We are recruiting a Band 8b Clinical Psychologist to co-lead a new Enhanced MHIST Function supporting people who may attract a diagnosis of “personality disorder”, who are not yet ready for therapy, and who frequently present in crisis or struggle to build trusting relationships with services.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape an innovative, psychologically informed pathway for individuals with complex emotional needs. The job will require travel across the whole of the CWP patch.
What We Offer
Supportive, psychologically minded MDT.
Opportunities to shape a new enhanced function within MHIST.
Regular supervision and access to CPD relevant to role.
A compassionate, reflective, recovery‑focused service culture.
Main Duties
Co-develop the pathway.
Provide senior clinical leadership for the Enhanced MHIST Function.
Deliver specialist biopsychosocial assessment, trauma‑informed formulation, and support staff to provide approaches focussed on relational safety and stabilisation.
Support individuals with repeated crises, high service contact, and relational difficulties.
Offer consultation, supervision, and reflective practice to MDT colleagues.
Lead formulation‑driven care planning to reduce avoidable admissions and improve continuity of care.
Champion compassionate, non‑stigmatising approaches to “personality disorder” and complex emotional needs.
Contribute to service development, evaluation, and quality improvement.
About You
HCPC‑registered Clinical Psychologist.
Significant post‑qualification experience with complex emotional needs, trauma, and risk.
Skilled in relational, trauma‑informed, and formulation‑driven practice.
Confident providing clinical leadership, consultation, and supervision.
Able to work collaboratively across MDTs and partner services.
Committed to improving engagement and reducing crisis presentations.
There is potential for the service to transition to a 7-day model in the future.
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) provides health and care services for a population of over one million people, including mental health, learning disability, community physical health and all-age disability care, as well as the provision of three GP surgeries in Cheshire.
We employ around 4,500 staff across 73 sites and have services across Wirral and Cheshire, as well as Trafford, Warrington, Bolton, Halton, Liverpool and Stockport.
Our aim is to help improve the lives of everyone in our communities, adopting a compassionate, person-centred approach to everything we do. We are rated as Outstanding for Caring by the Care Quality Commission, with a Good rating overall.
As a Disability Confident Employer, Rainbow Badge Scheme member, Veteran Aware organisation and proud holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, CWP is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences, and welcome applications from people who have direct experience of accessing our services.
All new starters will commence in post on one fixed start date each month, in line with our Prepare to Care (P2C) induction programme date. P2C offers up to 3 weeks training to support you to meet the induction / initial training requirements of the role.
Whether you are just starting out in your career or looking to use your existing skills and experience in a new role, you’ll find something to suit you at CWP.
Please download a copy of the job description (see ‘documents to download’ section below) for full details of the main responsibilities for this role.
At CWP, our recruitment selection processes are based on both competence (see person specification for details) and values.
CWP recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values in their everyday life and we use a values-based approach in our interviews, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and think about how these align with your own personal values. The supporting information section in your application should reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated behaviours and you should provide examples from your work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviours.
An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Further help and support for completing your application can be accessed via our website. If you need any further guidance to help you complete your application, contact our recruitment team via email at:
[email protected] or by calling 01244 393100.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post and encourages applications from armed forces reservists or cadet force adult volunteers.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you to Team CWP very soon!
