Job Overview We are seeking a highly motivated, person centred individual with excellent communication skills to work with us on a fixed term contract in our Community Learning Disability Team. You will have experience of working therapeutically with people with learning disabilities 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, who can work creatively to secure good outcomes and embrace new ways of working. The Team are clinically and professionally supportive, pro-psychology and provide frequent opportunities for creative and collaborative joint working. You will be an important member of a supportive MDT. You will benefit from the support of a large number of highly talented, enthusiastic and friendly psychology colleagues. MPFT is committed to the well being and professional development of its staff. You will be offered opportunities for personal/professional development in order to support you to develop your own potential, the quality of our services and ultimately the outcomes for our service users, their carers and their families. You will work across South Staffordshire with a base either at Lichfield or Stafford (to be negotiated). The job description attached for this post is as an 8A Psychologist. If the successful candidate is appointed on a 7/8a preceptorship, an individualised progression plan will be agreed. Main duties of the job To provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and therapy at the same time as offering advice and consultation to non-psychology colleagues and other non-professional carers, working autonomously within professional guidelines and Trust policies and procedures. To use research skills in audit and policy development within the area covered by the service. To further contribute to the service by teaching, publishing research and providing clinical supervision to Psychologists undertaking doctoral clinical and/or counselling psychology training, assistant psychologists, community nurses and other members of the multi-disciplinary team as required. Please see The JD/PS attached to this advert for full details. Working for our organisation By joining Team MPFT, you will be helping your communities and in return for this, we will support you by; Supporting your career development and progression Excellent NHS Pension scheme Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave Options for flexible working Up to 27 days annual leave (increasing with service up to 33 days) Extensive Health and Wellbeing support and resources If you work in our community teams, we pay for your time travelling between patients Lease car if you complete more than 500 business miles per annum, fully insured and maintained (including tyres), mileage paid at lease car rate Salary sacrifice car - fully insured and maintained (including tyres), your gross pay is reduced by the cost of the vehicle before tax, NI and pension deductions are calculated, mileage paid at business rates Salary sacrifice bikes up to £2k Free car parking at all trust sites Free flu vaccinations every year Citizens Advice support linked with a Hardship Fund for one off additional support up to £250 (if the criteria is met) We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation and there is a choice of staff networks that help you meet like-minded people. 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. Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities To provide highly specialist clinical psychology input to South Staffordshire’s CLDT. Working as a psychologist within a multi-disciplinary team to offer effective and evidence based psychological interventions with the aim of improving quality of life, skill level (autonomy) and psychological wellbeing; and to reduce the risk of placement breakdowns, use of restrictive practices and/or admissions to mental health settings due to mental health needs. Please read the JD/PS attached to this advert for full details of this post. Person specification Qualifications & Training Essential criteria Post-graduate doctoral level training in clinical or counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psycho-pathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology. Trained in clinical supervision of doctoral trainees (i.e. completed all relevant STAR Training). Currently registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist. Eligible for BPS Chartered Status. Eligible for full membership of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP). Desirable criteria Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice relevant to working with people with learning disabilities. Training/qualifications in ABA and/or PBS or the willingness to complete such training. Experience Essential criteria Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, seeing service users presenting with a wide variety of mental health and behavioural needs in a range of settings. Offering evidence-based psychological interventions and adhering to appropriate best practice and professional guidance as a qualified clinician. Experience of working therapeutically with services users with a learning disability and with people on the autistic continuum; including those presenting with behavioural needs which challenges services. Demonstration of current KSF competencies consistent with the 8a profile or the ability to develop into this role. Exercising full clinical responsibility for clients’ psychological care as a care coordinator within the context of a multidisciplinary team. Providing psychological advice and consultancy to others as part of a community learning disability team. Teaching, training and clinical supervision and field supervisor for doctoral theses. Research and development. Quality and service improvement and evaluation. Undertaking multi-dimensional risk assessment, developing and implementing risk mitigation strategies. Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts. Experience of clinical supervision of others. Desirable criteria Experience of joint working with statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies. Post doctorial experience in one or more highly specialist areas of psychological practice, for example, Applied Behavioural Analysis, EMDR, Cognitive Therapy, Positive Behaviour Support. Experience of working in services for people with learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges services. Experience of working with offenders or those at risk of offending. Experience of post-doctoral project management/leadership. Experience of delivering trauma informed care and TIC approaches. Skills, Knowledge & Abilities Essential criteria Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration. Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological approaches for working with challenging behaviour, people on the autistic continuum, and with people with complex mental health needs. Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to service users, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS, including Child Protection and Adult Safeguarding. Advanced skills in the assessment, formulation, and treatment of people with learning disabilities using a range of models. Well-developed skills in risk assessment and risk management including skills to prevent, de-escalate and manage verbal and physical aggression from service users on a day to day basis. Ability to engage hostile and reluctant clients and to communicate unwelcome news sensitively and with respect and compassion, in hostile, antagonistic and emotionally charged situations. Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups. Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology. Knowledge of the current policy content and relevant legislation for people with a learning disability and complex behavioural and/or forensic needs; including DSR processes, CTR/CETR & LAEPs. Knowledge of MHA and MCA. Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS. Desirable criteria Application of Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology post-qualification. Personal Attributes Essential criteria Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and severely challenging behaviours. Ability to identify, and employ, as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to severely challenging behaviour, verbal abuse and the threat of physical violence, highly distressing and disturbing material, including first and second-hand accounts of very serious offences. Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings. Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary and Psychology team and form good working relationships with other professionals. Ability to balance competing service demands, e.g. record-keeping, team-building, admin and service user contact. Commitment to support service-user involvement in all aspects of their care/service design and delivery. Ability to plan and prioritise own workload. Ability to work with emotionally demanding service users and carers on a daily basis. Willing to develop knowledge and skills in chosen area of work. Excellent interpersonal skills. Able to work in constrained or adverse conditions. Able to work with service users who maybe hostile or abusive on a regular basis. Able to, in a planned and agreed way, work outside standard working hours. Good interpersonal skills, team player, flexible and adaptive in methods of working. Able to travel over a widespread geographical area and to remote locations.