Job overview
We have a vacancy for a Band 8a psychologist that would be of interest to people working in Band 7 roles who are looking to step up in terms of responsibility and seniority, or to those already working at Band 8a who are hoping to diversify their experience.
Our team is small with a varied caseload of people referred with cognitive difficulties requiring specialist neuropsychological assessment and, in some cases, psychoeducation and cognitive rehabilitation. We also provide specialist support to other services that may be working with people with compromised cognitive functioning. The size of the team means that there are frequent opportunities to show initiative, get involved with non-clinical work on behalf of the team and the Trust, provide training and consultation, and clinically supervise as appropriate. We work closely with our colleagues in the MPFT Physical Health Psychology team, which facilitates cross-service learning, support and training.
Main duties of the job
You will join a friendly and supportive team that is increasingly well integrated with teams across the Trust. Shared learning and clinical supervision are valued and prioritised with, for example, journal clubs and safeguarding supervision taking place regularly. There are good links with the local DClinPsy course and there will be the opportunity to get involved with supervising trainees and, potentially, MSc students on placements.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Before applying for this rewarding and varied role, we encourage you to view the attached job description and person specification. To provide specialist psychological assessments of clients referred to the service based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client’s care. Involving various types of clinical work, such as one-to-one and group work, with clients alone at bases, hospital and at their homes if necessary, and via secure video link.
Person specification
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Experience as a qualified clinical /counselling psychologist of assessing and treating clients with a range of needs and problems, including via a formal neuropsychological assessment
- Experience of delivering teaching / training to other staff
Desirable
- Experience of working with third sector and/or supported housing providers
- Experience of working clinically with people present with challenging behaviours, and/or people who have communication difficulties
QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
Essential
- Post-graduate doctoral level qualification in clinical/counselling psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS including two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
- Good undergraduate degree (preferably relevant to psychological therapy)
- Current registration/accreditation with appropriate body (I.e.: HCPC) with current practising certificate
- Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by relevant professional body
Desirable
- Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice
- Formal training in supervision as recommended by the BPS
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES
Essential
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
- Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
- Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical psychology.
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group
- Ability to meet the travelling requirements of the job
- 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 highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
- Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.
Desirable
- Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies
- Formal training in supervision of other psychologists.
- Experience of working within a multicultural framework.
- Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Clinical Psychologist *INTERNAL MPFT ONLY* with Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust in Stafford, Midlands, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is £57,528 - £64,750 pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 07 Jul 2026.
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