Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an innovative, compassionate Principal Clinical Psychologist to join Manchester Adult Learning Disability Service and help shape psychological support for adults with learning disabilities across the city.

Based in one of our three Community Learning Disability Teams, you will provide senior clinical leadership and specialist psychological assessment and intervention for people with complex needs, their families and wider care networks. Working collaboratively with allied health professionals, nursing, psychiatry and social care, you will promote holistic, person-centred care and guide effective psychological interventions.

The role also offers opportunities for strategic service development, quality improvement and professional leadership. You will supervise and mentor psychologists, assistants and trainees, while leading research, evaluation and innovation to improve services and address health inequalities across Manchester.

You must be a HCPC-registered Clinical Psychologist with significant post-qualification experience in learning disability services, strong communication and supervision skills, and the ability to work effectively within complex systems.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver specialist psychological services for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs.
• Provide assessment, formulation and intervention for individuals, carers and families.
• Work with challenging behaviour, mental health needs, trauma, offending, family breakdown and other complex contexts.
• Collaborate with care staff, families, carers and professionals to develop effective, person-centred interventions.
• Offer consultation, guidance, specialist assessments, interventions and reports to health, social care, education, probation and police services.
• Prepare clinical reports and assessments for professional, legal and court purposes.
• Administer, interpret and report psychometric and neuropsychological assessments.
• Lead and contribute to specialist risk assessments and risk management plans.
• Undertake eligibility and learning disability assessments, including intellectual functioning, and advise on previous findings.
• Manage referrals, waiting lists and cross-team work when required.
• Prioritise and allocate work within the CLDT Psychology staff group.
• Lead and support Psychology service development, including citywide pathways and protocols.
• Develop and deliver training to improve staff understanding of psychological needs.
• Maintain clinical responsibility in line with HCPC, BPS, Trust and service policies.
• Store clinical records in accordance with MFT and CALDS policies and professional standards.

About us
Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward-thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation, and continuous improvement.Whether you're beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working - empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.You'll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives.

At MFT, you'll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions.Your journey at MFT is more than a job - it's an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We'll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.

Details
Date posted: 10 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum (pro rata)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 349-LCOD-8155663-RL3
Job locations: Etrop Court, Rowlandsway, Wythenshawe, M22 5RG, United Kingdom

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

Explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place
To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place. This welcoming onestop hub gives you a real sense of who we are what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. Youll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access Inside MFT Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the Supporting Documents section and once opened, you can where either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

Closing vacancy listings early
We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application
Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOUfor our patients, our communities, and each other.As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your applicationespecially personal statements and responses to role-specific questionsis written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Person Specification
Qualifications / Professional Registration
Essential

• Eligible for Graduate Membership of BPS.
• Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS.
• Current registration with the Health and Social Care Professions Council HCPC.

Desirable

• Qualifications in specialist clinical assessment or therapeutic approaches e.g. ADOS/ DISCO trained, systemic therapy qualification, positive behavioural support.

Experience
Essential

• Extensive experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist with people with learning disabilities - including people who display behaviour that challenges.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of using a range of therapeutic approaches
• Experience of teaching training and supervising more junior staff.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HPC and BPS.

Desirable

• Specialist experience in the following areas positive behavioural support, offending, mental health autism, dementia or other relevant area.
• Working with other client groups
• Operational management of staff
• Taking a strategic lead in clinical service development
• Managing referrals, waiting lists and caseloads
• Record of having published in either peer reviewed, academic or professional journals and/or books.
• Expertise in a range of therapeutic approaches.

Knowledge
Essential

• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology as practiced within the field of clinical psychology.
• Knowledge of current legislation and policy and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the client group.

Desirable

• Specialist knowledge in the following areas positive behavioural support, offending, mental health, autism, dementia or other relevant area.

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).

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve.