Job summary
We are seeking an experienced psychological practitioner with excellent communication skills to join our well established and recently expanded Intensive Support Team (IST) in South Staffordshire.The role can be offered at band 8a for suitably qualified and experienced candidates or as a band 7/8a Preceptorship for newly qualified psychologists. Current 3rd year Doctoral Trainees graduating in 2026 are welcome to apply.Working as part of our IST, you will provide effective, evidence-based interventions with the aim of improving quality of life, autonomy, psychological wellbeing and reducing the risk of placement breakdowns, inappropriate admissions to specialist hospital and the use of restrictive practices.You will have experience of Positive Behavioural Support and of working therapeutically with people with learning disabilities in a variety of settings; including working with people who have complex mental and/or physical health needs, autism, and complex behavioural needs. You will be an experienced psychological practitioner who relishes multi-disciplinary and multi-agency working, and someone who can work creatively to secure good outcomes. An active interest in research is also highly desirable.Your colleagues within the IST will include nurses, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and an assistant psychologist. Support from physiotherapists and psychiatry colleagues are available from the wider Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT).
Main duties of the job
As a psychologist in the IST, you will benefit from the support of a large number of highly talented, enthusiastic and friendly psychological practitioner colleagues from within the CLDT.
MPFT's Learning Disability Psychological Services colleagues (from both South Staffordshire and Shropshire) meet regularly for joint CPD events and facilitate a number of local special interest groups.
About us
Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.
We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.
We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.
We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.
Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications
Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
1. To provide specialist psychological assessments of service users referred to the Intensive Support Team, based on the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources. Clinical work will take place across all settings and agencies serving service users served by the team, including family homes, day or educational and residential facilities at an individual or group level.2. To undertake a small amount of clinical work within the CLDT to allow the post holder to develop and maintain skills in the delivery of effective talking/psychological therapies for people with learning disabilities with a wide range of presenting needs. 3. To formulate and implement plans for the psychological treatment and management of people with learning disabilities who may have mental health problems and/or complex behavioural needs and/or Autistic Spectrum Diagnoses. There will be a need to; adjust and refine psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses.4. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings. This may involve working in hostile challenging and highly emotive environments and require the highest levels of interpersonal and communication skills. The post holder exercises autonomous professional responsibility within the Intensive Support Teams shared case load.5. To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to service users care; and to contribute to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care, to the benefit of all users of the service.6. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for service users, and provide advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk.7. To undertake any additional clinical risk assessment training relevant to the role.8. To provide a psychological perspective to case discussion and Care Co-ordination and contribute to the decision making processes of the team for service users across all settings and agencies. To liaise with professionals, families and carers coordinating the delivery of psychological services for service users of the team.9. To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment formulation and treatment plans of service users in their care and monitor progress during the course of intervention.10. To undertake complex behavioural work with people whose behaviour challenges services following the Directorates PBS pathway and undertake additional PBS training in order to act as a Directorate mentor for PBS approaches as required.11. To work flexibly within the IST aspects of the role which may include planned out of hours clinical activity as agreed with the Clinical Lead IST (South Staffordshire) / Clinical Services Manager (ISTs).
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
1. To provide specialist psychological assessments of service users referred to the Intensive Support Team, based on the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources. Clinical work will take place across all settings and agencies serving service users served by the team, including family homes, day or educational and residential facilities at an individual or group level.2. To undertake a small amount of clinical work within the CLDT to allow the post holder to develop and maintain skills in the delivery of effective talking/psychological therapies for people with learning disabilities with a wide range of presenting needs. 3. To formulate and implement plans for the psychological treatment and management of people with learning disabilities who may have mental health problems and/or complex behavioural needs and/or Autistic Spectrum Diagnoses. There will be a need to; adjust and refine psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses.4. To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings. This may involve working in hostile challenging and highly emotive environments and require the highest levels of interpersonal and communication skills. The post holder exercises autonomous professional responsibility within the Intensive Support Teams shared case load.5. To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to service users care; and to contribute to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care, to the benefit of all users of the service.6. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for service users, and provide advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk.7. To undertake any additional clinical risk assessment training relevant to the role.8. To provide a psychological perspective to case discussion and Care Co-ordination and contribute to the decision making processes of the team for service users across all settings and agencies. To liaise with professionals, families and carers coordinating the delivery of psychological services for service users of the team.9. To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment formulation and treatment plans of service users in their care and monitor progress during the course of intervention.10. To undertake complex behavioural work with people whose behaviour challenges services following the Directorates PBS pathway and undertake additional PBS training in order to act as a Directorate mentor for PBS approaches as required.11. To work flexibly within the IST aspects of the role which may include planned out of hours clinical activity as agreed with the Clinical Lead IST (South Staffordshire) / Clinical Services Manager (ISTs).
