Principal Clinical Psychologist/Psychological Therapist

Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, enthusiastic and resilient principal clinical psychologist or principal psychological therapist to join the Personality Disorder Hub. The role will suit candidates who thrive in roles which include variety, complexity and challenge alongside opportunities for growth.

The Hub team comprises a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, psychological therapists, an occupational therapist and community practitioners. There are also plans to expand the team further with the introduction of a speech and language therapist. The team provide the following:

Care co-ordination and treatment for a limited number of service users who present with significant personality difficulties, have co-existing conditions alongside a high risk to self.

Evidence-based psychological therapies - predominantly Structured Clinical Management (SCM) and trauma stabilisation, whilst drawing strongly on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT). These are delivered in adapted form during the most unstable phase of a service users care pathway. The focus is on providing safety, stabilisation, containment and emotional regulation.

Scaffolding (indirect joint working, governance and training) to other CNTW staff who are also working with service users presenting with personality difficulties.

Main duties of the job
The key elements of the role will be:

• providing specialist assessment, consultation and adapted treatment to adult service users with severe personality difficulties, complexity and high levels of risk to self
• developing and embedding complex formulations with service users and team members
• enhancing and embedding trauma informed care for individuals with co-morbid personality difficulties, complex trauma and dissociative disorders
• providing supervision, advice and consultation to team members, colleagues in other services, and to other non-professional carers, on psychological aspects of assessment, formulation, care and treatment of people with personality difficulties
• leading on team training, supervision and evaluation
• providing scaffolding on complex systemic dynamics to other teams, across pathways and the organisation (e.g. attendance at complex case panels) under the guidance of the Consultant Clinical Psychologist
• proactively leading on service evaluation, development and appropriate service work streams
• clinical co-ordinator role (enhancing pathway co-ordination, adherence and throughput through the system, including leading on waiting list management, processing of referrals and other service clinical matters)

About us
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.

Details
Date posted: 25 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year pro rata per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 263-SCG26-097-AB
Job locations: Benfield House, Walkergate Park, Walkergate Park, Newcastle, NE6 4QD, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 25th August 2026
Closing date : 8th September 2026
We welcome your application.

Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential

• Doctoral level training in clinical/counselling psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and Neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the HCPC and British Psychological Society/An Honours Degree in Psychology recognised for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society, or RMN, or equivalent degree level qualification in mental health and Post-graduate qualifications in psychological assessment and psychological therapy (e.g. Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, Post-graduate diploma in CBT, IAPT High Intensity CBT diploma).

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Specialist knowledge, skills and experience of assessment, formulation, reformulation and intervention with adults with complex mental health difficulties
• Specialist knowledge, skills and competencies in understanding, formulating and working with severe personality difficulties
• Specialist knowledge, skills and experience of assessment and management of risk in relation to people with complex psychological presentations and personality disorder.
• Training in Structured Clinical Management, including delivery and supervision of SCM, DBT and/or MBT treatment approaches
• Highly developed knowledge and experience of trauma informed care and approaches utilised for trauma stabilisation
• Demonstrated ability and highly developed specialist teaching, training, consultancy, supervision and leadership skills.
• The ability to contribute to service planning and development in Specialist Psychological Therapies, as appropriate.

Desirable

• Advanced knowledge, delivery and supervision of Structured Clinical Management practitioners, including its adaptions
• Training in and experience of implementing and supervising DBT or MBT
• Training, knowledge and experience of complex trauma and dissociative disorders and their treatment/management
• Specialist training in the assessment of personality difficulties (e.g. IPDE, SCID5- PD)

Skills and Competencies
Essential

• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management.
• Specialist skills in evidence based psychological interventions
• Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinical sensitive information to clients, their family, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
• Well-developed teaching & training skills.
• Well-developed skills in providing clinical supervision and consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
• Formal training in clinical supervision of trainee clinical psychologists and other staff.
• Skills in managing emotional impact of dealing with highly emotive and distressing situations through self-management and use of the clinical supervision process.

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: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Benfield House, Walkergate Park, Walkergate Park, Newcastle, NE6 4QD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Rob Watts
View email address on meeveem.com

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.