Senior Psychologist

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Senior Psychologist

The closing date is 20 January 2026

This is an excellent opportunity as Senior Clinical / Counselling Psychologist to lead the psychology service within the Waltham Forest Community Learning Disabilities Team (CLDT) within NELFT. The post is 0.40 wte sessions 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. We work closely with the local Talking Therapy 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 clinical behaviour specialist; Band 6 Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP .

This will include guidance and support to the team by:

• providing clinical leadership
• ensuring appropriate caseload allocation and management
• performance management
• clinical and professional supervision to the relevant psychological practitioners

About us

Our Values 2025 - 2030

Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.

They are:

• We are kind.
• We are respectful.
• We work together with our communities.

These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period.

Starting with Us

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

High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,313 to a maximum of £5,436 p.a. pro rata for part time).

High Cost Area Supplement - Fringe

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £1,192 to a maximum of £2,011 p.a. pro rata for part time).

Job 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.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Doctoral level training in clinical/counselling psychology or its equivalent
• HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist
• Post-doctoral training in or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice

Experience

• Experience of working as a qualified practitioner psychologist within Learning Disabilities Psychological services for a minimum of two years
• Experience /eligibility to supervise doctoral course trainees, CAP, assistant psychologists
• Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for people with learning disabilities

Knowledge

• Knowledge of legislation / health care guidelines and their implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the client group and mental health.

Experience

• Experience of supervising qualified psychological professionals

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.

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum pro rata (plus HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours