Principal Practitioner Psychologist/Principal Psychological Therapist

The Principal Practitioner Psychologist will provide clinical and professional leadership for psychological services within the Level 2 Rehabilitation Service at 78 Crawley Road. The post holder will deliver specialist psychological assessments, formulations and evidence-based interventions for adults with complex and enduring mental health needs, while providing consultation and psychological expertise to the multidisciplinary team.

The role includes responsibility for clinical supervision, workforce development, teaching and training, and promoting psychologically informed practice across the service. The post holder will contribute to multidisciplinary assessment, care planning, risk management, recovery-focused interventions, and discharge planning, ensuring patients receive high-quality, person-centred care.

As a senior clinician, the post holder will lead on service development, clinical governance, audit, research and quality improvement activities. They will provide expert advice to operational and professional leaders, support recruitment and staff development, and ensure psychological services are delivered in line with evidence-based practice, professional standards and Trust policies.

The Principal Practitioner Psychologist will provide clinical and professional leadership for psychological services within the Level 2 Rehabilitation Service at 78 Crawley Road. The post holder will deliver highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations, and evidence-based interventions for patients with complex mental health needs, while providing consultation and psychological expertise to the multidisciplinary team.

The role includes responsibility for clinical supervision, staff development, teaching and training, and promoting psychologically informed practice across the service. The post holder will contribute to multidisciplinary care planning, risk management, recovery-focused interventions, and service user and carer involvement, ensuring high standards of care and positive rehabilitation outcomes.

The post holder will also lead on service development, clinical governance, audit, research, and quality improvement initiatives, providing expert advice to managers and clinical teams to ensure services are evidence-based, effective, and aligned with Trust and professional standards.

Staff wellbeing is of central importance in the trust as a whole and in the team. There is an emphasis on encouraging and supporting our staff to develop, whilst working in psychologically safe environments.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust promotes high quality clinical research, and our links with the research and development department are valued and strong. The Trust is committed to Trauma Informed Care; We value Lived Experience and Co-production.

Experience

Essential: - Evidence of CPD in Trauma and Dissociation; - Experience in working with Dissociative Disorder

Desirable: - EMDR Consultant; - Experience of supervising others in specialist trauma model

Qualifications