Clinical Psychologist in Learning Disabilities

Transformation Unit; Colchester; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Part time

Job summary

Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a clinically qualified Clinical Psychologist (Learning Disabilities) to cover maternity leave in North Essex. The role involves community-based assessments and interventions, with supervision and opportunities for CPD.

The post is fixed term for 12 months, part-time at 15 hours per week (0.4 WTE). Registration with the HCPC is essential, and driving access is required unless exempt. Applications close 29 November 2026.

Qualifications

• Doctoral level training required for clinical psychology practice.
• HCPC registration is essential to practice.
• Postgraduate training in therapy modalities (e.g., positive behaviour support, psychotherapy, systemic therapy).

Responsibilities

• Deliver psychological assessments and interventions for individuals with learning disabilities.
• Provide support to families and carers across community and inpatient settings if needed.
• Receive supervision and contribute to ongoing professional development within Psychology services.

Skills

Complex assessment/therapy

Consultation skills

Disability experience

Education

Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology

HCPC registered

Postgraduate training in therapy (e.g. CBT, systemic, PBSP)

Job description

Main area Learning Disability Grade Band 7 Contract 12 months (Mat leave cover, fixed term 0.4 WTE for 12 months) Hours Part time - 15 hours per week Job ref 367-LD&F-101771

Employer Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Lexden Hospital Town Colchester Salary £49,387 - £56,515 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 29/11/2026 23:59

Clinical Psychologist in Learning Disabilities

Band 7

Values Based Screener

At Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust we are looking for people to join us who share our values and those of the NHS. Before your application can be considered please take part on our online values questionnaire, which you can find below. When you have finished you will be sent a 'completion code' by email, which will be valid for 6 months and required to submit your application form.

We are looking to recruit a highly motivated and committed Psychological Therapist (qualified HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist or Counselling Psychologist) to cover maternity leave in the Learning Disability Services in North Essex. The newly appointed clinician will be joining multidisciplinary services, consisting of Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Physiotherapists, Arts Therapists, and Community Nurses.

This is a fixed term contract for a year, working part-time, 15 hours per week to cover Maternity leave (0.4WTE).Applicants will need to be registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC. It is essential that applicants can drive and have access to a car unless a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 prevents driving.

We welcome informal enquiries and visits (Please contact Dr Alison Spencer ([e-mail]) or Nina Viljoen ([e-mail])

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will be responsible for implementing a variety of psychological assessments and therapeutic interventions for individuals across a range of ability levels, plus support for their families and carers. This would be predominantly in community services but may also continue into inpatient services, if necessary.

The post holder will be joining a well-established Psychology service and receive supervision from an appropriately experienced Clinical Psychologist. We support a range of training opportunities and ongoing professional development. There are good links with the University of Essex and the University of Hertfordshire Clinical Psychology Doctoral Training Programmes. There are great opportunities for R&D as our clinicians are already engaged in several research, teaching, and academic programs. We also actively promote further training and CPD opportunities such as systemic, EMDR, CBT, and Narrative based approaches. We offer a thoughtful and integrative model of psychological therapies for our service users.

Working for our organisation

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of ‘Outstanding’ from theCare Quality Commission.

Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. E verything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For full details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role please refer to the job description and person specification documents attached.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology.
• Registered as a clinical psychologist with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Additional post graduate training or qualification in specific psychological therapy, such as positive behaviour support, psychotherapy or systemic therapy.

Experience

• Experience of specialist assessment and therapy with service users across a range of care settings.
• Experience of working with a wide variety of service user groups, presenting problems that reflect a range of clinical severity.
• Direct experience of using therapy with people with disabilities.

Skills

• Skills in the use of complex assessment, therapy or intervention and management.
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in the specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc.)

Please note, we do not charge fees for job applications, recruitment processes, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. Please see the Trust careers vacancy webpage and Trac as the only authorised routes for recruitment communications, applications and verification of job offers.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.