Clinical Psychologist

Cumbria, England £65,000–£70,000 per annum Permanent | Full-time About the opportunity Every child has a story, and understanding that story can make a real difference to their future. We are seeking an experienced Clinical Psychologist to help shape the therapeutic approach within a specialist service supporting children and young people with complex emotional, behavioural and developmental needs. Many of the young people we support have experienced trauma, disrupted attachments and significant challenges in their lives. They need adults who can look beyond what they see on the surface, recognise the experiences influencing behaviour and respond in ways that promote safety, stability and progress. This position offers the opportunity to combine specialist clinical expertise with service-wide development. You will work across residential care, education and outdoor learning settings, helping colleagues apply psychological knowledge to everyday situations and ensuring that individual needs remain central to care decisions. As our Clinical Psychologist, you will play a key part in developing a consistent, psychologically informed approach across the organisation. Your responsibilities will include:

• Clinical assessment and formulation: Provide specialist assessments, psychological formulations and recommendations to support individual care plans and inform responses to complex needs.
• Placement assessment: Work with the referrals team to evaluate referrals, consider clinical risks and determine whether the service can safely and appropriately support each young person.
• Therapeutic practice: Help staff understand the impact of trauma, attachment difficulties and emotional dysregulation, translating psychological theory into practical strategies.
• Direct clinical intervention: Undertake appropriate evidence-based therapeutic work, tailored to the needs, circumstances and developmental stage of each child.
• Risk and safeguarding: Contribute psychological expertise to safeguarding discussions, risk assessments, multidisciplinary meetings and placement reviews.
• Staff development: Provide consultation, training and reflective practice sessions to help colleagues build confidence and respond effectively to challenging situations.
• Quality and evaluation: Support clinical audit, outcome monitoring and service evaluation to assess the effectiveness of interventions and identify areas for improvement.
• Strategic contribution: Collaborate with clinical and operational leaders to develop the organisation's therapeutic framework, improve practice standards and strengthen clinical governance. You will be a qualified Clinical Psychologist who combines sound clinical judgement with the ability to engage, influence and support professionals working in demanding environments. You should have:
• A Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) or equivalent recognised qualification.
• Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Significant experience of psychological assessment, formulation and work with children or young people presenting with complex needs.
• Knowledge of developmental trauma, attachment, adverse childhood experiences and emotional regulation.
• Experience of multidisciplinary collaboration, safeguarding, risk assessment and clinical care planning.
• The ability to explain psychological concepts clearly and turn them into achievable, practical approaches for frontline teams.
• Strong consultation, communication, report-writing and relationship-building skills. Experience supporting young people who are involved in, or at risk of entering, the criminal justice system would be particularly valuable. We welcome clinicians who understand the links between early adversity, trauma, behavioural responses and offending, or who are motivated to develop their expertise in this area. Additional training or experience in child and adolescent mental health, attachment-based work and trauma-focused interventions would be welcomed. Relevant approaches may include:
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).
• Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP).
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
• Systemic and family-based practice. Experience in clinical supervision, staff training, service development, audit or clinical governance would also be beneficial. Just as importantly, you will be able to maintain a thoughtful, reflective approach when faced with uncertainty or complex clinical situations. You will recognise the importance of strong professional relationships and help teams remain curious about the needs underlying a child's behaviour. What we offer We want our clinicians to feel supported in their work and have the opportunity to develop their expertise while making a meaningful contribution to young people's lives. The package includes:
• Salary: £65,000–£70,000 per annum, dependent on experience.
• Clinical support: Regular supervision and access to continuing professional development.
• Induction: A structured introduction to the organisation, including a six-month welcome programme.
• Career progression: Opportunities to broaden your clinical experience and develop within a growing therapeutic service.
• Healthcare benefits: Medicash support, including dental and optical cashback and 24/7 GP access.
• Financial security: Company pension and life assurance equivalent to twice your annual salary.
• Family-friendly provisions: Enhanced sick pay, maternity and paternity pay, plus paid compassionate leave from your first day.
• Lifestyle discounts: Savings on gym memberships, retail purchases, restaurants and other services. This role is an opportunity to influence more than individual clinical outcomes. Your expertise will help shape how teams understand young people, how care decisions are made and how therapeutic principles are embedded throughout their daily experiences. If you are looking for a position that combines clinical practice, professional consultation and service development, we would welcome your interest. To be considered or to learn more about this opportunity please click apply, alternatively send your CV directly to d.hughes@linqrecruitment.co.uk