Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation TrustClinical PsychologistClosing date: 21 July 2026Job summaryDo you want to work in a friendly, professional and patient-focused Community Mental Health Team where your skills, knowledge and experience would be valued?
We are hoping to welcome a Clinical Psychologist to our team. The post is offered as a 12-month fixed term 8a position for an experienced Clinical Psychologist, and applications are also welcome from recently qualified individuals with HCPC registration, who have a keen desire to work in this area. For newly qualified applicants, the post will be offered as a development post, band 7-8a, in line with the trust's Preceptorship and Development post protocol.
The position is full time at 37.5 hours per week and is based across the East locality with bases in Macclesfield and Crewe. The service operates 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. You would be joining a well-established and supportive multi-disciplinary team that is always looking to evolve and adapt to changing practices in mental health care. The position includes actively engaging in service development as well as focusing on personal and professional growth.
Main duties of the jobThe post holder will work autonomously, within a multi-disciplinary team, to provide evidence-based psychological assessments and interventions to adults and older adults presenting with complex and enduring mental health difficulties.
As well as delivering individual and group interventions, the successful applicant will contribute to the psychological thinking within the team through formulation, consultation, and joint working with colleagues across the CMHT. This includes supporting the team to develop psychologically informed care plans and offering guidance on risk and recovery-focused approaches.
The role also involves contributing to the effective running of the service, including maintaining accurate clinical records, supporting referral pathways, and participating in service development.
Excellent communication, formulation, and therapeutic skills are essential for this post. Applicants should have a sound working knowledge of common mental health disorders, trauma-informed practice, and relevant legislation including the Mental Health Act and NICE guidelines.
We are a friendly and supportive team upholding the core values of CWP. We offer a thorough induction period, which includes shadowing established team members.
Access to transport for work purposes is essential as the post may involve visits to individuals homes.
About usCheshire 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 responsibilitiesPlease 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 SpecificationQualificationsEssential- Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996)
- HCPC registration
Desirable- Additional Psychotherapy qualification
- Supervision qualification
Knowledge and ExpertiseEssential- Skills in conducting complex psychological assessment and intervention frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex and /or clinically sensitive information to clients and professional colleagues within and outside the NHS
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Skills in providing Consultation to other professionals and nonprofessional groups
Desirable- Experience of liaison with other health professionals.
- Experience of providing teaching and training.
- Experience of contributing to policy and service development.
ExperienceEssential- Expertise in neuropsychological assessment
Desirable- Experience of liaison with other health professionals
- Experience of providing teaching and training
- Experience of contributing to policy and service development.
- Experience of working with adults with complex mental health difficulties.
- Experience with clients who are on the autistic spectrum
- Experience of working with groups
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.
Certificate of SponsorshipApplications 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 RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer detailsEmployer name: Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Jocelyn Solly Resource Centre/Delamere Resource Centre, Victoria Road, Macclesfield, SK10 3SJ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.cwp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact: Principal Clinical Psychologist / Locality Lead, Dr Amelia Durcan, amelia.durcan1@nhs.net, 01625505600
