Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the leadership team of our community learning disabilities service, covering the current post holder's maternity leave for 1 year. The Consultant Clinical Psychologist will work alongside the operational and professional leads to support service development. The role includes leadership & governance responsibilities for psychological practitioners in the community learning disabilities service, ensuring safe, effective practice & staff development.
The successful candidate will have experience working with people with complex learning disabilities & mental health needs, including behaviours that challenge, using evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches to reduce distress & promote wellbeing and social inclusion.
Closing Date: 12th October 2026
Shortlisting Date: 13th October 2026
Interview Date: TBC
Main duties of the job
Please see JD/PS. The Job Purpose includes:
About us
Everything we do is underpinned by our core values: -
We Care- We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
We Listen- We understand people's views and respond to their individual needs
We Deliver- We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners
We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :
Increase mileage rates for > 4500
A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
Plus many more.
We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidate's best interest to apply as soon as possible
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work andresidein the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.
Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond theexpirationof your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential youmaintainthe legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visaexpiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, mayimpactyour eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work statusimmediatelyand to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visain a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work andresidein the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.
Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond theexpirationof your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential youmaintainthe legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visaexpiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, mayimpactyour eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work statusimmediatelyand to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visain a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctorate level training in clinical or applied psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical, psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the BPS, or a BPS Statement of Equivalence. AND Eligibility for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status. ANDUndertaken post-qualification further training in a specialised area of psychological practice e.g. neuropsychology, CBT, CAT, DBT, solution focused therapy, analytical therapy, systemic / family work etc. OR Specialist post graduate training to doctorate level or equivalent in a psychotherapeutic modality - including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Systemic Therapy AND Accreditation from a recognised Psychological Therapy body e.g. BABCP, BACP, UKCP via: (a) Professional route; requiring previous mental health qualification e.g. Clin. Psych., RMN, Dip. SW. or (b) Where applicable, the KSA (knowledge, skills and attitude) route (e.g. with the BABCP).
- Leadership training
Desirable
- Teaching (clinical practice) qualification/certificate or equivalent experience.
- Training in advanced clinical supervision.
- Training in trauma informed care.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in relevant area of mental health practise.
- Experience of teaching, training, supervision and consultation.
- Experience of working within a multicultural framework.
- Significant post qualification experience and training (at least 5 years).
Knowledge
Essential
- Significant clinical knowledge relevant to service area
- Evidence based psychological therapies and approaches relevant to service area.
- Doctoral / master's level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis.
- Able to contain explore and formulate an understanding of high levels of distress both directly with patients and indirectly via supervision or case reviews with other staff.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
Desirable
- Demonstrable knowledge of the theory and practice of leadership and management in mental health services
- Highly specialist clinical knowledge relevant to a service area.
Skills
Essential
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
- Well developed skills in providing consultation to other professional and non professional groups.
- Well developed skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, psychological formulation, intervention and management.
- Well developed skills in individual and group work and in programme planning and systemic interventions.
Attitude/Approach
Essential
- Commitment to ethos of the clinical service and MDT working.
- Aware of racial, culture, sexuality and gender issues and their impact on mental health and in therapy
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Doctorate level training in clinical or applied psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical, psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the BPS, or a BPS Statement of Equivalence. AND Eligibility for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status. ANDUndertaken post-qualification further training in a specialised area of psychological practice e.g. neuropsychology, CBT, CAT, DBT, solution focused therapy, analytical therapy, systemic / family work etc. OR Specialist post graduate training to doctorate level or equivalent in a psychotherapeutic modality - including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Systemic Therapy AND Accreditation from a recognised Psychological Therapy body e.g. BABCP, BACP, UKCP via: (a) Professional route; requiring previous mental health qualification e.g. Clin. Psych., RMN, Dip. SW. or (b) Where applicable, the KSA (knowledge, skills and attitude) route (e.g. with the BABCP).
- Leadership training
Desirable
- Teaching (clinical practice) qualification/certificate or equivalent experience.
- Training in advanced clinical supervision.
- Training in trauma informed care.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in relevant area of mental health practise.
- Experience of teaching, training, supervision and consultation.
- Experience of working within a multicultural framework.
- Significant post qualification experience and training (at least 5 years).
Knowledge
Essential
- Significant clinical knowledge relevant to service area
- Evidence based psychological therapies and approaches relevant to service area.
- Doctoral / master's level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis.
- Able to contain explore and formulate an understanding of high levels of distress both directly with patients and indirectly via supervision or case reviews with other staff.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
Desirable
- Demonstrable knowledge of the theory and practice of leadership and management in mental health services
- Highly specialist clinical knowledge relevant to a service area.
Skills
Essential
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
- Well developed skills in providing consultation to other professional and non professional groups.
- Well developed skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, psychological formulation, intervention and management.
- Well developed skills in individual and group work and in programme planning and systemic interventions.
Attitude/Approach
Essential
- Commitment to ethos of the clinical service and MDT working.
- Aware of racial, culture, sexuality and gender issues and their impact on mental health and in therapy
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
