Are you an enthusiastic and dedicated professional with significant experience in implementing high-quality, person-centred interventions to improve the quality of life for adults with a learning disability? An exciting opportunity has arisen as part of a recent commitment to cover maternity leave within the Community Learning Disability Intensive Support Team (IST) Stafford.The IST forms part of the wider South Staffordshire offer, supporting individuals with a Learning Disability and Autism who are experiencing difficulties which may otherwise lead to placement breakdown or hospital admission. The team is reliant upon effective working relationships between services within and outside of MPFT.This is a challenging but rewarding role and we encourage applications from experienced professionals who practice in supporting adults with a learning disability.Main duties of the jobThe Intensive Support Team aims to provide a high quality, community based, integrated service for adults with learning disabilities. We are seeking a highly motivated and dedicated Assistant Psychologist to join our Stafford based Intensive Support Team.The role requires an enthusiastic and dynamic professional who can demonstrate excellent inter-personal communication skills and a determined commitment to person-centred, multi-disciplinary working to achieve quality of life outcomes. This post offers the opportunity to work in a highly focused, intensive, and supportive way with people with learning disabilities who may present with complex challenging behaviours and/or mental health needs.The purpose of the role is to: support and enhance the professional psychological care of Service Users with a Learning disability within the service, to provide psychological assessment and interventions under the direct supervision of a qualified clinical psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with the clinical psychologist and within the overall framework of the IST’s policies and procedures, to assist in clinically related administration, supporting the development of positive behaviour support plans and supporting the delivery of workshops to care providers.About usBy 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.DetailsDate posted30 May 2025Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 4Salary£26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum (pro-rata)ContractFixed termDuration9 monthsWorking patternPart-timeReference number301-LBG-25-7243035Job locationsFlanagan Centre, St Georges HospitalCorporation StreetStaffordST16 3AGJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesThe role will involve working closely with the clinical psychologist, but also equally alongside other members of the multi-disciplinary team, which includes nurses, speech and language and occupational therapy. Your role will require a core functional aspect in supporting the formulation and implementation of the broader MDT recommendations to achieve a holistic approach as part of a shared caseload.You will work in a co-ordinated and planned way, including outside of normal hours if required. The successful applicant will have access to a wide range of training opportunities including Positive Behaviour Support.The post requires interface with a number of teams and services to promote shared formulation. This includes assessment and management of risks which place the individual and others at risk of serious harm; or for whom the nature or degree of risk might otherwise lead to exclusion, placement breakdown, and admission to inpatient services.As the post involves travelling across South Staffordshire, the ability to be responsive and travel to home visits at short notice is essential.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. Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesThe role will involve working closely with the clinical psychologist, but also equally alongside other members of the multi-disciplinary team, which includes nurses, speech and language and occupational therapy. Your role will require a core functional aspect in supporting the formulation and implementation of the broader MDT recommendations to achieve a holistic approach as part of a shared caseload.You will work in a co-ordinated and planned way, including outside of normal hours if required. The successful applicant will have access to a wide range of training opportunities including Positive Behaviour Support.The post requires interface with a number of teams and services to promote shared formulation. This includes assessment and management of risks which place the individual and others at risk of serious harm; or for whom the nature or degree of risk might otherwise lead to exclusion, placement breakdown, and admission to inpatient services.As the post involves travelling across South Staffordshire, the ability to be responsive and travel to home visits at short notice is essential.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.Person SpecificationQualifications & TrainingEssential
- A First or Upper Second honours degree in psychology OR a lower Second degree with a post-graduate qualification.
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
Desirable
- Undergraduate degree included study of Psychopathology/Clinical issues.
- Postgraduate degree in a relevant area.
ExperienceEssential
- Has significant experience of face-to-face work with people with psychological difficulties.
- Experience supporting people (either in a paid, voluntary or lived experience capacity) with a learning disability in hospital/residential or community settings.
- Has experience of working alongside staff from other disciplines.
- Has worked closely with clinical psychologists and has an awareness of professional standards/issues.
Desirable
- Experience of working as an Assistant Psychologist.
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
- Experience of research methods, audit or other service evaluation techniques.
Skills, Knowledge & AbilitiesEssential
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a learning disability service context.
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
Desirable
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to the experiences of people who have a learning disability.
- Experience using computers for databases or data-analysis (e.g. Excel, SPSS for Windows).
Person SpecificationQualifications & TrainingEssential
- A First or Upper Second honours degree in psychology OR a lower Second degree with a post-graduate qualification.
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
Desirable
- Undergraduate degree included study of Psychopathology/Clinical issues.
- Postgraduate degree in a relevant area.
ExperienceEssential
- Has significant experience of face-to-face work with people with psychological difficulties.
- Experience supporting people (either in a paid, voluntary or lived experience capacity) with a learning disability in hospital/residential or community settings.
- Has experience of working alongside staff from other disciplines.
- Has worked closely with clinical psychologists and has an awareness of professional standards/issues.
Desirable
- Experience of working as an Assistant Psychologist.
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
- Experience of research methods, audit or other service evaluation techniques.
Skills, Knowledge & AbilitiesEssential
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a learning disability service context.
- An understanding of psychology applied to health care.
Desirable
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to the experiences of people who have a learning disability.
- Experience using computers for databases or data-analysis (e.g. Excel, SPSS for Windows).