Clinical Psychologist

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust; Wakefield; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Wakefield is looking for a Clinical Psychologist to join their dedicated multidisciplinary team in the Adult ADHD and Autism Service. This role involves conducting assessments, offering psychological care, and providing supervision to junior staff. The ideal candidate will possess an Hons. Degree in Psychology and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. Opportunities for professional development and a supportive working environment are provided.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Professional development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Completion of supervised clinical practice in the NHS.
• Ability to work within two models of psychological assessment, formulation and intervention.
• Experience in working with service users in the clinical area of the post.

Responsibilities

• Conduct specialist assessments and interventions for mental health issues.
• Provide consultation and supervision for junior staff.
• Engage in ongoing professional development and training.

Skills

Psychological assessment

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Autonomous working

Education

Hons. Degree in Psychology

Health and Care Professions Council registration

Job description

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Clinical Psychologist

Closing date is 14 January 2026

We are seeking a Clinical Psychologist to join our compassionate, forward‑thinking multidisciplinary team within the Adult ADHD and Autism Service.

Based in Wakefield, our service operates across Wakefield, Kirklees, Barnsley, Bradford and Calderdale with a blend of clinic‑based and remote working. Our clinicians provide diagnostic assessments, post‑diagnostic support and medication management, within a supportive MDT of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists and specialist physician assistants.

We are proud that our team consistently exceeds NHS Staff Survey benchmarks for wellbeing, team relationships and feeling valued at work. Professional development is actively supported, with opportunities for CPD, research and service innovation for those keen to help shape the evidence base in adult neurodevelopmental care.

As a Clinical Psychologist with us, you will contribute to a specialist area of practice and grow professionally in a supportive, forward‑thinking environment. We seek a dedicated professional passionate about mental health and eager to be part of an innovative approach in mental health care. Your role will make a real difference in the lives of those with Autism and ADHD, in a team that values your expertise and commitment to excellence.

If you’re ready for a new challenge within a progressive and supportive Adult ADHD and Autism Pathway, we would be delighted to welcome you to our team.

Main duties of the job

In this role as a Clinical Psychologist, you will be responsible for providing high standard psychological services within our multidisciplinary team. Your duties will include:

• Conducting specialist assessments and interventions to address complex mental health issues.
• Offering advice on psychological care to colleagues and non‑professional carers, working autonomously within professional guidelines and trust policies.
• Overseeing the work of Psychology Assistants, Trainees, and aiding their professional development.
• Utilising research skills for audits, policy development, service development and research activities.
• Performing in‑depth psychological assessments, formulating and implementing treatment plans, managing risks, and maintaining a client caseload.
• Engaging in continuous professional development, providing supervision to junior staff and trainees.
• Applying doctoral‑level research skills for service audits, evaluations, and supporting evidence‑based practices.

For more information or an informal discussion about the role, please contact Rebecca Crisp, Operations Manager, on 01924 316494.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities; we do this by providing high‑quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non‑clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups; we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means we are accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

The post holder will provide specialist clinical psychology skills within a multidisciplinary team and a high quality clinical service to the users of the service.

They will provide highly specialist psychological assessment and intervention while working collaboratively with non‑psychologist colleagues, professionals from other agencies and carers. They will be clinically responsible to a senior clinical psychologist. Clinical oversight of all work will be held by the clinical lead in the service.

The job plan will be delivered in the services the post is based.

The post holder will work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team while observing Trust and National policies and procedures.

The post holder will provide support to Assistant Psychologists and Doctoral trainees. They will utilise research skills in audit, service development and research relevant to the post.

Key result areas

• To offer consultation, supervision and training when required by other agencies involved in the psychological, emotional and behavioural well‑being of people referred to the service.
• To provide consultation, assessment and intervention in the service.
• To work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary context.
• To provide assessment and treatment options for people experiencing moderate, severe and complex mental health problems.
• To exercise expert clinical judgement based on the highest standards of evidence‑based practice.
• To continually seek to expand and consolidate clinical skills using training, experience and supervision.
• To be proficient in the use of psychometric testing appropriate to the age range.
• To provide specialist risk assessment of and intervention to people who present to the service.
• To follow appropriate adult and child protection guidelines in all clinical work, including close liaison with all agencies.
• To liaise and consult with the wider professional network in the care of the client.
• To work jointly with other team members in delivering the most appropriate clinical service to people and their families.
• To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients.
• To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to effectively evaluate progress.
• To receive regular professional supervision from a senior clinical psychologist and, where appropriate, other senior clinicians.
• To continue to access continuing professional development opportunities in line with agreed targets and agreed personal development plan.
• To assist in the supervision of Doctoral level clinical psychology trainees and trainees from other disciplines as appropriate.
• To contribute to the pre‑ and post‑qualification teaching of clinical psychologists.
• To assist in the teaching and training of professionals.
• To contribute to the audit processes within the service.
• To contribute to research in the service area.
• To utilise theory, evidence‑based literature and research to support evidence‑based practice of self and others.
• To provide advice on research projects to other staff within the service around appropriate methodology, statistical analysis etc.
• To undertake project management as required to aid service development.
• To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes, in consultation with the post‑holder’s professional lead and service manager(s). To maintain membership of appropriate regulatory bodies (i.e. the Health & Care Professionals Council) and professional bodies such as the British Psychological Society.
• To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in psychology across the service, by continuing to develop the skills of reflective scientific practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the field of clinical psychology and related disciplines.
• To maintain the highest standards of clinical record‑keeping including electronic data entry, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self‑governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society, the Health & Care Professions Council and Trust policies and procedures.
• To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to the clients the service serves.
• The post‑holder will be required to work flexibly both in terms of base and in hours of clinical availability.

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID‑19 to protect patients.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Person Specification

Experience

• Completion of supervised clinical practice in the NHS.
• Ability to work within two models of psychological assessment, formulation and intervention.
• Experience in working with service users in the clinical area of the post.
• Different theoretical approaches.
• Work with other disciplines.
• Work with people who have disabilities.

Qualifications

• Hons. Degree in Psychology.
• Appropriate safeguarding training.
• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Clinical Psychologist.
• 2:1 minimum.
• Eligible for chartered status.

Personal Attributes

• Caring.
• Team Player.
• Commitment to supervision and support.
• Flexible.
• Committed to client group.

Special Knowledge and Skills

• A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).
• IT literate.
• Knowledge of adult & child protection legislation.
• Awareness of legislation relevant to the clinical area of practice.

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous two years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

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.

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust