Senior Psychologist

Job summary

This is an excellent opportunity as senior Clinical / Counselling Psychologist to lead the psychology service within the Havering Community Learning Disabilities Team (CLDT) within NELFT. The post is 0.50 wte sessions (18.75 hours per week) 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 comprises clinical psychologists, clinical behavioural specialists, art therapists, systemic/family therapists, Clinical Associate in psychology (CAP), assistant psychologist, and trainees from the Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling training courses based in London. We work closely with the local Talking Therapies service strengthening the mainstreaming agenda for people with learning disabilities. 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, peer support and service development. We have a vibrant and active R&D department.

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 LD psychologist: Band 7 clinical behaviour specialist; Band 6 Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP), Band 4 assistant psychologist (40%).

This will include guidance and support to the team including:

1. providing clinical leadership
2. monitoring service delivery
3. ensuring appropriate caseload allocation and management
4. performance management
5. clinical and professional supervision to the relevant psychological practitioners

About us

Starting with NELFT NELFT places a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process, new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

High Cost Area Supplement - London

This post attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,551 and a maximum payment of £5,735 per annum pro rata).

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points based system.

Date posted: 20 March 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8a

Salary: £53,755 to £60,504 a year plus HCAS per annum pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number: 395-HV002-25-A

Job locations: Havering CLDT Yew Tree Centre, 20 Yew Tree Gardens, Romford, RM9 3AA

Job description Job responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role can be discussed at the interview stage.

References

Please ensure that the references are from your most recent employer and one of these must be your direct Line Manager or Supervisor. You must provide professional email addresses for all referees as we will contact them as soon as an offer has been made. Please note we do not request references prior to interviews. Additionally, ensure that any gaps in your employment history are clearly indicated. All applications made through NHS Jobs account will be processed by TRAC System. Please note that some emails may go to your spam/junk mailbox so make sure you check this regularly.

Use of AI

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Doctoral level training in clinical/counselling psychology or its equivalent
• HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist

Desirable

• Experience of supervising doctoral trainees

Knowledge

Essential

• An awareness of NHS Plan, NICE Guidance and clinical governance priorities

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working within Learning Disabilities Psychological services for a minimum of two years

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.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address:

Havering CLDT Yew Tree Centre

20 Yew Tree Gardens

Romford

RM9 3AA

Employer's website: https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/