Job summary
The Consultant Clinical Psychologist is responsible in conjunction with the Head of Service for Learning Disabilities, the Health managers, and professional leads, for delivery of specialist community health services for adults with learning disabilities in Manchester.
To provide professional and clinical leadership to psychological therapy staff working in the Community Learning Disability Teams. To work collaboratively with operational, governance quality leads and medical staff to ensure the planning and development of a systematic response to service need, developing policies within the clinical field and new systems and implementing professional standards and ensuring that the service operates at the highest level of quality.
Taking a key role in the clinical safety and governance within the service and wider MFT/MLCO service system.
To deliver clinical services with a high level of expertise, supporting and advising colleagues on all issues concerned with psychological practice and providing expert clinical consultation and professional guidance to other psychological practitioners and multi-disciplinary colleagues and staff. The post holder will be responsible for coordinating and delivering programmes of work aligned with local and national priorities. The post holder will provide clinical case management to a small caseload of people determined by acuity and prioritisation.
Main duties of the job
The role provides strategic and clinical leadership for the psychology team overseeing caseloads while delivering expert psychological and therapeutic interventions tailored to individual needs. Responsibilities include developing and implementing policies relating to psychological provision, supporting recruitment, conducting psychological risk assessments; and ensuring effective systems for recruitment, appraisal, supervision, and CPD. Working directly with people with learning disabilities and their carers, delivering assessments, formulations, and interventions, including complex needs. Administer and interpret psychometric and neuropsychological assessments, provide consultation and specialist assessments to external agencies, exercise autonomous professional judgement managing clinical practice and priorities. Additional duties include preparing reports and expert witness input for courts; undertaking eligibility assessments for intellectual functioning; leading or overseeing citywide PaBS functions in line with HCPC, BPS, Trust, and CALDS standards; ensuring accurate clinical records; and contributing to Trust-wide psychological professions work. The role also includes leadership for the governance of psychological practice, supporting trainee placements, contributing to operational management alongside Team Managers, supporting performance management processes, and leading recruitment for PaBS staff, including use of the TRAC system.
About us
Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward-thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation, and continuous improvement.Whether you're beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working - empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.You'll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives.At MFT, you'll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions.Your journey at MFT is more than a job - it's an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We'll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a 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 Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your applicationHere at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOUfor our patients, our communities, and each other.As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your applicationespecially personal statements and responses to role-specific questionsis written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application. Diversity MattersMFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, take a 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 Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information youll need to be aware of before you submit an application form. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your applicationHere at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOUfor our patients, our communities, and each other.As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your applicationespecially personal statements and responses to role-specific questionsis written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application. Diversity MattersMFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.
Person Specification
essential
Essential
- octoral-level training in Psychology HCPC-approved Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or Counselling/Forensic Psychology depending on service). Includes advanced training in psychological formulation, assessment, and multiple therapy models. Eligibility and current registration with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist.
- dditional Specialist Post-Doctoral Training Significant post-qualification formal training in specialist therapeutic models, e.g.: CBT, DBT, CAT, systemic approaches, ACT, trauma-informed interventions, neuropsychology, etc. Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) as required by HCPC.
- Extensive Post-Doctoral Clinical Experience Usually 8+ years post-doctorate experience, with the majority in senior or highly specialist roles. Demonstrated ability to work with highly complex, high-risk, or comorbid clinical presentations. Experience providing specialist assessments, complex formulations, and senior therapeutic oversight
- Statutory, Governance & Risk Requirements The service requires senior psychological leadership for: complex safeguarding decisions, Mental Capacity Act / Mental Health Act considerations, Serious Incident reviews, clinical governance and quality assurance.
- provide professional leadership to all psychology staff within the service, offer supervision to Band 7-8b clinicians, sign off complex formulations and interventions, maintain the clinical governance framework for psychology pathways.
- leading service transformation and pathway redesign, contributing to strategic planning across the wider directorate/LCO, ensuring psychological practice aligns with national guidance, representing psychology at senior clinical and operational forums.
- The Consultant Psychologist provides senior oversight required for: CQC compliance (safe, effective, well-led), HCPC professional standards, safeguarding and risk management processes, documentation and sign-off of complex clinical decisions.
