evaluation

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.

Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.

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For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application. However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidate’s individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience. If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety. If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact [email protected]

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At Dorset HealthCare we’re on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We’re a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here – it’s one of the reasons the CQC rated us ‘outstanding’ in 2019. It’s also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you’re looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you’ll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don’t know. And you’ll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

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Person specification

Essential

HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist
A minimum of 5yrs experience as a Practitioner Psychologist
Significant experience of working in Child and Family Services
Skills in assessing, planning and evaluating mental health care/treatment interventions
Experience of having held a senior leadership position for a minimum of 2yrs
Minimum of 5 years post professional qualifying clinical experience in their current profession, and working at a senior clinical position (Band 7 and above
Experience of engaging in service development activities
Evidence of promoting research, evidence-based practice, clinical excellence and quality approaches to support outcome focussed care
Experience in facilitating learning within clinical practice
Ability to administer and interpret a range of evidence based/standardised assessment tools
Ability to analyse complex information to solve problems and draw conclusions
Imagination, determination and a questioning attitude
An ability to assimilate new concepts and approaches to care
Evidence of leading effectively at a senior level in a multi-disciplinary health and social care setting (mental health)
Experience of managing, supervising and supporting teams
Use multimedia materials for presentations in professional, academic and public settings
An ability to use the internet, email and basic word-processing skills.
Teaching and presentation skills

Desirable

Additional training in 2+ accredited therapies e.g. CBT, DBT, EMDR
Additional qualification in a leadership training e.g. PG Dip
Accredited with the BABCP
Experience of working with a range of statutory and non-statutory agencies
Previous experience of the full range of line management responsibilities, including attendance management, discipline and grievance, management of recruitment & selection, personal and career development.