Ready for a role where your psychology can genuinely shape a developing service? PATH is growing, and we’re looking for a Clinical Psychologist who is energised by complexity, values-led practice, and the chance to build something alongside a passionate team. This is an exciting moment to join us—bringing your ideas, your therapeutic skill, and your professional leadership to a service that is ambitious about outcomes and relentless about care and compassion.
We’re proud to be part of an Ofsted rated Outstanding provision, and we’re investing in psychological thinking as a central part of how we work. If you’re looking for a post with space for creativity, strong multi-disciplinary relationships, and real opportunity to develop specialist expertise, PATH could be the right next step.
We warmly welcome applicants with strong knowledge of neurodiversity, early trauma and the experiences of adopted and care-experienced people, including those with lived or professional expertise.
A values-based team you’ll want to be part of
You’ll be joining a warm, supportive and highly committed group of professionals who care deeply about the people we serve and the quality of our practice. We work collaboratively—sharing thinking, holding risk together, and making space for reflection even when we’re working at pace. Psychological safety matters here: you’ll have access to supervision, peer support and opportunities for CPD.
What you’ll bring
-
Professional expertise in psychological assessment, formulation, intervention and consultation, grounded in ethical and evidence-based practice.
-
Confidence with complexity—able to hold risk, uncertainty and co-occurring needs, while staying compassionate and person-centred.
-
At least two therapeutic modalities relevant to this sector (e.g., CBT, ACT, CFT, DBT-informed approaches, systemic/family therapy, EMDR, or other trauma-focused therapies), and the ability to integrate approaches thoughtfully.
-
Collaborative team working—you enjoy working across disciplines and with partner agencies, contributing to shared plans and shared outcomes.
-
Agility and pace—able to prioritise, adapt and respond to changing needs while maintaining high clinical standards and clear documentation.
-
A development mindset—motivation to contribute to a growing hub, improve pathways, and evaluate impact using outcomes and feedback.
We’re also happy to discuss the opportunity with clinical / counselling psychologists who may be earlier in their career. If you can demonstrate a strong commitment to this sector—through relevant placements, roles, voluntary work, research, reflective learning, or lived experience that informs your practice—we would welcome a conversation. We’re interested in potential as well as experience: your values, your curiosity, and the way you work with people and systems matter to us.
ROLE PROFILE
JOB TITLE:
Clinical Psychologist
ACCOUNTABLE TO:
Clinical Lead
RESPONSIBLE TO:
Clinical Director
HOURS OF WORK:
Full time / Part time
LOCATION:
Remote working with travel flexibility
DURATION:
Permanent
SALARY / GRADE:
Grade 8 £43,471 - £59,389(pro rata for part time)
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
- Clinical Director and PATH Clinical Lead
- PATH team
- AUK staff
- Children and adults accessing our services
- Referrers and external agencies as appropriate
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
·Deliver high-quality psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for the PATH client group.
·Provide specialist advice, consultation and reflective practice to colleagues and partner services.
·Facilitating reflective groups for families referred to PATH.
·Identify and manage safeguarding risk in line with AUK policies.
·Contribute to multidisciplinary formulation and intervention planning.
·Support service development, evaluation and quality improvement, using outcome measures and feedback.
·Maintain accurate clinical records and produce clear, timely reports for a range of audiences.
·Provide line management and/or supervision within the PATH team.
·Contribute to the training offer within Adoption UK
·To contribute to and maintain accurate records for those using the service on Adoption UK systems and ensuring compliance with both GDPR, safeguarding and confidentiality.
CRITERIA
Knowledge and Experience
•Experience of working with children and families experiencing the effects of trauma and attachment difficulties (Essential)
•Extensive experience of working within the field of mental health (Essential)
•Experience of working with adoption services (Essential)
•Experience of providing clinical supervision to staff and therapists delivering services to vulnerable families (Essential)
•Knowledge and experience of safeguarding process and procedures (Essential)
•Extensive experience and specialist training/accreditation in relevant subjects and differing types of therapy such as DDP, Theraplay, Neurodiversity, Life story, NVR (Desirable)
•Knowledge of adoption services including AGSGF processes (Desirable)
Qualifications and Education
•Doctoral Level Clinical Psychologist (Essential)
•Current registration with a professional body HCPC (Essential)
•Evidence of continuing professional development (Essential)
•Training in a range of therapeutic modalities e.g. NVR, DDP, Theraplay, Internal Family Systems, Sensory Attachment Intervention (Essential)
Skills and Abilities
•Leadership and support skills
•Group work skills
•A reflective and empowering approach
•Strong application of theory
•Creativity and innovative approach to service delivery
•A commitment to the voice of children and families
Accountability
•Consultant Clinical Psychologist
•Responsible for maintaining own professional standards
•Responsible for delivering practice within the policies and standards of the charity
Behaviours
•Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of role at all times.
