Principal Psychologist

Principal Psychologist Location: York Area Salary: £58,250 – £68,250 (depending on experience) Hours: 37.5 hours per week Contract Type: Permanent - Full Time An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced HCPC registered practitioner psychologist to join a medium-secure hospital near York. The role is ideal for a professional passionate about supporting women who have experienced trauma and mental health difficulties. The successful candidate will provide leadership, consultancy, assessment, and interventions on a 12-bedded medium secure female service within a multidisciplinary team. The hospital is a 112-bed facility offering care to a diverse patient population, including individuals with autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, mental illness, and personality disorders. With seven wards providing care for up to 88 male and female patients, the hospital offers a stimulating environment that allows the development of broad clinical skills and specialisations. The service is renowned for its positive clinical outcomes for highly complex patients, supporting their progression to lower-security settings as safely and efficiently as possible. A broad range of therapeutic interventions is offered, including individual and group-based psychological treatments. Key Responsibilities: Provide leadership and consultancy within a 12-bed medium secure female service Collaborate with colleagues to implement Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (RO-DBT) Conduct specialist psychological assessments and interventions Work across various wards, addressing diverse clinical needs and risks, including sexual and violent offending, fire-setting, problem-solving, substance misuse, and anger management Implement trauma-informed care approaches, including staff training, reflective practice, formulation, and debrief sessions Contribute to service development, research, and evaluation Offer clinical supervision and promote a trauma-informed approach within the hospital The role involves working with a multidisciplinary team to embed a trauma-informed approach to care, contributing to staff training, service evaluation, and the delivery of evidence-based interventions such as CBT, DBT, CAT, EMDR, and more. The hospital promotes ongoing professional development, with CPD opportunities supported as part of the role. Requirements: HCPC registered practitioner psychologist Experience working with women in forensic mental health settings Competency in therapeutic models such as CBT for trauma, EMDR, or other therapies Experience or interest in Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (RO-DBT) Ability to apply psychological knowledge in a psychiatric setting Strong leadership and consultancy skills What’s Offered: Competitive salary based on skills and experience Bonus based on outcomes Support for professional development and career progression Option to progress through a larger network Contributory pension scheme Paid sick leave (after qualifying period) Generous annual leave entitlement, including your birthday off Enhanced maternity pay Private healthcare Free parking Call now for an informal chat