Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Developmental (B7-8a) Applied Psychologist

The closing date is 16 March 2026

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified Applied Psychologist interested in working within learning disability services. We would welcome applications from newly/ soon to be qualified Applied Psychologists wanting to follow a progression pathway to band 8a, or more experienced clinicians ready for an 8a position.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and self-motivated clinician who enjoys working as part of an MDT. The role is diverse and rewarding with excellent cross division support. The successful candidate will be delivering 1:1, group based and systemically informed evidence-based interventions for individuals with learning disabilities and their support networks. There are opportunities to get involved in service development projects and contribute to pathway working. There are strong links and support systems in place to enable cross divisional working which is core to the psychology offer.

You will be based with the Wolverhampton Community Learning Disability Team working alongside psychology and MDT colleagues supporting people with a learning disability experiencing significant mental health needs and/or displaying significant behavioural distress. The team is supportive, forward-thinking & committed to improving patient care. It is part of a whole-pathway model linking with the IST, FCT, A&T Inpatient services & local Commissioning services.

Main duties of the job

The CLDT provides a full range of assessments, interventions, support, training and advice to individuals themselves, their families and paid carers and the network of multi-agency stakeholders who are involved in the care and support of people experiencing complex behavioural and/or emotional distress. The post-holder will be part of a team committed to MDT working with people with a learning disability. They will bring experience combining the best of evidence based clinical assessment & formulation with integrative, client centred, therapeutic interventions.

Guided by recovery principles, the teams maintain close liaison and pathways with a range of external agencies including social support accommodation services and social care agencies across the region in order to ensure that people with a learning disability and mental health and/or behavioural distress needs are also well supported by the full range of services and opportunities that meet their whole life person centred needs and aspirations.

About us

The post-holder will be part of a team committed to MDT working with people with a learning disability. They will bringexperience combining the best of evidence based clinical assessment & formulation with integrative, client centred, therapeutic interventions. They will be skilled in both individual and group workadapted to match the different intellectual& emotional abilities within the client group. They will have experience and skills to oversee the performance and development of existing psychological pathways, such as Trauma, PBS and Dementia. There are opportunities to develop new and existing group programmes. The post-holder will support in training/supervising others, including practitioners & trainees working within the team at different times.

Psychologists throughout services acrossBCHFT have good links with the full range of Doctoral Psychology courses at the Universities of Birmingham, Coventry and Warwick and Wolverhampton. Key staff are closely involved with Research and Innovation. CPD and supervision for all grades of staff is highly valued. Psychological professionals are thoroughly integrated at all levels in the quality, governance and service development infrastructure of the Trust.

We look forward to receiving applications from HCPC registered Applied Psychologists who can demonstrate the breadth and depth of experience required for this role.

Details

Date posted

02 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

285-3945-LD

Job locations

Wolverhampton Learning Disability Team

44 Pond Lane

Wolverhampton

WV2 1HG


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To ensure high quality, specialist psychology provision to people with a learning disability with complex mental health needs and/or displaying significant behavioural distress . Working within community settings in the Wolverhampton locality.
  • To offer advice, specialist psychological assessment/intervention and or consultation and supervision on this client groups psychological care either directly with the client or indirectly with their systemic support networks.
  • Liaise with psychology colleagues, non-psychology colleagues, external agencies and other non-professional carers regarding client's psychological support needs.
  • To perform an important leadership role and work alongside MDT colleagues within and across the settings.
  • To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for systematic governance of psychological practice within the service. To propose and implement policy changes with the areas served by the service.
  • To utilise doctoral level research skills for audit, policy and service development and research. To supervise research carried out by Assistant and Trainee psychologists.
  • Guided by the person centred Transforming care principles of the recovery model ensure that people with a learning disability and additional support needs are safely supported by the full range of services and opportunities that meet their whole life needs and aspirations, in the least restrictive context.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To ensure high quality, specialist psychology provision to people with a learning disability with complex mental health needs and/or displaying significant behavioural distress . Working within community settings in the Wolverhampton locality.
  • To offer advice, specialist psychological assessment/intervention and or consultation and supervision on this client groups psychological care either directly with the client or indirectly with their systemic support networks.
  • Liaise with psychology colleagues, non-psychology colleagues, external agencies and other non-professional carers regarding client's psychological support needs.
  • To perform an important leadership role and work alongside MDT colleagues within and across the settings.
  • To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for systematic governance of psychological practice within the service. To propose and implement policy changes with the areas served by the service.
  • To utilise doctoral level research skills for audit, policy and service development and research. To supervise research carried out by Assistant and Trainee psychologists.
  • Guided by the person centred Transforming care principles of the recovery model ensure that people with a learning disability and additional support needs are safely supported by the full range of services and opportunities that meet their whole life needs and aspirations, in the least restrictive context.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualifications
  • Working with a learning disability population
  • Experience of assessment, formulation and intervention
  • Experience of a range of evidenced-based therapeutic interventions e.g. CBT, Third Wave models, Systemic therapy

Desirable

  • Post graduate training
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualifications
  • Working with a learning disability population
  • Experience of assessment, formulation and intervention
  • Experience of a range of evidenced-based therapeutic interventions e.g. CBT, Third Wave models, Systemic therapy

Desirable

  • Post graduate training

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Wolverhampton Learning Disability Team

44 Pond Lane

Wolverhampton

WV2 1HG


Employer's website

https://www.blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Wolverhampton Learning Disability Team

44 Pond Lane

Wolverhampton

WV2 1HG


Employer's website

https://www.blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Principal Psychologist

Dr Chinenye Njuko

chinenye.njoku1@nhs.net

01902444447

Details

Date posted

02 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £62,682 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

285-3945-LD

Job locations

Wolverhampton Learning Disability Team

44 Pond Lane

Wolverhampton

WV2 1HG


Supporting documents

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