The Importance of a Band 6 Clinical Psychologist (Post-Doctorate) in the NHS
A Band 6 Clinical Psychologist (Post-Doctorate) plays a vital role in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), contributing to mental health care across diverse settings, including community clinics, inpatient wards, CAMHS teams, and specialist services. These professionals are responsible for delivering psychological assessments, formulating and implementing treatment plans, supporting multidisciplinary teams, and sometimes supervising trainees and assistant psychologists.
Working as a Band 6 Clinical Psychologist requires strong theoretical knowledge, robust clinical skills, and the ability to work empathetically with vulnerable individuals. This role also involves data collection, audit participation, and occasionally service development projects.
According to the NHS Agenda for Change pay scales, the Band 6 salary typically ranges from £35,392 to £42,618 annually (as of 2024), depending on experience. Many post-doctorate psychologists use this role as a stepping stone to higher bands, such as Band 7, as they continue developing specialisms and leadership capabilities.
20 Common NHS Band 6 Clinical Psychologist Interview Questions and Model Answers
Tell us about yourself and why you want this role.
Answer: Focus on your doctoral training, areas of interest (e.g., CBT, systemic approaches), and your motivation to work within the NHS framework. Emphasize values like equity, evidence-based care, and teamwork.
What experience do you have working with the client group this service supports?
Answer: Be specific—mention placements, relevant voluntary work, and supervision experience. Discuss what you learned from these roles and how you applied psychological models in practice.
How do you formulate a case using a biopsychosocial model?
Answer: Describe integrating biological, psychological, and social elements. Give an example of a case where this model guided intervention planning.
What psychological models are you most comfortable using?
Answer: Common models include CBT, DBT, ACT, systemic, and psychodynamic. Explain your preferences based on clinical experience and supervision.
Describe how you manage risk in clinical settings.
Answer: Talk about assessing suicide/self-harm risk, safeguarding procedures, MDT communication, and safety planning with clients.
How do you prioritize your caseload?
Answer: Emphasize balancing risk, therapeutic need, service targets, and clinical supervision. Mention use of waiting lists, triage systems, and supervision discussions.
How do you ensure you are working in a culturally sensitive and inclusive way?
Answer: Demonstrate understanding of intersectionality and reflective practice. Mention supervision, ongoing CPD, and adapting interventions to suit diverse needs.
Tell us about a time you received challenging feedback. How did you handle it?
Answer: Reflect on feedback during training or placement. Show growth, openness, and your commitment to learning.
How do you evaluate the effectiveness of your interventions?
Answer: Reference outcome measures (e.g., GAD-7, PHQ-9), client feedback, and goal setting (e.g., SMART goals or Goal-Based Outcomes).
What is your understanding of safeguarding, and what is your role in it?
Answer: Define safeguarding and your duty to escalate concerns, document appropriately, and liaise with other professionals.
How do you manage boundaries with clients?
Answer: Emphasize professionalism, maintaining therapeutic boundaries, and discussing any concerns in supervision.
How do you work as part of a multidisciplinary team?
Answer: Highlight collaboration with psychiatrists, nurses, OTs, and social workers. Mention shared care plans and joint formulations.
How do you handle a situation where you disagree with another team member’s clinical opinion?
Answer: Stress respect, active listening, clinical discussion, and use of supervision or team meetings to resolve differences.
Describe a challenging case and how you managed it.
Answer: Provide a STAR-format answer (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Show problem-solving, supervision use, and clinical reflection.
What experience do you have with service evaluation or audits?
Answer: Share examples from training or post-qualifying work. Highlight your ability to collect data, analyse outcomes, and report findings.
How do you manage your own wellbeing and resilience?
Answer: Discuss work-life balance, personal therapy if applicable, mindfulness, or supervision support systems.
What do you hope to learn or develop in this role?
Answer: Mention specific clinical interests, supervision goals, service development experience, or working with a new client group.
How do you apply clinical governance in your work?
Answer: Talk about ethical practice, data protection, continuing professional development, and maintaining competence through supervision.
What would you do if a client disclosed something that made you concerned for their safety?
Answer: Reaffirm safeguarding protocol knowledge—listen, don’t promise confidentiality, inform relevant authorities, and document thoroughly.
Do you have any questions for us?
Answer: Ask thoughtful questions about supervision models, team structure, service priorities, or opportunities for CPD and development.
Final Interview Tips and Encouragement
Preparing for a Band 6 Clinical Psychologist interview can be nerve-wracking, but remember: you’ve already come far. You are qualified, experienced, and passionate about mental health. The interview is your chance to demonstrate clinical competence, reflective practice, and your ability to work in complex systems.
💡 Key tips:
Use the STAR method for answering experience-based questions.
Rehearse with peers or supervisors.
Review the NHS Trust’s values and how your work aligns with them.
Be yourself. Authenticity goes a long way in psychology interviews.
Good luck—you’ve got this! With preparation and confidence, you’re ready to take the next step in your NHS psychology career.
