Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist

NHS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare institution in London seeks a Highly Specialist Clinical Neuropsychologist. This role, available at Band 8a or Band 7 development, focuses on neuropsychological assessment for patients with neurological conditions. Ideal candidates should possess a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, relevant HCPC registration, and at least two years of clinical experience. The position offers flexible working patterns and support for professional development, making it a rewarding opportunity within a dynamic team.

Benefits

Flexible working patterns

Professional development support

Qualifications

• Doctorate level training in Clinical Psychology required.
• Registered or eligible for HCPC registration.
• Experience in complex neuropsychological assessments is essential.
• Minimum two years clinical experience in neuropsychology.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and interpret neuropsychological assessments for complex cases.
• Participate in multidisciplinary teams for patient management.
• Provide supervision and further training to junior staff.

Skills

Complex neuropsychological assessments

Communication skills

Cognitive rehabilitation techniques

Negotiation skills

Education

Doctorate level training in Clinical Psychology

Registered with the HCPC

Tools

SPSS

Job description

Job summary

Band 8a or Band 7/8a development role Highly Specialist Clinical Neuropsychologist

Join our dynamic Neuropsychology Department at the National Hospital, a leading centre in the UK renowned for its clinical services and research. We offer specialised diagnostic, management, and rehabilitation services for patients with neurological, neurosurgical, and neuropsychiatric conditions.

Main duties of the job

This role is ideal for clinical psychologists with a background in neuropsychology and relevant experience in adult neuropsychology assessment and intervention. It is available at Band 8a or Band 7 (development post with progression to Band 8a). Flexible work patterns will be considered on an individual basis.

Candidates must:

• Have Doctorate level training in Clinical Psychology or Clinical Neuropsychology (or its equivalent).
• Be registered with the HCPC.
• Have experience in conducting, interpreting, and communicating findings from complex neuropsychological assessments.
• Those not meeting all Band 8a requirements can start at Band 7 with progression based on performance.

The post holder will be a part of the neuropsychology department which provides neuropsychological assessments, cognitive rehabilitation, input into specialist MDTs and management advice for complex inpatient and outpatient cases. Strong communication, professionalism, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team are essential. Supervision and further training will be provided.

If you do not have all the essential criteria for band 8a, please contact us about options for a band 7 development role. Please note that you must already have some relevant experience to be considered for the band 7 role.

About us

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world‑class research.

We provide first‑class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

• University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
• National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
• University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
• University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
• University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Details

Date posted: 28 November 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: 8a

Salary: £64,156 to £71,148 a year Per annum inclusive of HCAS

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 309-UCLH-7133

Job locations: National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG

Job description

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff. UCLH top trust to work at in England – In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row. UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Qualifications Essential:

• Honours degree in psychology or related disciplines, and Doctorate level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent).
• Registered or eligible to register as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Specialist knowledge of neuropsychological assessment techniques and psychometrics.
• Knowledge of interventions and neurorehabilitation and an ability to guide and advise medical/nursing and therapy staff on these principles.
• Specialist knowledge of psychological therapies relevant to use in a neuro‑rehabilitation setting.

Desirable:

• Specialist knowledge of neuropsychological syndromes and functional neuroanatomy.
• Knowledge of further educational and support systems/services for cognitively impaired adults.

Experience Essential:

• At least two years clinical experience post‑qualification of working as a specialist clinical neuropsychologist.

Experience Desirable:

• Previous experience presenting to peers/colleagues on a range of clinical and research issues.
• Post‑qualification experience using cognitive rehabilitation techniques and psychological interventions (eg CBT, brief interventions, counselling, psychosocial interventions) with patients and their family members, within both individual and group settings.
• Neuropsychological experience across a range of clinical settings, client ages and neuropsychological syndromes.

Skills & Abilities Essential:

• Communication & Customer Care: Demonstrates understanding of, and ability to, manage the needs of patients with acute and chronic disability, including the use of supportive counselling skills as appropriate.
• Communication & Customer Care: Demonstrates professional and effective verbal and written communication skills including excellent negotiation skills with patients, carers and other health professional staff in service delivery.
• Communication & Customer Care: Ability to communicate highly sensitive information to cognitively impaired and/or psychologically vulnerable people and their carers, who may have significant barriers to understanding or acceptance.
• Communication & Customer Care: Management of behavioural disturbances e.g., verbal aggression, inappropriate behaviour, and risk of physical aggression from people with a behavioural/cognitive disturbance.
• Personal & people development: Ability to establish good rapport and professional working relationships within multidisciplinary teams and other agencies for extended periods of time.
• Personal & people development: Ability to show leadership, initiative and utilise clinical supervision in different services effectively.
• Personal & people development: Ability to identify areas for own personal/professional development through highly developed reflective practice skills and integrate knowledge gained into own practice.
• Personal & people development: Ability to autonomously manage own caseload.
• Academic and research: Ability to critique and evaluate scientific data and best practice clinical guidelines.
• Quality and service improvement: Evidence of working effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
• Quality and service improvement: Evidence of effective clinical reasoning in the assessment and management of complex neuro‑disability.
• Information processing (IT skills): Competent IT skills (word processing, spreadsheets, SPSS).

Skills & Abilities Desirable:

• Personal & people development: Effective time management and ability to prioritise own workload.
• Personal & people development: Ability to represent clinical psychology in multi‑disciplinary group settings and within specialist clinical services.
• Personal & people development: Ability to complete clinical and research duties in an autonomous fashion.
• Academic and research: Evidence of a research publication track record within relevant areas of clinical neuropsychology.
• Academic and research: Previous experience in conducting research and/or audit in relevant area of neuropsychology.

Personal Qualities Essential:

• A high level of interpersonal and communication skills.
• Must be able to cope with highly emotive and psychologically challenging demands of working with neurologically impaired patients for long periods of time.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people in a sensitive, caring and non‑judgemental manner.

Other Requirements Essential:

• Demonstrate a commitment to professional development of self and others.
• Knowledge of equalities issues and strong commitment to the promotion of equality in employment.

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 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).

Employer details

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery

Queen Square

London

WC1N 3BG

Employer's website

https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)