Job summary
We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a Band 5 Clinical Psychology Assistant Practitioner (Higher Level) to join EMERGE Leeds: Complex Emotional Needs Service.

The post holder will contribute to a service that supports adults aged 18+ with complex emotional needs or difficulties consistent with a diagnosis of 'personality disorder'. EMERGE Leeds has a particular emphasis on working with young adults, supporting transitions, and taking an early intervention approach. Our service works closely with community and third-sector partners across Leeds to offer compassionate, trauma-informed care to people who, often in the context of trauma, adversity, and the misuse of power, have developed ways of coping that lead to distress or harm. We offer an innovative, progressive service that emphasises the importance of understanding people in their social and cultural context.

The successful applicant will join a multidisciplinary team which can provide a wealth of development opportunities. The main roles will include audit, service evaluation, research, contribution to our dialectical behaviour therapy skills programme, and supporting a range of service developments.

The office base is situated at Poplar House, St. Mary's Hospital,and we currently operate a hybrid model, working both face-to-face and remotely.

Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will be required to support and enhance the clinical work and research activities which are carried out by EMERGE Leeds for people with complex emotional needs/difficulties consistent with a diagnosis of 'personality disorder', under the supervision of a clinical psychologist. They will also be required to assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, development of audit and /or research projects, teaching, therapeutic group work, and project work. When the opportunity occurs, the post holder will be expected to support project work indirectly related to the work of the service. All work will be carried out within the overall framework of the team's policies and procedures.

Regular travel across Leeds by car is required.

About us
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.

Details
Date posted: 06 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year per annum
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 24 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 173-39726-COMM
Job locations: Emerge Leeds, Leeds, LS12 3QE, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
We recruit people based on their values and qualifications (where required) and believe that their lived experience is an advantage, this means that together we are as diverse as the communities we care for. Simply put, when we employ caring people who act with integrity and have the right skills, we can give those with mental health challenges, learning disabilities and neurodiversity high-quality care and support to live fulfilling lives, and make our staff feel purposeful, happy and valued.

All our information is available in accessible formats. Please contact the Recruitment team recruitment.lypft@nhs.net

Attached to this advert is our candidates guide to values-based recruitment and supporting guidance on how to make a successful application.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Recruitment Team or see the attached candidate guide to reasonable adjustments.

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need, look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading.

So that youre even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, youll need to take time to read the Candidate Guide to Values Based Recruitment. This document provides you with information to help you apply.

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Experience of working as an assistant psychologist previously or equivalent role in a care/health setting
• Experience of involvement in delivery of specific elements of psychologically-informed care e.g. co-facilitation of DBT skills group or in assisting others to deliver projects

Skills
Essential

• Demonstrate understanding of the needs of people with mental health difficulties/complex emotional needs
• Demonstrate high level of IT skills. Able to use statistical packages to aid analysis and work with spreadsheets

Values
Desirable

• Tell us about a time when you spotted something small going wrong and did something to stop it becoming a bigger issue.
• Tell us about a time when you realised a colleague or someone you know needed a bit of support and you offered to help.
• Tell us about a time when you showed someone kindness or understanding.

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.

Employer details
Employer name: Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Emerge Leeds, Leeds, LS12 3QE, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.leedsandyorkpft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Ranil Tan
Ranil.Tan@nhs.net
07976725461

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