Principal Lead Clinical Psychologist (Band 8b) - Principle Psychology - West London NHS Trust

West London NHS Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 67,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a diverse healthcare provider as a Principal Lead Psychologist (clinical/counseling) in a newly established role to enhance care services for individuals with learning disabilities in Hounslow. Lead innovative practices, promote a multi-disciplinary approach, and be part of an award-winning team recognized for excellence in service delivery.

Qualifications

• Doctoral level education in psychology with HCPC registration is essential.
• Experience working with learning disabilities and autism is crucial.
• Ability to conduct complex psychological assessments and lead research initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the psychology services within learning disabilities.
• Strengthen multi-disciplinary collaboration to improve care outcomes.
• Ensure high-quality, person-centred service delivery and contribute to team development.

Skills

Commitment to core values

Complex communication

Multi-agency working

Time management

Education

Doctoral level training in clinical/counseling psychology

HCPC registered as Practitioner Psychologist

Tools

Psychometric assessment

Microsoft software

Job description

Use the job search to find and apply for roles using keywords or look at the roles listed below.

Site Heart of Hounslow Centre for Health Town Hounslow Salary £67,950 - £78,028 per annum inclusive of HCAS (Outer) Salary period Yearly Closing 06/07/2025 23:59

West London NHS Trust provides a full range of mental health, community and physical healthcare services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.

We also provide some specialist services that are commissioned regionally, such as our medium secure services; and nationally, such as the Cassel Hospital for people with complex and severe personality disorder and our high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital.

Job overview

We are offering a fantastic opportunity for an enthusiastic, forward thinking, and passionate senior clinician for this newly created post as a Principal Lead Psychologist (clinical/counselling) in learning disabilities (8b) to join the team and contribute to the provision and development of the Hounslow Adult Learning Disability Health Team.

The service reached the finals of the National Learning Disability & Autism Awards in 2022 and the PrescQIPP Awards in 2021 (Highly Commended) for the work we have been doing in relation to the STOMP programme. The service was recognised by the organisation and received the ‘Outstanding Clinical Team of the Year’ award in 2022. In 2023 the service won Patient Choice Award and in 2025, the service received the ‘most inspirational’ award by the National Beyond Words charity.

The service has a mature and effective partnership with the local authority and other key health partners and 3rd sector providers, in order to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities, their families, and carers.

Main duties of the job

You will lead on and be responsible for the psychology element of the service and will actively work with the team leads to strengthen multi-disciplinary working (internal/external) that will promote optimal care outcomes for the people we serve.

As a senior clinician within the service, you will model, lead, clinically innovate and shape how we deliver high-quality, person-centred care to residents who require a service from us.

You will work closely with the clinical service manager and lead clinicians to ensure that a safe and high-quality service is delivered. You will deputise for the clinical services manager as required
If you are creative, caring, compassionate and can innovate, we would love to hear from you!

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person specification

Qualifications & associations

• Doctoral level training in clinical/ counselling psychology (including specifically models of:- • Psychopathology • Psychometrics • Neuropsychology Two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the HCPC and BPS
• HCPC registered as a Practitioner Psychologist
• Qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology
• Further training and qualification in autistic spectrum conditions (e.g. autism diagnostic interview – revised and autism diagnostic observation schedule)

Experience

• Must have substantial post qualifying experience of:- • Specialist psychological assessment, formulation, and treatment of service users across the full range of care settings • Working with people who have learning disabilities/autism and both • Working with a wide variety of service user groups across the learning disability spectrum with a full range of needs (including behaviours that challenge, mental health, abuse etc)
• Must have substantial post qualifying experience of:- • Specialist psychological assessment, formulation, and treatment of service users across the full range of care settings • Working with people who have learning disabilities/autism and both • Working with a wide variety of service user groups across the learning disability spectrum with a full range of needs (including behaviours that challenge, mental health, abuse etc)
• Experience of conducting and leading on research and audit
• Experience of quality improvement (QI) initiatives and other service development work
• Highly experienced in risk assessment, management and planning
• Significant experience of liaising and joint working with statutory, voluntary and 3rd sector organisations (care without boundaries)
• Experience of teaching training and clinical supervision
• Significant experience in care coordination (as part of a CPA and other related process)
• Significant experience of working in the community

