Job Description

Are you ready to shape the future of psychological services for people with learning disabilities in Leeds with LYPFT? We are seeking an experienced and visionary Clinical Psychologist to play a key leadership role in our citywide Learning Disability Service and play a pivotal role in our Senior Leadership Team.

As our Consultant Psychologist you will:

Lead and inspire the Psychological Services within LD, fostering a culture of collaboration, learning, and excellence. Be an active member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), contributing to strategic decisions and service development. Take on Trustwide responsibilities as a Senior Professional, including attending key meetings and supporting investigations and complaints. Deliver expert psychological assessments and interventions for individuals with LD or suspected LD, using evidence-based approaches. Oversee governance and policy development, ensuring services are safe, effective, and person-centred.

What We're Looking For

Proven leadership skills and a track record of service development. Expertise in psychological assessment and intervention for people with LD. Strong understanding of governance, policy, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Why Join Us?

Join Us During a Transformative Time in Care Delivery

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of psychological care across the Learning Disability Service, working within a dynamic and supportive environment that values collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

You'll be working alongside passionate professionals who are deeply committed to making a meaningful difference.

We offer a supportive and collaborative environment, rich with opportunities for professional growth, leadership development, and the chance to shape services that truly matter to our communities. If you're ready to be part of something bold, forward-thinking, and impactful--this is your moment. The post is supported by a Professional Lead structure in the organisation.



The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) is the main provider of Mental Health and Learning Disability services in Leeds. We also provide specialist inpatient services in York and some highly specialised services across the country. As a teaching trust with strong links to local universities, we are a centre of excellence for teaching, research and development.



There are many benefits of working for LYPFT including fantastic employee wellbeing support, 27 - 33 days annual leave, flexible working and remote working arrangements, the NHS Pension Scheme, coaching, support and opportunities for career development and training and education support alongside a range of exclusive discounts and payment schemes including for cars, extra leave days and more NHS Discount Offers.



We also have a bank department, offering variety of roles in nursing, allied health professions, healthcare support worker and administration clerical. Permanent employees are automatically added to bank.



Applicants should be aware that individuals requiring a visa to work in the UK, the Trust only provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles (this does not include Healthcare Support Workers) . This is an essential requirement, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you do not meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.



The department has excellent connections with the Leeds Doctorate course, providing placement and teaching.

Enquiries about the post ahead of application are encouraged. Please contact Caroline Ispan (Professional Lead for Psychological Professionals) on caroline.ispan@nhs.net to arrange a time and also to arrange to speak to the Clinical Lead and/or Head of Operations for LD services.

Interviews will be face to face and likely to be in late October or early November 2025.

To ensure the systematic provision of a high quality clinical psychology service within the citywide Learning Disability Service.

To be part of, and contribute to the senior leadership team, working collectively with the head of operations, clinical lead and service managers to support service development/innovation and quality improvement in line with the Trust's approach to continuous improvement.

To develop approaches to working with service users and their support systems when there are high levels of complexity and significant risks

To have a dedicated caseload whereby the post holder provides direct clinical care to people with highly complex needs and clinical presentations.

To oversee governance and provide clinical supervision and ensure supervision in place for all staff, addressing performance issues as required, providing case management supervision as required and attending to well being and retention of staff. To identify CPD needs of staff, offering professional supervision.

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To lead on and advise on resource management within psychological expertise and oversee recruitment.

To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service.

To act as a highly specialist resource to the wider professional community and make recommendations for audit, policy and service development, research activities and/or programmes for the LD service in relation to complex cases.

To propose and implement policy and service development changes within the LD care group and work collaboratively with other professionals both within and outside the organisation to achieve high quality outcomes for service users.



This role offers the chance to make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals with learning disabilities, while shaping the strategic direction of psychological services across the Trust. If you're ready to lead with purpose and passion, we'd love to hear from you.

Consultant Clinical Psychologist - Learning Disability Service (Citywide)

Join us at a pivotal moment of transformation and innovation in care delivery.

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Clinical Psychologist to play a key leadership role in our citywide Learning Disability Service. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of psychological care across the Learning Disability Service, working within a dynamic and supportive environment that values collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.



Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership Contribute to the senior leadership team alongside the Head of Operations, Clinical Lead, and Service Managers. Drive service development, innovation, and quality improvement aligned with the Trust's continuous improvement ethos.

Clinical Excellence

Ensure the systematic provision of a high-quality clinical psychology service across the citywide LD pathway. Hold a dedicated caseload, delivering direct care to individuals with highly complex needs and clinical presentations. Develop and implement approaches for working with service users and their support systems in high-risk, complex scenarios.

Governance & Supervision

Oversee clinical governance and ensure robust supervision structures are in place for all psychology staff. Provide case management supervision, address performance issues, and support staff wellbeing and retention. Identify and support CPD needs, offering professional supervision and development opportunities.

Resource & Workforce Management

Lead on psychological resource planning and recruitment across the service. Advise on optimal deployment of psychological expertise to meet service demands.

Autonomous Practice & Professional Standards

Work independently within professional guidelines, ensuring the governance of psychological practice is maintained to the highest standards. Service Development & Research Act as a highly specialist resource to the wider professional community. Lead on audits, policy development, and research initiatives related to complex LD cases. * Propose and implement service development changes within the LD care group, collaborating across disciplines and organisations to achieve outstanding outcomes.