Practitioner Psychologist – Gender Service

Practitioner Psychologist – Gender Service

Closing date: 24 May 2026

Cambridge University Hospital Foundation Trust (CUH) is seeking a highly skilled and compassionate individual to join the new NHS Children and Young People’s Gender Service (East of England) in the role of Practitioner Psychologist. Based within the Paediatrics Department at CUH, the successful applicant will have extensive experience delivering high quality, evidence‑based assessments and care to children and young people.

The post holder will provide assessments, supervision and consultation to staff and be a source of neuropsychological and neurodevelopmental expertise to the MDT. The service operates Monday – Friday and offers full or part‑time (minimum 3 days per week) positions.

Main Duties

Based at Addenbrooke’s and Newmarket, the practitioner will work with managers and clinical leads to ensure a high‑quality psychological therapies service within the Paediatric Psychological Medicine Service. They will work autonomously within professional guidelines, exercising responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological therapies practice. The role involves applying a range of psychological models flexibly, working directly with children, young people and their families. Team meetings, supervision and peer supervision are provided, and there are opportunities for monthly reflective practice, national SIG network participation and service‑relevant CPD.

Qualifications

• Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent (e.g. Masters level qualification in Clinical Psychology if qualified before 1996)
• Active registration as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC
• Post‑qualification specialist therapy/assessment training relevant to children and young people
• Post‑qualification training or proven equivalent experience in supervision

Experience

• Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice relevant to working with CYP with gender diversity through formal post‑qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), or a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidence‑based portfolio of supervised practice‑based learning assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma.
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with complex needs in an area relevant to CYP with gender diversity.
• Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in an area of relevant practice.
• Experience of working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers, including using goal‑based care and routine outcome measures.
• Experience of working collaboratively in a multi‑disciplinary team and across agencies.
• Experience of working with a range of children and young people with complex needs, maintaining professionalism in emotive and distressing circumstances.
• Experience of undertaking specialist assessments and providing evidence‑based interventions, with the ability to work with complex needs and undertake risk assessments.
• Experience of providing teaching and training.
• Experience of running groups.
• Experience of safeguarding children and ensuring the safety of young people in partnership with other agencies.
• Evidence of anti‑discriminatory practice across diversity.
• Experience of multi‑professional and inter‑agency meetings.
• Experience of managing emotionally distressing information and seeking support as required.
• Experience in using neuropsychological assessments of cognitive functioning and/or learning disabilities in diagnostic assessments.
• Experience of assessing capacity to consent and providing consultation on capacity assessments.

Knowledge

• Understanding of relevant legislation pertaining to children.
• High level knowledge of clinical presentations in children and young people.
• Knowledge of theory and practice of short‑term and long‑term, evidence‑based, clinical interventions.
• Knowledge of child development and the impact of adverse childhood experiences.
• Knowledge of neuropsychological assessment of children and adolescents.
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures and policies.
• Knowledge of NHS, Social Care and Education structures, national policies and frameworks, NICE guidelines.
• Knowledge of risk management and ability to monitor and assess risk.
• Knowledge of supervision and leadership practice.
• Knowledge of research methodology and outcome research design.
• Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act and DOLS legislation.
• Knowledge of electronic patient record systems and data reporting requirements.

Skills

• Specialist skill in communicating complex, technical, or clinically sensitive information verbally and in writing.
• Ability to form and maintain good working relationships in multi‑disciplinary and inter‑agency settings.
• Capacity to write clear records and support others to do the same.
• Ability to raise and have difficult conversations professionally and collaboratively.
• Ability to provide and receive complex information in emotive or hostile environments, using empathy to overcome barriers.
• Support others in managing emotionally distressing information.
• Effective communication skills with children, young people and families.
• Experience of gaining meaningful feedback from children, young people and families.
• Experience of working in a person‑centred way, demonstrating values important to children, young people and families.
• Integration of complex clinical information into coherent formulations.
• Managing anxiety and distress in others and making judicious decisions under stress.
• Planning and organising work, prioritising tasks and following lone‑working protocols.
• Completing clinical tasks within reasonable timeframes.
• Co‑ordinating plans for identified service needs.
• Competent use of IT and common computer programmes (e.g. Word, Excel, SPSS, PowerPoint).
• Concentration for extended cognitive assessments.
• Travel and work in varied locations (clinic base, schools, home visits).
• Personal resilience and aptitude for challenging, frequent distressing work.
• Tolerance of ambiguity and maintenance of morale in challenging contexts.
• Effective use of supervision.
• Independent work and initiative within networked teams.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel.
• Understanding and behaving consistently with Trust values of Together, Safe, Kind, Excellent.
• Promotion of equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Compliance with all Trust policies and procedures.
• Demonstration of confidentiality and effective teamwork.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service will be required to check for any previous convictions.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces. Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full‑time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa unless they have applied for a Graduate visa or have completed their course.

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

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