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology (or its equivalent), as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
- Post-doctoral training in one or more additional areas of specialised psychological practice.
- Post qualification training in clinical supervision for Doctorate trainees in applied psychology.
- Eligible for chartered status with the British Psychological Society. Eligible for full membership of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP) or Division of Counselling Psychology (DCC).
- Currently registered with HCPC.
Desirable
- Registration with BPS.
- Additional post graduate level training in one or more therapeutic treatment approaches e.g. cognitive therapy, systemic/family therapy, EMDR.
- Qualification in PBS.
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience of working as a qualified psychologist with people with learning disabilities and complex mental health problems; including assessment and clinical interventions for a wide range of presenting problems. To include significant experience of working with people with learning disabilities with complex behavioural needs.
- Experiencing of assessing and diagnosing learning disability.
- Experience of working as a qualified psychological practitioner with people with a diagnosis of a learning disability.
- Experience of working with people who have attracted the label of personality disorder in addition to a learning disability diagnosis.
- Experience of PBS assessment & formulation and practice.
- Experience in the delivery of trauma informed psychological care to adults with learning disabilities.
- Substantial experience of working within multi-disciplinary and multi-agency settings (including with the 3rd Sector).
Desirable
- Experience of providing clinical consultation to other professional staff.
Skills, Knowledge and Abilites
Essential
- Best practice in the delivery of high quality and effective psychological services for people with learning disabilities.
- The psychological needs of people with learning disabilities and autism.
- The psychological needs of people with learning disabilities with significant and enduring mental health problems.
- Skilled in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management and their application within community settings.
- High level skills in the assessment and management of risk.
- Skills in the management of difficult clinical situations; verbal abuse and physical aggression.
Desirable
- Skills in the management of difficult clinical situations; verbal abuse and physical aggression.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- The ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism when dealing with highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical assault.
- Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and hold the stress of others.
- Enthusiasm and interest in developing psychologically-informed services for people with learning disabilities.
- Ability to provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly challenging situations and challenging behaviours.
- Ability to balance competing service demands.
Desirable
- Ability to demonstrate leadership and management skills.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology (or its equivalent), as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
- Post-doctoral training in one or more additional areas of specialised psychological practice.
- Post qualification training in clinical supervision for Doctorate trainees in applied psychology.
- Eligible for chartered status with the British Psychological Society. Eligible for full membership of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP) or Division of Counselling Psychology (DCC).
- Currently registered with HCPC.
Desirable
- Registration with BPS.
- Additional post graduate level training in one or more therapeutic treatment approaches e.g. cognitive therapy, systemic/family therapy, EMDR.
- Qualification in PBS.
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience of working as a qualified psychologist with people with learning disabilities and complex mental health problems; including assessment and clinical interventions for a wide range of presenting problems. To include significant experience of working with people with learning disabilities with complex behavioural needs.
- Experiencing of assessing and diagnosing learning disability.
- Experience of working as a qualified psychological practitioner with people with a diagnosis of a learning disability.
- Experience of working with people who have attracted the label of personality disorder in addition to a learning disability diagnosis.
- Experience of PBS assessment & formulation and practice.
- Experience in the delivery of trauma informed psychological care to adults with learning disabilities.
- Substantial experience of working within multi-disciplinary and multi-agency settings (including with the 3rd Sector).
Desirable
- Experience of providing clinical consultation to other professional staff.
Skills, Knowledge and Abilites
Essential
- Best practice in the delivery of high quality and effective psychological services for people with learning disabilities.
- The psychological needs of people with learning disabilities and autism.
- The psychological needs of people with learning disabilities with significant and enduring mental health problems.
- Skilled in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management and their application within community settings.
- High level skills in the assessment and management of risk.
- Skills in the management of difficult clinical situations; verbal abuse and physical aggression.
Desirable
- Skills in the management of difficult clinical situations; verbal abuse and physical aggression.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- The ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism when dealing with highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical assault.
- Ability to contain and work with organisational stress and hold the stress of others.
- Enthusiasm and interest in developing psychologically-informed services for people with learning disabilities.
- Ability to provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly challenging situations and challenging behaviours.
- Ability to balance competing service demands.
Desirable
- Ability to demonstrate leadership and management skills.
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).