•Contributes to an open and honest culture
•Supports, encourages, and motivates colleagues.
•Encourages challenge, creativity and innovation.
•Leads by example.
•Values transparency and consistency.
•Understands the role of individual and collective accountability.
•Actively contributes to Adoption UK’s mission.
•Has a clear understanding of other colleagues’ roles and responsibilities
•Shares skills and knowledge.
•Promotes Cross Functional team working.
•Offers outstanding service to members.
•Takes pride in Adoption UK and promotes its values in all interactions with external stakeholders.
•Identifies and uses the most appropriate form of communication.
•Communicates clearly, seeking clarity when unclear and valuing the opinion of others.
•Treats colleagues and other stakeholders with respect, honesty, fairness and courtesy
•Is responsive to colleagues, third party professionals and service users.
•Takes pride in own development.
•Enthusiastic and committed to achieving high standards and meeting agreed objectives.
•Takes an active interest in recognising professional and personal development needs and priorities within Adoption UK.
This role profile is a guide to the nature of the work required and may involve other such duties as deemed necessary by the Organisation. It is not wholly comprehensive or restrictive. The role profile will be reviewed with the post-holder at significant points for the Organisation.
Postholder is expected to abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practice, and to work within a framework of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
Adoption UK is the leading charity for adopted and care experienced people and adoptive families.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
30 hours per week / £30,150 per annum pro rata / fixed term until 31 March 2028 / working four days a week, working pattern to be discussed at interview.
The role involves frequent travel across Surrey to schools and joining colleagues at key meetings, with occasional travel further afield. Therefore, a full UK driving licence and access to a car are essential.
YMCA DownsLink Group is the leading charity for children and young people across Sussex and Surrey. We offer safe homes, mental health support and trusted advice.
We believe that every child and young person has the right to be safe, heard and to shape their own future. We work alongside them to make that happen.
We are here for children and young people, many of whom face multiple challenges and need our support.
Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections – guide us in all our actions.
YMCA WiSE (What is Sexual Exploitation) is our specialist project supporting children and young people across Sussex and Surrey who are affected by, or at risk of, exploitation. Through education, awareness‑raising and empowerment, we help young people understand healthy relationships, recognise harmful behaviours, and build safety and resilience.
Unlike statutory services, WiSE has a youth focussed offer that is voluntary to engage in. Our team understand young people, lived experience and trauma, and how this shapes their understanding of the world.
We have an exciting opportunity to join the WiSE team as an Early Intervention CSE Worker. In this role, you will deliver preventative and early intervention work across Surrey, supporting young people, schools, and professional networks to recognise and respond to the risks of sexual exploitation and harmful sexual behaviours.
Key responsibilities are:
- Deliver a programme of targeted group sessions aimed at preventing sexual exploitation and addressing emerging harmful sexual behaviours (complementing the universal and enhanced RSE offer delivered by the Sex Ed Forum).
- Build professional relationships with Surrey education providers, arranging and delivering group sessions across a range of settings.
- Maintain accurate case notes and monitoring data, contributing to timely reporting for the service and funders.
- Work collaboratively with key partners including Children’s Services, Public Health, Police, LSCB, the Sex Ed Forum, and Community Safety teams.
- Support the development and delivery of awareness‑raising campaigns targeting young people, parents and carers, professionals, and the wider community.
- Work closely with WiSE staff and wider professionals to identify young people at higher risk and refer them to WiSE project workers for specialist intervention.
We recognise the emotional weight of this work and prioritise a reflective, supportive environment for all team members. To ensure you feel supported and able to deliver high‑quality practice, you will receive regular line management supervision focused on wellbeing and supportive weekly team meetings.
If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but don’t meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Your skills and experiences may be more transferable than you think, and you could be exactly the person we’re looking for.
Qualifications, experience and knowledge:
- Qualification in Youth Work/Social Work or equivalent, or comparable experience working with vulnerable young people
- Proven experience in safeguarding young children
- Experience providing casework support young people aged 10 to 25 years old
- Group work experience with young people
- Safeguarding children and young people at risk of serious harm
- Delivering and risk assessing outreach work with young people
- Knowledge of risks posed to vulnerable young people through sexual exploitation and harmful sexual behaviour
CLOSING DATE: Sunday 5 April 2026 at midnight.
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to provide work permits or visa sponsorship for this role, so applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.
An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment.
Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.
YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns.
Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity check.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.