- bility to lead the psychological agenda within the multidisciplinary team. Strong influencing skills with senior managers, clinicians and system partners. Ability to lead service redesign, quality improvement and transformation projects. Professional leadership of a multi-band psychology workforce.
- eading service development and transformation work. Providing senior clinical governance and quality assurance. Experience contributing to Trust-wide or system-wide strategic planning. Representing psychology at senior operational/clinical meetings.
- Experience in: managing complex safeguarding concerns, MCA/MHA decision-making, high-risk clinical cases, contributing to Serious Incident reviews, supporting MDTs through risk management and crisis planning.
Desirable
- Ability to lead or oversee: research projects, service evaluations, audits, outcome measurement frameworks, evidence-based practice implementation
- Familiarity with cross-agency and cross-service collaboration, e.g.: acute mental health, community teams, social care, safeguarding partnerships, voluntary sector organisation
- Qualification in a specialist therapeutic model (e.g., DBT accreditation, CAT practitioner, EMDR qualification). Experience in leading innovation, digital transformation, or service redesign. Teaching experience (e.g., on clinical psychology training programmes). Publications, conference presentations, or specialist research interests. Leadership or management qualification (e.g., ILM, NHS Leadership Academy courses).
Person Specification
essential
Essential
- octoral-level training in Psychology HCPC-approved Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or Counselling/Forensic Psychology depending on service). Includes advanced training in psychological formulation, assessment, and multiple therapy models. Eligibility and current registration with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist.
- dditional Specialist Post-Doctoral Training Significant post-qualification formal training in specialist therapeutic models, e.g.: CBT, DBT, CAT, systemic approaches, ACT, trauma-informed interventions, neuropsychology, etc. Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) as required by HCPC.
- Extensive Post-Doctoral Clinical Experience Usually 8+ years post-doctorate experience, with the majority in senior or highly specialist roles. Demonstrated ability to work with highly complex, high-risk, or comorbid clinical presentations. Experience providing specialist assessments, complex formulations, and senior therapeutic oversight
- Statutory, Governance & Risk Requirements The service requires senior psychological leadership for: complex safeguarding decisions, Mental Capacity Act / Mental Health Act considerations, Serious Incident reviews, clinical governance and quality assurance.
- provide professional leadership to all psychology staff within the service, offer supervision to Band 7-8b clinicians, sign off complex formulations and interventions, maintain the clinical governance framework for psychology pathways.
- leading service transformation and pathway redesign, contributing to strategic planning across the wider directorate/LCO, ensuring psychological practice aligns with national guidance, representing psychology at senior clinical and operational forums.
- The Consultant Psychologist provides senior oversight required for: CQC compliance (safe, effective, well-led), HCPC professional standards, safeguarding and risk management processes, documentation and sign-off of complex clinical decisions.
- bility to lead the psychological agenda within the multidisciplinary team. Strong influencing skills with senior managers, clinicians and system partners. Ability to lead service redesign, quality improvement and transformation projects. Professional leadership of a multi-band psychology workforce.
- eading service development and transformation work. Providing senior clinical governance and quality assurance. Experience contributing to Trust-wide or system-wide strategic planning. Representing psychology at senior operational/clinical meetings.
- Experience in: managing complex safeguarding concerns, MCA/MHA decision-making, high-risk clinical cases, contributing to Serious Incident reviews, supporting MDTs through risk management and crisis planning.
Desirable
- Ability to lead or oversee: research projects, service evaluations, audits, outcome measurement frameworks, evidence-based practice implementation
- Familiarity with cross-agency and cross-service collaboration, e.g.: acute mental health, community teams, social care, safeguarding partnerships, voluntary sector organisation
- Qualification in a specialist therapeutic model (e.g., DBT accreditation, CAT practitioner, EMDR qualification). Experience in leading innovation, digital transformation, or service redesign. Teaching experience (e.g., on clinical psychology training programmes). Publications, conference presentations, or specialist research interests. Leadership or management qualification (e.g., ILM, NHS Leadership Academy courses).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
