Overview

The NandS CAMHS Adolescent At-risk and Forensic Service (AAFS) is a national and specialist service within the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. AAFS are delighted to be recruiting a 9-month fixed term (Until September 2026) Highly Specialist Practitioner Psychologist maternity cover to join our team. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a responsive, specialist service for young people and families who present with high risk alongside complex mental health needs and neurodiversity. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to consolidate skills in formulation, intervention, and risk management within a skilled and supportive clinical team.About our locations:

Maudsley Hospital (headquarters) Our Trust headquarters is located at Denmark Hill less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2) and is within walking distance from Ruskin Park and the high street. (Due to move to the Pears Maudsley Children and Young People (PMCYP) at the Maudsley Hospital in late 2025/early 2026)Responsibilities

Highly specialist assessments of young people with complex mental health needs, high-risk behaviours (e.g., self-harm, aggression, sexual offending) and/or risk of exploitation (sexual and criminal). Assessments include structured risk and neuropsychological assessments.To provide direct and indirect evidence-based psychological interventions for young people, their families and the systems around them.To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate.To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.To work as an autonomous professional within professional guidelines and codes of conduct and guided by the policies and procedures of the service.About us

Flexible working:

As one of the few Trusts in London we offer flexible working as part of our new ways of working. We are happy to discuss flexible working at the interview stage. In this role you will be able to work Monday to Friday in the time frames from 09:00 to 17:00. This may include working early mornings or late evenings and some Saturdays as part of the core working hours/working pattern for this post.We are a friendly and supportive team committed to professional and personal development. We are committed to addressing inequality in access, experience and outcomes for children and staff from diverse backgrounds and take an anti-racist approach. Our team includes clinical psychologists, a forensic psychologist, a social worker, clinical psychology trainees, MSc placement students, and assistant psychologists. We are actively involved in research and have close links with IoPPN, King’s College London, and related training programmes.We recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce and the positive impact this has on our staff and our service users. We welcome and actively encourage applications from those with lived experiences of mental health and care services and from Black and minority groups.Job details

Date posted: 26 August 2025Pay scheme: Agenda for changeBand: Band 8aSalary: £64,156 to £71,148 per year inclusive of HCASContract: Fixed termDuration: 9 monthsWorking pattern: Full-timeReference number: 334-CLI-7391292Job locations: Michael Rutter Centre, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AZQualifications and experience

Essential

– Professional Doctorate or combined MSc plus diploma accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration as a Clinical or Forensic psychologist. Additional training beyond entry level in a specialised area (CBT/ DBT). Completed training in clinical supervision.Desirable

– Post-qualification training/experience in complex clinical and forensic risk assessment and management (e.g., AIM-3, SAVRY); management qualification or line management experience; experience in complex clinical and forensic risk assessment and management.Experience

Essential

– Experience as a clinical specialist in a CAMHS or forensic setting with young people with complex mental health needs, neurodiversity and significant risk; experience in specialist psychological assessment (including neuropsychological and forensic) and intervention; post-qualification experience addressing diversity within local communities.Desirable

– Experience with psychosis/at-risk mental state and/or complex trauma with risk across domains.Knowledge, skills and abilities

Essential

– Knowledge of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for young people with complex needs and high risk; knowledge of specialised risk assessment.Desirable

– Well-developed knowledge of therapies for young people with complex needs (neurodiversity, social complexity, offending behaviour, contextual safeguarding).Skills

– Deliver psychological therapy across cultural differences; communicate complex information sensitively. Desirable: capability to deliver assessments and interventions for co-occurring mental health and substance misuse, and to liaise with referrers.Abilities

– Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations; ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility. Desirable: leadership across team management, audit and/or innovation.Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

– This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and requires a DBS submission.Certificate of Sponsorship

– Applications from job seekers who require UK Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered. Guidance on overseas criminal records checks is provided in related national guidance.UK Registration

– Applicants must have current UK professional registration.Employer details

Employer

– South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustAddress

– Michael Rutter Centre, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AZEmployer website

– slam.nhs.uk

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