Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Midlands Partnership University Nhs Foundation Trust; Cannock; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Part time

Job summary

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to join the CYP Autism team in Rugeley, working 22.5 hours per week. You will deliver highly specialist psychology input to Children and Young People with autism or suspected autism in South Staffordshire, collaborating with the CYP Autism service leads and MDT.

The role includes supervision of less experienced psychologists and training placements for psychologists in training, in line with

Qualifications

• This post requires HCPC registration and a Doctoral level qualification in Clinical or Counselling Psychology.
• Active engagement in continuing professional development is expected.
• Evidence of an undergraduate degree relevant to psychological therapy is required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct highly complex assessments leading to psychological formulations and care plans.
• Provide diagnostic assessments of children and young people, including ADOS 2 and ADI-R.
• Work as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) and present complex information in MDT meetings.
• Offer consultation on psychological care to non-psychologists and carers; work autonomously within guidelines.
• Opportunities to use research skills for audit, policy, and service development.

Skills

Autism assessment

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Clinical supervision

Psychological formulation

Education

HCPC registered

Doctoral level qualification in Clinical or Counselling Psychology

CPD evidence

Undergraduate degree in psychology or related field

Tools

ADOS 2

ADI-R

Job description

Job summary

The CYP Autism team in Rugeley has a wonderful opportunity for a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to join them working 22.5 hours per week.

In consultation with the Service Leads for the CYP Autism Service you will provide a highly specialist psychology service to Children and Young People with Autism, or possible autism, diagnoses in South Staffordshire.

In the role you will be responsible for providing highly specialist psychological input across three main areas:

• Autism assessment


• Highly specialist advice, support & intervention to CYP with a diagnosis of autism & their families.


• Highly specialist advice, support & intervention to young people (19-25) with an existing diagnosis of autism & an Education & Health Care Plan.

This role will incorporate highly complex psychological assessments leading to psychological formulations of distress; interpretation and opinion; forming judgements to inform service provision and providing necessary psychological interventions.

You will be responsible for the clinical supervision of less experienced psychologists & assistant psychologists, supervising & supporting the psychological assessment & therapy provided by other clinical members of the CYP Autism service who provide psychologically based care & intervention. To include the provision of training placements for Psychologists in Training as required, following gaining the necessary post-qualification requirements (STAR training, requisite post-qualification experience).

Main duties of the job

• This role involves highly complex assessments leading to psychological formulations, development of care plans, the delivery of interventions to this population and use of outcome measures to evaluate service effectiveness.


• To provide highly specialist diagnostic assessments of children and young people to include standardised assessments such as ADOS 2 and ADI-R.


• To work as a member of a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT). The psychologist will present complex assessment information in MDT meetings and work with colleagues in MDT to agree whether referred children and young people meet diagnostic criteria for autism.


• The role will also entail offering advice and consultation on clients' psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues and to other, non-professional carers, working autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the service's policies and procedures.


• There will be an opportunity to utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the area served by the team/service.


• You will be required to work in clinic and community settings such as CAMHS clinic bases, nurseries, schools and children's centres and with children and parents in their own homes.

About us

Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.

We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.

We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.

Please note, we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

Please note: If you use Artificial Intelligence (AI) as part of your application, we encourage you to review the Trust's guidance on the use of AI within the recruitment process. Further information can be found on Join Us :: Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust or www.mpft.nhs.uk/joinus

Details

Date posted: 16 October 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8a

Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Part-time

Reference number: 301-VS-26-8341216

Job locations: Anglesey House, Wheelhouse Road, Rugeley, WS15 1UL, United Kingdom

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• Registered with the HCPC under a relevant practitioner psychologist title


• Doctoral level qualification in Clinical Psychology or Counselling Psychology as recognized by the Health Professions Council (HCPC)


• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by relevant professional body.


• Good undergraduate degree (preferably relevant to psychological therapy).

Desirable

• Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice.


• Further training in a specific psychological assessment, model or intervention specific to the role remit/area of work.


• Qualification in one or more recognised and accredited diagnostic assessment/s for Autistic Spectrum Conditions.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups across the whole life course; presenting with the full range of clinical severity across a range of possible care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, in-patient and residential care settings. Clinical experience that maintains a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.


• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and intervention, both as a professionally clinician and also within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan.


• Ability to work effectively within safeguarding procedures in the context of a therapeutic service.

Desirable

• Assessed experience of working as a qualified clinical psychologist.


• Experience working therapeutically with children and young people with significant emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties, and their families/carers.


• Experience of working with children and young people with social and communication difficulties associated with autism.


• Experience of specialist standardised assessments for autism such as ADOS 2 or ADI-R.


• Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care.


• Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision.


• Experience of working clinically with people who present with challenging behaviours, and/or people who have communication difficulties.

Skills knowledge and abilities

Essential

• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management.


• Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological interventions.


• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.


• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.


• Ability to utilise psychometric tests competently and be aware of their limitations.


• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis as practiced within the field of clinical psychology.

Desirable

• Formal training in supervision of other psychologists.


• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the HCPC.


• Experience of working within a multicultural framework.

Personal attributes

Essential

• A passion and enthusiasm for working with people presenting with autism and their families and carers.


• A desire to champion and enable people with autism


• Able to demonstrate a positive and non-judgmental attitude towards service users and their family and carers.


• Willing to reflect on own practice and to learn from this.


• Ability to work constructively in a multidisciplinary environment, respect others and to contain the complex demands and conflicts that this can engender.


• Ability to develop productive therapeutic relationships with a range of service users.


• Ability to deal with organisational stress and to effectively manage own time and resources.

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. Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name: Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Anglesey House, Wheelhouse Road, Rugeley, WS15 1UL, United Kingdom

Employer's website: https://www.mpft.nhs.uk

For questions about the job, contact: CYP ND Service Manager, Jenny Dennis, [e-mail], 07531005949