JOB TITLE: Highly Specialist Applied Psychologist - Intensive Support Team (IST) South Staffordshire (with scope to work one session a week in South Staffordshire’s CLDT)
BAND: Band 8a - 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
We are seeking an experienced psychological practitioner with excellent communication skills to join our well established and recently expanded Intensive Support Team (IST) in South Staffordshire.
Working as part of our IST, you will provide effective, evidence-based interventions with the aim of improving quality of life, autonomy, psychological wellbeing and reducing the risk of placement breakdowns, inappropriate admissions to specialist hospital and the use of restrictive practices.
You will have experience of Positive Behavioural Support and of working therapeutically with people with learning disabilities in a variety of settings; including working with people 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, and someone who can work creatively to secure good outcomes.
Main duties include - 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.
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
Your colleagues within the IST will include nurses, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and an assistant psychologist. Support from physiotherapists and psychiatry colleagues are available from the wider Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT).
To be responsible for psychological input to South Staffordshire’s 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 user’s care; and to contribute to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care, to the benefit of all users of the service.

MPFT’s Learning Disability Psychological Services colleagues (from both South Staffordshire and Shropshire) meet regularly for joint CPD events and facilitate a number of local special interest groups. You would also have scope within your role to hold a small caseload of people with a learning disability referred to the wider CLDT.

• Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.*

• Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.