Principal Clinical Pyschologist

THERAPEUTIC & EMOTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICE (TESS)

GR6 - £52,431.00 to £64,811.00: (with market supplement) up to £72,311.00 (depending on experience)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Principal Clinical Psychologist, with significant experience of working with childhood trauma and attachment-related difficulties, to join our Therapeutic and Emotional Support Service (TESS) for care experienced children & young people.  This new post will expand our existing service provision to support care leavers and unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people. Post qualification training in attachment and trauma informed approaches and models of therapy (or an enthusiasm to develop knowledge/skills in this area) are desirable.

TESS is a well-resourced and growing service that provides a wide range of support services to children and young people (up to age 25yrs) open to Birmingham Children’s Trust, their parents/carers and their professional network. We work in partnership with local mental health, education and community-based services to ensure support is appropriate to meet need.

The post holder will:

• Join a friendly, supportive, and highly regarded multi-disciplinary team of clinical psychology, systemic family therapy, play therapy, and other therapeutic social workers.
• Have a wide range of approaches and models (e.g. DDP, CBT, DBT, etc) are utilised within the service.
• Whilst working in accordance with the best available evidence base, evidence informed innovative and creative ways of working are also encouraged.

This population can present with a wide range of needs resulting from significant experiences of abuse, neglect, significant attachment disruption, separation, loss, marginalisation, disadvantage and social isolation. Presenting needs can include emotional, behavioural and relationship difficulties, mental health issues, neurodevelopmental differences along with learning or executive functioning difficulties and high risk.  This work can be pressured and emotionally challenging at times, but also very rewarding.

Birmingham is a ‘super diverse’ city and a broad range of diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds represented in our workforce and in those we support.

The post holder will:

• Undertake a broad range of duties including: specialist assessment, developing shared formulations in complex presentations.
• Delivering therapeutic interventions (individual, dyadic, family and/or in groups), consultation, teaching and training.
• Liaison with partner agencies as well as undertaking supervision, service development, service evaluation and research where appropriate.

If you are a team player who is passionate and experienced in developing and delivering services for care experienced and/or UASC young people, we would love to hear from you.  TESS will provide you with access to training, regular clinical, professional and management supervision, and on-going support. You will also have opportunities to link with other psychologists across the Trust for peer support.

In order to be considered for this role please include a supporting statement and CV that demonstrates how you meet the competencies required as outlined in the attached person specification.  

For more information please contact:

Lee Vince, TESS Head of Service or: [email protected]
or
Dr Marie Kershaw, Consultant Clinical Psychologist: [email protected] 

Closing date: Sunday 28th September 2025
Interviews: Tuesday 14^th October 2025

We have been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, following a 2023 inspection. This is a fantastic achievement for Birmingham Children's Trust, with many positive highlights focusing on areas including the quality of staff leadership, partnership working, safeguarding and corporate parenting.

This is a hybrid role based in Birmingham so you must reside within a suitable commutable distance around Birmingham and have the correct right-to-work documents to work in the UK. Sadly, we do not support those who require sponsorship.

Help us to change children and young people’s lives!

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of over 10,000 children and young people in our city every day. Our mission is to support the most disadvantaged children and young people in Birmingham, ensuring they are safe, happy, and healthy.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work - be part of a team that makes a real difference in the lives of the city’s most vulnerable children.
• Supportive Environment - enjoy a supportive and collaborative work culture where your contributions are valued.
• Career Development - benefit from tailored development programs, supportive supervision, and a range of learning opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Generous Benefits - take advantage of our competitive reward package including generous leave allowance, Local Government pension scheme, and additional benefits.

Our Values

We approach our work with care and compassion, actively listening to the needs of the children and young people we serve. We involve them in the decisions that affect their lives, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.

We are committed to using our resources wisely, ensuring that every penny is spent where it counts the most. We foster collaboration among schools, health professionals, and the police, working together to create a supportive network for our young people.

We believe that when we work as one cohesive team, the children and young people of Birmingham are more likely to thrive. Our unified approach ensures that we provide the best possible support and opportunities for their growth and development.

Join us and together, we can create a brighter future for all.

Safeguarding

At Birmingham Children’s Trust, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Depending on the role, you may be asked to undergo the appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to assess your suitability for working with children and young people.

The level of check (Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred List) is determined based on the specific responsibilities of the role and the level of contact with children and young people.

We are committed to the fair treatment of all applicants, including those with criminal records. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the offence.