Skills and abilities

• Able to demonstrate a commitment to the West London core values : Togetherness, Responsibility, Excellence, Caring
• Communicate highly complex, highly sensitive and contentious information effectively to a wide range of people
• Adapt creatively the evidence based for interventions in mental health for service users with communication difficulties/ learning disabilities
• Undertake complex multiagency working and liaise with multiple systems effectively
• Use psychometric/cognitive and ALL forms of other testing competently
• Excellent time keeping, time management and priority skills
• Fully conversant (and competent), with a full range of Microsoft software, Excel, and other software mediums
• Well-developed skills in providing and receiving clinical supervision (and in dealing with practice standards/challenges)

Knowledge

• Sound knowledge (and application) of legislation & national policy that impacts on people with learning disabilities:- • Valuing People (2001) • Valuing People Now (2009) • Equality Act (2010) • Mental Capacity Act (2005) • Mental Health Act (1983) and updates • LeDeR process • Transforming Care (2012) • Building the Right Support (2015)
• Doctoral level of knowledge:- Advanced knowledge (and skills) in the use of complex methods of specialist assessment (including psychometric assessment), interventions and management, and their application with individuals with learning disabilities, autism or both
• Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development (as required by HCPC, BPS, Trust)
• Sound knowledge and ability to deliver on conducting audit and research methodologies
• Knowledge (and experience) of published journal articles, book chapters

Personal attributes/ Other

• Able to engage with vulnerable people and work effectively in highly distressing and challenging circumstances
• Able to work flexibly, co-operatively as an equal member of the clinical team and respecting difference
• Able to use own initiative and make decisions independently
• Ability to work flexibly and creatively and be a positive catalyst for change in driving service quality forwards
• Successful Enhanced DBS
• Ability to travel within defined service area and out of area (when required) where the service has clinical/commissioning responsibility
• Act as duty clinician for service (supporting Admin)
• Ensure Urgent Care Plan (UCPs) are in place for service users (as required) when on caseload
• Willingness to work flexible hours on occasions in response to service user/service needs
• At all times, be able to fully demonstrate and practice the Trust’s values in all aspects of the role when delivering care, working with families, carers and colleagues
• Have excellent time management & work prioritisation skills
• Car driver (access to own car)

As an employee of West London NHS Trust, you have a responsibility to maintain a sound understanding of, and a commitment to uphold the National Health Service values and principles set out in the NHS Constitution.

We reserve the right to close adverts prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to West London NHS Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, you will be required to undergo a pre-employment checks which can take between 4-8 weeks . After which your information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system (ESR ).

Please ensure you include email addresses for your referees which MUST be at supervisory or managerial capacity covering the last 3 years of employment to date to avoid delay in the recruitment process.

West London NHS Trust is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We encourage the thoughtful use of technology as a demonstration of strong time management and a commitment to innovation. However, we encourage applicants to personalise their recruitment application to showcase their unique skills and experiences.

While AI-generated content can be a helpful tool, relying solely on generic responses instead of highlighting your own strengths and achievements may impact the success of your application. The success of an application will always be assessed against the essential and desirable criteria for the role, so it is important to ensure that your application and any supporting information clearly demonstrate how you meet these requirements.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

At West London NHS Trust, we want you to support you to build a career you can be proud of and this starts before your first day with us. Our people live our values every day as they deliver, manage and work to improve our services to patients, carers, families and other professionals.

We’re committed to making our recruitment process clear and efficient. It’s in everyone’s interest that we get the very best people on board as soon as we can.