Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Senior Clinical Psychologist
Closing date: 17 August 2026

Job summary
We are looking for an experienced and motivated Clinical Psychologist, currently registered with the HCPC, who has post qualification experience working with children, young people and their families to cover maternity leave.

Main duties of the job
The core role will be to provide a specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention with children, young people and their families/carers. We support our staff to deliver high quality and innovative psychological solutions with service-users through consultation, individual, systemic/family, and group work.

As well as having a clinical caseload, there will also be opportunities to develop and consolidate clinical and leadership skills, through indirect work, supervision, consultation, delivering training, and service development/audit activities.

About us
LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. If you'd like to discuss your application, please ask.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time.

The wellbeing of our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a wide range of resources, tools and support to help you thrive both in and out of work.

Explore our full wellbeing offer here: Keeping our workforce well

Details
Date posted: 03 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum (subject to confirmation)
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 6 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 351-BAY953-MS-C
Job locations: Ellen House, 1-3 Ellen Court, Preston, PR1 7RH, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
For more details on this vacancy please review the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Current registration with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical)
• Doctoral level training in clinical psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology, as accredited by the BPS.

Knowledge
Essential

• Doctoral level knowledge of clinical psychology, including highly developed specialist knowledge of lifespan developmental psychology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, particularly the literature pertaining to two or more distinct psychological therapies for use with children, young people and their families/carers.
• Skills in the use of highly complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
• Knowledge of child protection and other key legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and supervision regarding work with children, young people and their families/carers.
• A high level of ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to children and young people, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist at a specialist level.
• Experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist with children, young people and their families, presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including community, in-patient and residential.
• Demonstrable experience of conducting complex audit/research and service evaluation.
• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment, both as a professionally qualified autonomous practitioner and also within the context of a multidisciplinary treatment plan.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This 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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Ellen House, 1-3 Ellen Court, Preston, PR1 7RH, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Principal Clinical Psychologist
Wendy Kellaway
01772777344