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NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Senior Psychologist band 8a/Developmental 7 to 8a

The closing date is 30 April 2026

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Job summary

There is an excellent opportunity as Senior Clinical / Counselling Psychologist to lead the psychology service within the Barking & Dagenham Community Learning Disabilities Team (CLDT) within NELFT. The post is offered at band 8a, and a B7 developmental role which involves the transition to a band 8a psychologist, after the postholder has evidenced the competency requirements following a transitional period (12-18 months). The post is 0.50 wte (18.75 hours) in a multi-disciplinary team working closely with health and social services colleagues to provide a well-coordinated and high quality service for adults with learning disabilities. The post-holder will be supported by the Principal Psychologist and the Professional Lead of the Learning Disabilities Psychological Service in NELFT. Our psychological therapies provision within community learning disability teams compromises clinical psychologists, clinical behavioural specialists, art therapists, systemic/family therapists, Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP), administrator and trainees from the Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling training courses based in London. Our service is developing trauma informed and culturally sensitive care for people with learning disabilities and their families. There are excellent opportunities for enhancing clinical skills through CPD. Salary range for B8a - £57,528 to £64,750 per annum pro rata Salary range for B7 - £49,387 to £56,515 per annum pro rata

Main duties of the job

To provide locality leadership to support the delivery of a high-quality learning disabilities psychological service for NELFT patients, their families and carers within a designated locality. Providing leadership to LD Psychological Service colleagues within the Community Learning Disability Team To provide operational and professional management to the locality psychological practitioners, (Band 7 clinical behaviour specialist). This will include guidance and support to the team by: > providing clinical leadership > monitoring service delivery > ensuring appropriate caseload allocation and management > performance management > clinical and professional supervision to the relevant psychological practitioners

About us

NELFT NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and community services for over 4.9 million people living in the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and across Essex. We work to ensure our patients, their friends and family, feel confident that their health needs are well met. With an excellent reputation for research and development, our skilled health professionals are at the cutting edge of evidence-based innovation, opening up the possibilities for better ways of working and delivery of care.

Details

Date posted

20 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£24,698 to £32,375 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

3BDL-000495

Job locations

Becontree Centre

Dagenham

Essex

RM8 3HR


Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide locality leadership to support the delivery of a high-quality learning disabilities psychological service for NELFT patients, their families and carers within a designated locality.

Providing leadership to LD Psychological Service colleagues within the Community Learning Disability Team

To provide operational and professional management to the locality psychological practitioners, (Band 7 clinical behaviour specialist).

This will include guidance and support to the team by:

> providing clinical leadership

> monitoring service delivery

> ensuring appropriate caseload allocation and management

> performance management

> clinical and professional supervision to the relevant psychological practitioners

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key responsibilities

  • To be responsible for day-to-day management including managing caseloads, staffing and other resources.
  • To work with the Principal Psychologist and Professional Lead for Learning Disabilities Psychological Professions on long term strategies to develop psychological services in line with national and local guidelines and priorities.
  • To provide clinical leadership and specialist assessments and interventions within one or more areas of expertise relevant to people with learning disabilities and their families and carers.
  • To provide clinical supervision to key psychologists, assistants, trainees or other professionals.
  • To oversee research, audit and evaluation within the service.
  • To provide line management to the psychological practitioners within the locality.
  • To develop and maintain excellent relationships with other services in NELFT.
  • To maintain professional relationships with other agencies, e.g. Neighbourhood Services, Police, Probation Service, Education, Advocacy, PALS, Benefits and Voluntary Services to ensure provision of a quality package of care and service delivery for the service users and their carers.

 

High Cost Area Supplement – Outer London (B&D, Redbridge, Havering and Waltham Forest, Goodmayes) This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,870 to a maximum of £6,137 p.a. pro rata for part time).

Working for Us Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London and Essex. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award-winning equality and diversity initiatives, along with staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest significantly in your development because when you feel valued and supported, we can deliver the highest quality care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been recognised in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and hold a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Through our staff networks and training opportunities, we strive to foster a just and compassionate culture at NELFT.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide locality leadership to support the delivery of a high-quality learning disabilities psychological service for NELFT patients, their families and carers within a designated locality.

Providing leadership to LD Psychological Service colleagues within the Community Learning Disability Team

To provide operational and professional management to the locality psychological practitioners, (Band 7 clinical behaviour specialist).

This will include guidance and support to the team by:

> providing clinical leadership

> monitoring service delivery

> ensuring appropriate caseload allocation and management

> performance management

> clinical and professional supervision to the relevant psychological practitioners

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key responsibilities

  • To be responsible for day-to-day management including managing caseloads, staffing and other resources.
  • To work with the Principal Psychologist and Professional Lead for Learning Disabilities Psychological Professions on long term strategies to develop psychological services in line with national and local guidelines and priorities.
  • To provide clinical leadership and specialist assessments and interventions within one or more areas of expertise relevant to people with learning disabilities and their families and carers.
  • To provide clinical supervision to key psychologists, assistants, trainees or other professionals.
  • To oversee research, audit and evaluation within the service.
  • To provide line management to the psychological practitioners within the locality.
  • To develop and maintain excellent relationships with other services in NELFT.
  • To maintain professional relationships with other agencies, e.g. Neighbourhood Services, Police, Probation Service, Education, Advocacy, PALS, Benefits and Voluntary Services to ensure provision of a quality package of care and service delivery for the service users and their carers.

 

High Cost Area Supplement – Outer London (B&D, Redbridge, Havering and Waltham Forest, Goodmayes) This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,870 to a maximum of £6,137 p.a. pro rata for part time).

Working for Us Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London and Essex. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award-winning equality and diversity initiatives, along with staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest significantly in your development because when you feel valued and supported, we can deliver the highest quality care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been recognised in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and hold a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Through our staff networks and training opportunities, we strive to foster a just and compassionate culture at NELFT.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Doctoral level training in clinical/counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS.
  • HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist

Desirable

  • Eligible for BPS Chartered Clinical /Counselling Psychology Status
  • Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in learning disability psychological professions service for at least 2 years.
  • Experience of applying psychological interventions in culturally diverse contexts.
  • Experience of working in Learning Disabilities community based settings
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Doctoral level training in clinical/counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS.
  • HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist

Desirable

  • Eligible for BPS Chartered Clinical /Counselling Psychology Status
  • Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in learning disability psychological professions service for at least 2 years.
  • Experience of applying psychological interventions in culturally diverse contexts.
  • Experience of working in Learning Disabilities community based settings

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.

Employer details

Employer name

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

Becontree Centre

Dagenham

Essex

RM8 3HR


Employer's website

https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

Becontree Centre

Dagenham

Essex

RM8 3HR


Employer's website

https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Psychologist.

Rao Nirupama

Nirupama.Rao@nelft.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

20 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£24,698 to £32,375 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

3BDL-000495

Job locations

Becontree Centre

Dagenham

Essex

RM8 3HR


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