Senior Clinical Psychologist

Job overview

Permanent Contract Band 8a Senior Clinical Psychologist: 15 hours

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Fixed Term contract Band 8a Senior Clinical Psychologist: 22.5 hours (until November 2027)

We have two exciting opportunities to join the Tic Service as a clinical psychologist. The postholder will primarily be based in the multidisciplinary team that provides assessment and treatment to children and young people with Tourette syndrome and functional tics (and other complex neurodevelopmental disorders) and commonly co-occurring mental health disorders.

Supervision and line management is provided by a principal clinical psychologist.

Training will be provided and there are strong research and development opportunities on the team.

Please contact Eve.McAllister@gosh.nhs.uk or Tara.Murphy@gosh.nhs.uk for further information.

Closing date: October 22nd 2026

Interview date: November 6th 2026

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work as part of the team of clinical psychologists and wider psychosocial professionals within Psychological and Mental Health Services (PAMHS). The Tic Service was established to provide evidence-based assessment and treatment to children and young adolescents with complex tic disorders and other neurodevelopmental differences (e.g. autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and medical conditions with co-occurring mental health disorders at Great Ormond Street Hospital. They also provide assessment and treatment of children with complex tic symptoms in collaboration with local CAMHS and paediatric services nationally. There are strong community links held by the team and close working with local mental health services and other agencies.

The post holder will ensure the systematic provision of a high quality clinical psychology service to patients and families, across all sectors of care, providing specialist psychological assessment, complex formulation and evidence based interventions.

The post holder will be expected to contribute to the flexible delivery of psychology services across the Trust, in response to new developments and organisational changes.

There is a requirement to utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research.

Working for our organisation

We are committed to recruiting the best person for the job through a fair, open and consistent process that is free from bias and discrimination.

We are working towards becoming an anti-racist organisation. This means creating a workplace where every colleague feels seen, heard and valued, and where racism in any form has no place. Our anti-racism commitment is backed by action through our Anti-Racism Statement and action plan, developed in collaboration with our REACH staff network.

We actively challenge discrimination, dismantle barriers and embed equity across all aspects of our workforce, including recruitment, progression and development. All applicants will receive equal consideration regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, health condition or employment history.

We particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, people with disabilities or long-term health conditions, and LGBTQ+ community members. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, a member of the Business Disability Forum, and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

Our staff networks, including REACH, PRIDE, ENABLED and Women's Networks, are active and executive supported. These employee-led networks play a vital role in shaping an inclusive culture at GOSH and are open to all colleagues.

Together, we are building a culture where inclusion is not optional - it is essential.

Person specification

GOSH Culture and Values

Essential criteria

• GOSH Values

Academic/Professional qualification/Training

Essential criteria

• Honours BSc in Psychology (minimum 2:1)
• Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical/educational psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS/HCPC, including clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, and lifespan developmental psychology.
• Eligibility for Chartered status and membership of the Division of Clinical Psychology
• Registration with the Health and Care Professionals Council as Practitioner Psychologist.
• Post-doctoral training and recorded CPD experience
• Formal training in supervision of other psychologists.
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological and cognitive assessment, intervention and management.

Desirable criteria

• Further qualifications in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice, particularly CBT.
• Experience of working with children with tic disorders.

Experience/Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Assessed experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist at specialist level
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity
• Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care
• Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts and of working in a multicultural framework
• Experience and expertise with a specialist mental health client group

Desirable criteria

• Experience of presenting psychology to multidisciplinary audiences at conferences or other educational settings.
• Experience of supervising trainee psychologists, qualified staff and/or other professionals
• Experience and expertise in working with children who have neurodevelopmental conditions.
• Experience of use of remotely delivered assessment and treatment within healthcare.

Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria

• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their carers, and other professionals.
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
• Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to distressing situations and challenging behaviours.
• Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.
• Evidence of skilled and productive multidisciplinary team working Evidence of skilled and productive multidisciplinary team working
• Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, including verbal abuse.

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of specialized psychological therapeutic skills as used in complex cases within child mental health

Additional employer information

Please be advised that:

The recruitment process for all admin and clerical roles at Bands 2-4 will be a two stage recruitment process whereby shortlisted candidates will undertake an online literacy, numeracy, ICT and typing test. Only those candidates who pass the competency test will proceed to a formal interview.

The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions where we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification criteria for this post will be shortlisted. Please note that where high volumes of applicants have been received, additional criteria may on occasion be used to determine the final shortlist.

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).

We are an accredited Living Wage Employer.

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.

Application numbers

The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions where we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

• Job Description & Person Specification (PDF, 688.3KB)
• Staff Benefits Leaflet (PDF, 108.2KB)