Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 8a (or 7-8a Development role) level Clinical Psychologist to join our Children and Young People's Inpatient Service at Red Kite View. The service takes a trauma-informed and systemic approach to understanding the presentations and needs of young people and their families. Our work is underpinned by evidence based psychological models, including Adaptive Mentalisation Based Integrative Treatment (AMBIT) and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), where psychological formulation informs a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to treatment. This is a time of significant and exciting change for CYP services and the successful applicant will be involved in developing new services and models of treatment, including establishing day hospital provision and outreach services, in line with new national guidance.
We are committed to robust professional leadership, equality, diversity and inclusion and supporting staff wellbeing and CPD. A number of our team are accessing further accredited training in therapy modalities (including Systemic therapies, PBS, RO-DBT, MBT and CBT) and leadership programmes. Our Psychological Professions Strategy outlines our vision.
Informal enquiries and visits are encouraged.
Please contact Ruth Sutherland (ruthsutherland1@nhs.net; 07977 327263)
Main duties of the job
Leeds CYPMH Inpatient Services are looking for a highly motivated Band 8a psychologist. The successful candidate would join our enthusiastic and supportive Psychology Team working into the General Adolescent Unit (GAU) and Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Red Kite View, a purpose-built hospital on St Mary's Hospital site in Armley, Leeds. Through direct clinical work and indirect interventions, including training and supervision, you will use your leadership skills to promote and help embed Psychological and Trauma Informed models of care including AMBIT and PBS.
We are passionate about supporting teams and services to be psychologically-informed, maximising therapeutic potential and proportionate risk management. The successful applicant will be committed to working within an MDT environment and adapting interventions for young people with complex, diverse needs, who pose a risk of harm to self or others, and who may have additional needs such as Autism or Learning Disability. You will join a team with varied theoretical backgrounds and will have opportunities to develop your clinical skills.
About us
The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) is the main provider of Mental Health and Learning Disability services in Leeds. We also provide specialist inpatient services in York and some highly specialised services across the country. As a teaching trust with strong links to local universities, we are a centre of excellence for teaching, research and development.
There are many benefits of working for LYPFT including fantastic employee wellbeing support, 27 - 33 days annual leave, flexible working and remote working arrangements, the NHS Pension Scheme, coaching, support and opportunities for career development and training and education support alongside a range of exclusive discounts and payment schemes including for cars, extra leave days and more NHS Discount Offers.
We also have a bank department, offering variety of roles in nursing, allied health professions, healthcare support worker and administration clerical. Permanent employees are automatically added to bank.
Applicants should be aware that individuals requiring a visa to work in the UK, the Trust only provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles(this does not include Healthcare Support Workers). This is an essential requirement, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you do not meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will provide psychology input to the inpatient service and in liaison with community teams across West Yorkshire. The role will include provision of specialist psychological services to the staff, young people and families wards accessing CYPMH Inpatient services. They will be responsible for assessing and treating their own specialist caseload of clients and to maintain associated records. The post holder will provide clinical supervision to other psychologists, assistant psychologists and non-psychologists within the service. They will have the skills and experience to work autonomously and make appropriate decisions without opportunity to consult more widely at times. The post holder will conduct psychologically informed risk assessments and formulations alongside the MDT and will support staff to develop appropriate forums for case discussions, team formulations, and reflective practice. The post holder will undertake audit, research, and service development projects across the whole service and will work closely with community CAMHS services across West Yorkshire. We also have close links with local doctorate courses and contribute to teaching and training placements.
We are open to considering applications from candidates who do not meet all the criteria for the 8a post, and if successful they would join us in a development post, starting as a B7 with a clear pathway to achieving the experience, skills and knowledge required to secure the 8a role within the team once the agreed competencies have been met. You will be provided with a supportive learning environment for a defined period, which is designed to help you meet the requirements of the higher end role. We will consider applications from trainee Clinical Psychologists qualifying in Autumn 2026. We may also be able to sponsor international applicants.
We recruit people based on their values and qualifications (where required) and believe that their lived experience is an advantage, this means that together we are as diverse as the communities we care for. Simply put, when we employ caring people who act with integrity and have the right skills, we can give those with mental health challenges, learning disabilities and neurodiversity high-quality care and support to live fulfilling lives, and make our staff feel purposeful, happy and valued.
All our information is available in accessible formats. Please contact the Recruitment team recruitment.lypft@nhs.netAttached to this advert is our candidates guide to values-based recruitment and supporting guidance on how to make a successful application.
If you require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Recruitment Team or see the attached candidate guide to reasonable adjustments.
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading.
So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Guide to Values Based Recruitment. This document provides you with information to help you apply.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will provide psychology input to the inpatient service and in liaison with community teams across West Yorkshire. The role will include provision of specialist psychological services to the staff, young people and families wards accessing CYPMH Inpatient services. They will be responsible for assessing and treating their own specialist caseload of clients and to maintain associated records. The post holder will provide clinical supervision to other psychologists, assistant psychologists and non-psychologists within the service. They will have the skills and experience to work autonomously and make appropriate decisions without opportunity to consult more widely at times. The post holder will conduct psychologically informed risk assessments and formulations alongside the MDT and will support staff to develop appropriate forums for case discussions, team formulations, and reflective practice. The post holder will undertake audit, research, and service development projects across the whole service and will work closely with community CAMHS services across West Yorkshire. We also have close links with local doctorate courses and contribute to teaching and training placements.
We are open to considering applications from candidates who do not meet all the criteria for the 8a post, and if successful they would join us in a development post, starting as a B7 with a clear pathway to achieving the experience, skills and knowledge required to secure the 8a role within the team once the agreed competencies have been met. You will be provided with a supportive learning environment for a defined period, which is designed to help you meet the requirements of the higher end role. We will consider applications from trainee Clinical Psychologists qualifying in Autumn 2026. We may also be able to sponsor international applicants.
We recruit people based on their values and qualifications (where required) and believe that their lived experience is an advantage, this means that together we are as diverse as the communities we care for. Simply put, when we employ caring people who act with integrity and have the right skills, we can give those with mental health challenges, learning disabilities and neurodiversity high-quality care and support to live fulfilling lives, and make our staff feel purposeful, happy and valued.
All our information is available in accessible formats. Please contact the Recruitment team recruitment.lypft@nhs.netAttached to this advert is our candidates guide to values-based recruitment and supporting guidance on how to make a successful application.
If you require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Recruitment Team or see the attached candidate guide to reasonable adjustments.
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading.
So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Guide to Values Based Recruitment. This document provides you with information to help you apply.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology (or equivalent prior to 1996) and HCPC registration.
Skills
Essential
- Formal training in supervision of others.
Experience
Essential
- Significant post qualification experience in working with children, young people and families, including assessment of risk.
Knowledge
Essential
- Additional significant post qualification training relevant to the service and job role outlined in the job summary.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology (or equivalent prior to 1996) and HCPC registration.
Skills
Essential
- Formal training in supervision of others.
Experience
Essential
- Significant post qualification experience in working with children, young people and families, including assessment of risk.
Knowledge
Essential
- Additional significant post qualification training relevant to the service and job role outlined in the job summary.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
