Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist: Child Development

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

Job summary

A healthcare organization in London seeks a Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist to join a dedicated team. The role involves providing a high-quality clinical service to children with complex neurodevelopmental needs and participating in multidisciplinary assessments. The successful candidate will possess doctoral level training, HCPC registration, and experience in diverse settings. Competitive salary offered.

Qualifications

• Doctoral level training in clinical psychology required.
• Registration with the HCPC as a practitioner psychologist is essential.
• Experience in a child development service and teaching/supervision beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Provide a high-quality psychology service for children with neurodevelopmental difficulties.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary assessments and develop action plans.
• Deliver post-diagnostic support through individual sessions and parent groups.

Skills

Knowledge of psychological approaches

Strong communication skills

IT competencies for data entry

Experience developing and running groups

Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations

Education

Doctoral level training in clinical psychology

Registration with HCPC as a practitioner psychologist

Completed training in clinical supervision

Tools

ADOS assessment tool

Job description

Overview

Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist: Child Development. This post is based mainly at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, working in a well established team of clinical psychologists within the wider multidisciplinary child development team. The closing date is 02 October 2025.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the Cheyne Child Development Service (CCDS). We are looking for an enthusiastic and compassionate Clinical Psychologist to join the team. The post provides an opportunity to develop skills in neurodevelopmental assessments and to take advantage of the excellent CPD offer within CNWL. The post holder will be line managed and clinically supervised by the lead consultant clinical psychologist for the CCDS.

The CCDS is based across two sites: Doughty House, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital and Parkview Centre for Health & Wellbeing (near Shepherds Bush), providing multidisciplinary child development assessment & interventions to the boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea & South Westminster. The post is within a multi-disciplinary team operating within a wider multi-agency context including CAMHS, Social Services, Education, other Local Authority services and voluntary agencies.

Main duties of the job

• To provide a high quality clinical psychology service for children with complex neurodevelopmental difficulties and their families, including assessment and intervention (individual and group).
• To offer advice and consultation to non-psychology colleagues to address psychological care of the child and family.
• To work with parents, carers, statutory and non-statutory agencies to ensure a holistic approach to assessment and intervention.
• To offer clinical supervision to trainees on placement within the service and to contribute to service development and research initiatives.

About us

The CCDS serves the boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and South Westminster. Services cover clinics, community resources such as nurseries & schools and clients’ homes depending on the work. The populations served are ethnically diverse, and consideration of cultural differences is crucial in assessment.

The Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) provides CAMHS to multiple boroughs and a range of highly specialist services to other Trusts and Agencies, including Paediatric, Child Development and Looked After Children Services.

Job responsibilities

1. To provide a highly specialist clinical psychology service to children & adolescents with complex neurodevelopmental conditions.
2. To contribute to multidisciplinary neurodevelopmental assessments, gathering information from external agencies to provide clear formulations, communicating findings effectively, and developing action plans to support the child/young person and family/carers.
3. To deliver post-diagnostic support, including individual follow-up sessions and/or post-diagnostic parent groups, contributing to ongoing development of these groups through feedback from service users.
4. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of neurodevelopmental difficulties and related mental health problems, across care settings.
5. To implement a range of psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, refining formulations and maintaining provisional hypotheses.

Person Specification

Training & Qualifications

• Doctoral level training in clinical psychology, including psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more psychological therapies, and lifespan developmental psychology, as accredited by the BPS.
• Registration with the HCPC as a practitioner psychologist in clinical psychology
• Pre-qualification training in research methodology, developmental psychology and/or related fields
• Trained and experienced in the use of the ADOS assessment tool
• Completed training in clinical supervision
• Additional post-qualification training or portfolio of supervised practice in a specialist area of clinical practice

Experience

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment across outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient settings.
• Experience working with diverse client groups and handling highly emotive and distressing problems, including potential verbal abuse or threat of physical abuse.
• Experience working in a multicultural context and addressing diversity issues within local communities
• Experience of post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation
• Experience in a child development service (LD) and in teaching, training or supervision
• Experience applying clinical psychology across different cultural contexts
• Experience developing and running groups

Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge of applying psychological approaches to children & adolescents with complex neurodevelopmental difficulties and their families
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, child and adult protection, and equalities
• Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment, including neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., autism, ADHD, learning disabilities)
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology and complex data analysis in clinical psychology
• Commitment to continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS
• Ability to select and administer specialist assessments and interpret complex data
• Experience with play-based assessments and the ADOS tool
• Skilled in psychometric and neuropsychological testing and interpretation
• Ability to plan and schedule assessments and interventions for individuals, groups and carers
• Strong communication skills for complex information with clients, families and professionals
• Ability to provide consultation to professional and non-professional groups
• IT competencies for data entry and analysis
• Experience teaching/training others and developing group interventions
• High-level knowledge of at least two specialist psychological therapies
• Experience supporting families around sleep, feeding, emotion regulation/behaviour and toileting

Other

• Ability to teach and train using diverse media for public, professional and academic settings
• Ability to maintain clinical governance in emotionally challenging contexts
• Ability to use supervision and access appropriate clinical support
• Ability to relate to children/young people with complex difficulties and their families
• Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations and challenging behaviour
• Experience working within a multicultural framework

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Salary: £64,156 to £71,148 per year pro rata inc Inner HCAS