Senior Practitioner Psychologist
We welcome a Clinical Psychologist to our integrated multi-agency service, a partnership between East Sussex County Council (ESCC) - Children's Services and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) CAMHS. As a valued member of the collaborative SWIFT Children's Assessment and Treatment (SWIFT CAT) team you will contribute to work that can have a profound and lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable children and their families.

Your role will be a key part of the development of the service for children under 11 years who are on the Edge of Care, subject to Child Protection Plans and at risk of family breakdown. You will support social workers in formulating child and family presentations and where deemed necessary provide clinical assessment. This may include working alongside multidisciplinary colleagues in the Neurodevelopmental Pathway co-ordinated by SWIFT CAT.

There may also be the opportunity to provide some tailored interventions to children and families.

Main duties of the job
Alongside wider Specialist Children Services colleagues, you will:

• Provide crucial support and guidance through consultation with parents, caregivers and professionals.
• Conduct specialist clinical assessments for Under 11's with complex emotional, behavioural, neurodevelopmental and safeguarding needs
• Support our social work colleagues in care planning and risk management, ensuring that these foster children's well-being.
• For a small cohort of children, deliver evidence-based interventions to address identified needs where these can not be met by another service and are within the remit of the SWIFT CAT team.
• Work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team to enhance outcomes for children subject to Child Protection Plans and Pre-Care Proceedings.
• Liaise with key agencies, including Education, to ensure integrated care.
• Contribute to the development of evidence-based practice and improvement initiatives within the service.

An informal discussion is strongly encouraged.

About us
SWIFT Specialist Family Services (SWIFT) is an established, integrated service which provides comprehensive assessments and interventions when parents' challenges (e.g., substance misuse, mental health, domestic abuse) impact their parenting.

This role is part of SWIFT CAT, our multidisciplinary child assessment and treatment team. You'll work alongside skilled colleagues to offer specialist mental health services to children living in complex, high-risk family situations. Our core business includes assessing children's mental health, including attention to risk management and care planning, and working with families as well as the wider systems that support them.

We are committed to providing a high-quality, integrated service that complements the work done by ESCC Children's Services. As part of our team, you will have access to opportunities for ongoing professional development, research involvement, and participation in service improvement initiatives.

Job responsibilities
Please see Job Description and Person Specification for full details of 8A Clinical Psychologist.

Essential requirements

• Experience of working with children and families.
• HCPC-registered Practitioner Psychologist.
• Applications are welcomed from Clinical Psychologists.
• Experience in risk assessment and management.

Desirable requirements

• Post-qualification Band 8a experience (or equivalent).
• Experience of working with child protection concerns and needs.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, social care setting.
• Access to own transport for travel across East Sussex.
• SWIFT have office bases in Eastbourne and Hastings.

Flexible working arrangements, including the possibility of hybrid working (home/office), can be discussed and agreed upon.

Hours
This post is advertised as a full time post. Part-time hours can be considered but would require commitment of a minimum 30hrs per week.

At Sussex Partnership we are committed to providing opportunities for flexible working. If you would like to work differently or different hours to as advertised, please get in touch to discuss this in more detail.

Additional information
If you haven't thought about living and working in East Sussex before then you should consider the following:

• Journey from the coast to the countryside in minutes
• Enjoy a lifestyle where there are renowned cycle routes and picturesque walks, including the famous South Downs Way in the South Downs National Park!
• Embrace taking time to discover all the miles of scenic coastline
• Easy access to airports - Gatwick and Heathrow are both within 90 minutes of the county, providing links to Europe and beyond
• London is also within easy reach via local and national bus routes and national mainline stations
• See the attached 'Partnership Perks' document for details about the SPFT benefits package.

Apply
Please apply using the link in this advert.

Further information
An informal discussion is strongly encouraged prior to application.
For further information or discussion please contact Becky Lloyd-Stubbs at rebecca.lloyd-stubbs@eastsussex.gov.uk (Clinical Lead Nurse Specialist) and/or Rachel.Swann@eastsussex.gov.uk (Consultant Clinical Psychologist).

Person specification
Qualifications (essential)

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology as approved by the HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology

Knowledge/Experience (essential)

• Experience in highly specialist psychological assessment and treatment across outpatient, community, primary care, and inpatient settings
• Post-qualification experience as a practitioner psychologist with approximately 50 hours of clinical supervision
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, design and complex data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of applied psychology
• Experience working with diverse client groups across the lifespan, addressing a wide range of clinical severities, and maintaining a high degree of professionalism in challenging situations
• Skilled in teaching, training and/or supervision
• Experience of applying psychology in different cultural contexts and working within a multicultural framework.
• Experience of representing psychology within the context of multidisciplinary care.
• Experience or demonstrable knowledge of working with the particular client group served by the team/service.
• Knowledge of relevant national and local guidance, legislation, and mental health frameworks
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).
• High-level proficiency in at least two specialised psychological therapies and neuropsychology, with continued practice or training post-qualification.
• Formal training in supervision of other psychologists
• Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC

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.

Certificate of sponsorship
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.

UK registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Swift Specialist Family Services, 102 Holly Place, Eastbourne, BN22 0UT, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Principle Clinical Psychologist, Rachel Swann, rachel.swann@eastsussex.gov.uk, 01323463800

Details
Date posted: 20 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year pa
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 354-CS-21967-A
Closing date: 03 November 2026

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. Applications are welcome from all, including disabled candidates and those with overseas qualifications, under the NHS equality commitments.