Job summary JOB TITLE: Clinical Psychologist BAND: 8a 37.5 hours per week 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 2025 are welcome to apply. Now is the time for you to join our Intensive Support Team in South Staffordshire. 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. Main duties of the job To provide highly specialist clinical psychology input to South Staffordshire's Intensive Support Team (IST). Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to offer effective and evidence based interventions with the aim of improving quality of life, autonomy and psychological wellbeing; and reducing the risk of placement breakdowns, inappropriate admissions to specialist hospital and the use of restrictive practices.To provide specialist psychological assessments of service users referred to the IST, based on the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources. Psychological formulations will then contribute significantly to the development of detailed PBS plans and risk assessments etc. Clinical work will take place across all settings and agencies.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.To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of care settings. About us 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 Date posted 10 March 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8a Salary £53,755 to £60,504 a year per annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 301-LBG-25-7058495 Job locations Flanagan Centre, St Georges Hospital Stafford ST16 3AG Job description Job responsibilities To be responsible for psychological input to South Staffordshires Intensive Support Team (IST) as part of a multi-disciplinary team.The post holder will take the lead in developing psychology inputs within the IST, linking in with IST clinicians and the wider Community Learning Disability Team. Propose and contribute to service development specifically within the IST but also the wider Learning Disabilities Service under the guidance of the Professional Lead and Local Lead Consultant Clinical Psychologist.Providing 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. Please see the Job Description and Person Specification attached to the advert for further detail. Job description Job responsibilities To be responsible for psychological input to South Staffordshires Intensive Support Team (IST) as part of a multi-disciplinary team.The post holder will take the lead in developing psychology inputs within the IST, linking in with IST clinicians and the wider Community Learning Disability Team. Propose and contribute to service development specifically within the IST but also the wider Learning Disabilities Service under the guidance of the Professional Lead and Local Lead Consultant Clinical Psychologist.Providing 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. Please see the Job Description and Person Specification attached to the advert for further detail. Person Specification Qualifications & Training Essential 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 (completed all required STAR Training). Currently registered as Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC. Eligible for BPS Chartered Status. Eligible for full membership of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP). Experience Essential 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. Skills, Knowledge & Abilities Essential 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 complex behavioural needs, people on the autistic continuum, and with people with complex mental health difficulties. 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. 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. Personal Attributes Essential Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and complex behavioural needs. 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 complex behavioural needs, 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. Person Specification Qualifications & Training Essential 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 (completed all required STAR Training). Currently registered as Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC. Eligible for BPS Chartered Status. Eligible for full membership of the Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP). Experience Essential 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. Skills, Knowledge & Abilities Essential 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 complex behavioural needs, people on the autistic continuum, and with people with complex mental health difficulties. 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. 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. Personal Attributes Essential Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and complex behavioural needs. 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 complex behavioural needs, 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. 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. Certificate of Sponsorship 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. Certificate of Sponsorship 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). Employer details Employer name Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Address Flanagan Centre, St Georges Hospital Stafford ST16 3AG Employer's website https://www.mpft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)