Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Senior Clinical/Counselling Psychologist
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Job Description
For questions about this job, contact:
Name: Dr Joanna Farrington-Exley (for the Children's Hospital post), Principal Clinical Psychologist
Email: joanna.farrington-exley@nhs.net
Name: Dr Helen Horton (for the Women’s post), Principal Clinical Psychologist
Email: helen.horton3@nhs.net
Job Summary
We have two opportunities to join our dedicated Staff Psychological Support Service at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. The posts provide invaluable support within two clinical areas: Leeds Children’s Hospital and Women’s Services covering maternity and gynaecology.
Staff in these areas are exposed to potentially distressing events, as well as facing the usual demands of working within the NHS. Maternity and Neonatal services will be subject to Independent Review, which will involve working under significant and prolonged scrutiny and media attention. The posts will involve supporting staff during this time.
Both areas have an established and highly valued Staff Psychological Support service, with leaders and staff being enthusiastic and welcoming of psychological approaches to wellbeing. Both posts will be supported by Principal Clinical Psychologists already embedded in the Children’s Hospital and Women’s services.
The Two Roles Are
- 0.6 WTE Part time, permanent - working into Leeds Children’s Hospital
- 1 WTE Full time, fixed term 2 years - working into Women’s Services – maternity and gynaecology
Shortlisting Date: 24th August 2026
Interview Date:
- Women’s Services role on 8th September 2026 at St James Hospital
- Children’s Hospital role on 23rd September 2026 at Leeds General Infirmary.
You will hear if you are invited to interview for the Women’s post approx. 24th August and you will hear if you are invited to interview for the Children’s post on approx. 9th September.
Why you should join our Team
Leeds Children’s Hospital has a large workforce of over 1800 staff. Our Maternity and Gynaecology services employ over 900 staff. Importantly, all these clinical services are enthusiastic about supporting staff, and engaged with psychological approaches to wellbeing. As such they are welcoming and keen to work with a psychologist to optimise the conditions and support for their workforce.
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The wider Staff Psychological Support service is made up of Psychologists, Counsellors and Trainee Psychologists, which sits within the large Psychological Services Department. The department is extremely welcoming and supportive, with a breadth of experience and skills and strong links to the regional clinical training programme. We benefit from a range of regular SIGs and EDI working groups.
The successful candidate/s will work alongside other experienced psychologists, in consultation with leaders in the clinical service area, to offer a range of individual, group and service level interventions to respond to the needs of the workforce. The post holder/s will be supported by the Trust Wide Staff Psychological Support team, which comprises 10 friendly psychological professionals. We actively protect opportunities to share expertise, attend peer supervision, co-work and provide collegial support in this relatively new and innovative clinical specialism.
The posts are advertised as Band 8a positions, however we can offer a Band 7 preceptorship post for the right candidate and are willing to consider applications from current third year Trainee Psychologists. Please indicate in your application if you are interested in a Band 7 to 8a preceptorship. We value and support a positive work-life balance and therefore requests for flexible working through part time hours will be considered.
If applying as a current third year Trainee Psychologist, please select ‘Yes’ to the preemployment question about HCPC registration, and explain in your application that you will be applying for registration on completion of your doctorate.
What You Will Bring To The Role
We are seeking a skilled and compassionate Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to provide specialist psychological support to enhance the wellbeing of colleagues in Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The post/s offer an excellent opportunity to gain experience in the innovative field of Staff Psychological Support. In doing so, you will develop a variety of skills, working with leaders, teams and individuals. There will be opportunities to deliver short term individual psychological interventions for staff; to facilitate reflective practice groups; to develop bespoke formulation-driven team interventions and training. In addition, the post-holder/s will support the Post Event Support pathway, developing the pathway and facilitating individual and group debriefs following distressing events at work. The role requires self-directed working and excellent organisational skills. We encourage opportunities to collaborate with the Leeds Clinical Psychology training course and to provide trainee placements and research projects.
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The roles will involve supporting staff with work related difficulties such as stress and burnout which are often the result of working in demanding clinical environments. Maternity and Neonatal services will be subject to Independent Review and the post will involve supporting staff during this time.
Services are based across both St James’ Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary, as well as other sites across the Trust. A visible presence and across-site working is essential for fostering effective working relationships and engaging staff.
Please see the attached job description for further information about this vacancy.
About Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
Our Trust values
The Leeds Way is working together to support each other and deliver the best possible care to patients.
We are…
- Responsible
- Open and Honest
- One Team
- Kind
Our Trust priorities
Our purpose: Excellent, safe and sustainable care for every patient every time
Our Priorities
- People
- Improvement and Innovation
- Partnerships
- Outcomes
Sponsorship Eligibility
To comply with UK Government regulations on Skilled Worker sponsorship, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or the salary threshold concessions set out under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please take this into consideration before submitting your application. Full guidance on these concessions, including details of who may qualify, can be found here.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.
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