Job summary
We are seeking to appoint an exceptional Consultant Practitioner Psychologist (Band 8c) to provide strategic and clinical leadership across our 3 Community Learning Disability Services in the Coastal, Northern and Western areas of West Sussex. We envisage some time will be spent in each team. This is a unique opportunity to shape and influence psychological services at a senior level while maintaining a specialist clinical role in the context of supportive and innovative multi-disciplinary teams.

As a key member of the West Sussex leadership team, you will lead the psychology staff (which includes band 8b, 8a, 7, Assistant Psychologists and Behaviour Practitioners) in the development, delivery and continuous improvement of high-quality, evidence-based psychological care pathways

You will be a highly experienced, HCPC-registered Practitioner Psychologist with a doctoral qualification in applied psychology and significant relevant post-qualification experience in learning disability services. You will demonstrate strong leadership skills, advanced clinical expertise, and a commitment to compassionate and inclusive, person-centred care. This senior role offers the chance to make a meaningful difference across multiple teams and pathways.

Main duties of the job
Our work is focused mainly across mental health and behaviour support pathways, but we also input into the service's work around complex physical health. The service also provides dementia and autism assessment for those people meeting the service's eligibility criteria. The post holder will work in partnership with operational management and other professional leads to drive innovation, embed best practice, and ensure services are responsive to the complex and challenging needs of people with learning disabilities and offering support to their families, carers and service providers. You will build on the excellent reputation we have both locally and nationally in relation to intensive support provision.

The role combines strategic leadership and advanced clinical practice, including managing a small complex caseload and providing expert assessment, formulation, and intervention. You will be working in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams through consultation, supervision, and training, ensuring psychologically informed care is embedded across services.

You will also play a vital role in workforce development through the appraisal process, leading supervision frameworks, supporting staff wellbeing, and driving service improvement through audit, research, and evaluation.

About us
You will build upon and benefit from the close working relationships that we have with our local universities and training courses. We are also a research active clinical group, who are well supported by the Trust's research department. There is on-going opportunity for high quality CPD; focused on developing the workforce we need to deliver our care pathways.

We offer the opportunity to influence service development, work within a supportive multidisciplinary environment, and contribute to meaningful improvements in the lives of people with a learning disability and complex needs. You will have the ability to prioritise and manage your own diary and the ability to work and be mobile across West Sussex and beyond your local area.

Details
Date posted: 15 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: 8c
Salary: £79,504 to £91,609 a year, pro rata for part time staff
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 354-LD-20337-1
Job locations: County Hall North, but this can be negotiable for Worthing or Chichester, Horsham, RH12 1BA, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• Provide strategic and professional leadership for psychological services across Community Learning Disability Services in West Sussex
• Lead the development and delivery of high-quality, evidence-based psychological care pathways
• Maintain a specialist clinical role, including assessment, formulation and intervention for individuals with complex needs
• Manage and support a skilled psychology workforce, including supervision, appraisal and professional development
• Work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, providing consultation, training and leadership to embed psychologically informed care
• Drive service improvement, audit, research and evaluation, contributing to innovation and best practice
• Build and maintain effective partnerships with families, carers, service providers and external organisations
• Ensure services are inclusive, person-centred and responsive to the needs of people with learning disabilities and associated complexities
• Contribute to the strategic direction and leadership of services across West Sussex
• Work flexibly across multiple sites, managing competing priorities and workload effectively

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology as approved by the HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
• Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.
• Accredited / registered with professional body / regulator as detailed above

Knowledge/Experience
Essential

• Doctoral level knowledge of applied psychology and psychological therapy with advanced knowledge of lifespan developmental psychology, models of psychopathology and research design/methodology, reflecting consultant-level competence
• Extensive, post-qualification experience as a registered practitioner psychologist within LEARNING Disability Services, demonstrating expert clinical and professional judgment
• Comprehensive knowledge, formal training, and substantial experience in leading and managing multidisciplinary learning disability services.
• In-depth knowledge of national policy frameworks, initiatives, and the learning disability economy within which Trust services operate.
• Highly developed expertise in the theory and practice of specialised psychological interventions
• Advanced clinical skills in highly specialised psychological practice and clinical risk management, consistent with a consultant-level practitioner
• Significant experience representing the psychological professions and/or services in local or regional policy forums or equivalent strategic settings
• Expertise in applying psychology and psychological therapies within diverse cultural contexts and multicultural frameworks, demonstrating advanced cultural competence
• Experienced in working with complex client groups across diverse care settings, maintaining a high level of professionalism in challenging and distressing circumstances.

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.

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice applies.