Principal Psychologist and Clinical Lead Croydon IST

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust; Croydon; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organisation in Croydon is seeking a Principal Psychologist and Clinical Lead to shape the newly established Intensive Support Team. This role involves leading a multidisciplinary team to support autistic adults and those with intellectual disabilities, ensuring high-quality, compassionate care. The ideal candidate will possess a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, be registered with the HCPC, and have expertise in Positive Behaviour Support. Opportunities for personal and professional growth are available, promoting an innovative approach.

Benefits

Funding for CPD and specialist training

Supportive team environment

Opportunities for career development

Qualifications

• A skilled psychologist committed to neurodiversity affirmative practice.
• Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of specialist psychological care.
• Work closely with individuals and their families to co-create care plans.
• Champion inclusion, equality, and dignity in care.

Skills

Positive Behaviour Support

Systemic approaches

Clinical supervision

Communication skills

IT skills

Education

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent

Registered with HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist

Completed training course in clinical supervision

Job description

Principal Psychologist and Clinical Lead Croydon IST

There's something special about joining a service right at the beginning - you'll have scope to innovate, influence and shape our newly established Croydon Intensive Support Team (IST).

Our service supports autistic adults and adults with intellectual disabilities who may be experiencing significant distress, behaviours of concern, or an increased risk of hospital admission. In this role, you'll lead a skilled multidisciplinary team – including an assistant psychologist, behaviour specialist, specialist speech and language therapist, Transforming Care nurse, Autism peer support worker, and an advanced practitioner. Together, you'll help people stay safe, connected to their communities, and supported in ways that reduce the need for crisis-driven or restrictive interventions. Above all, you'll ensure that every person receives care that is compassionate, personalised, and shaped by what matters most to them.

We're looking for someone who cares as much as we do, and we particularly welcome applications from candidates with lived experience. You'll be a skilled psychologist committed to neurodiversity affirmative practice with expertise in Positive Behaviour Support and systemic approaches, but more than that, you'll be someone who listens, understands, and takes the time to make people feel heard.

Interview Date TBC

Main duties of the job

Clinical duties

• Lead the delivery of specialist psychological care that empowers people to overcome challenges and move toward their goals.
• Work closely with individuals and their families to co-create care plans that reflect their strengths, preferences, and aspirations.
• Use your expertise in Positive Behaviour Support and systemic practice to develop approaches that reduce risk and enhance quality of life.

Team leadership and collaboration

• Support, guide, and inspire your team, fostering a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to contribute.
• Provide expert clinical supervision and consultation, helping colleagues and local providers build confidence and capability.
• Champion inclusion, equality, and dignity, ensuring every person who comes into contact with our service receives compassionate, person-centred care.
• Evaluate and evolve the service as needs change, ensuring we remain responsive and forward‑thinking.
• Use data, feedback, and lived experience to shape how we grow, keeping the voices of the people we support at the heart of every decision.
• Lead projects that strengthen community‑based support, enabling more people to thrive closer to home.

About us

You’ll be based in our modern offices at Bernard Weatherill House in Croydon, with opportunities to work across community sites throughout the borough. Our service is co‑located with adult social care colleagues, and we work closely with the Croydon Mental Health in Learning Disabilities Service – creating strong, integrated partnerships.

From day one, we’ll invest in your development. Whether you want to deepen your existing expertise or explore new areas of interest, we’ll support you to grow. We actively encourage CPD, with funding available for external courses and specialist training that aligns with your goals.

Our approach to one‑to‑ones focuses on you – your development, goals, and ambitions, not just the tasks at hand. Through hands‑on experience, formal training, and even learning from the occasional misstep, you’ll discover your strengths and continue to grow.

We’re committed to helping you develop both personally and professionally, so you can bring your unique perspective and expertise to improve the lives of those we support.

Apply now and help us build something exceptional.

Job responsibilities

***********For full details of the role and responsibilities, please see the attached Job Description**********

Person Specification

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS AND/OR TRAINING

• Entry‑level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration. Clinical psychologist: Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent.
• Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice through formal post‑qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice‑based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma.
• Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.
• Completed training course in clinical supervision.
• PBS / Systemic approaches

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

• Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism who engage in behaviours that severely challenge
• Advanced theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment such as PBS, trauma informed and/or systemic approaches.Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics.
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to these client groups and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
• knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.
• doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis.

EXPERIENCE

• Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in intellectual disabilities and/or autism services.
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in intellectual disabilities and/or autism.
• experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training.
• Experience of providing teaching and training to psychologists or other professional groups.
• post‑qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. Experience of carrying out post‑doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects.
• Experience of proposing and implementing service development projects within own service area.
• Record of publications in either peer reviewed, academic or professional journals/books

SKILLS ABILITIES

• To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences.
• To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources, on which expert opinion may differ.
• To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, and emotional difficulties, cultural differences and hostility to or rejection of information.
• To plan projects and work schedules for groups of psychologists.
• To be expert in the skilled administration of psychometric tests, including skilled manipulation of test materials; and to be able to supervise others in administration of psychometric tests.
• To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and to organise meetings such as care coordination and case reviews, and joint activities with staff of partner agencies.
• Well‑developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data.
• Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups.
• Ability to behave in accordance with our Trust values
• Ability to work effectively within a multi‑disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
• Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self‑harming or aggressive behaviour. Ability to cope emotionally with challenging behaviours displayed by individuals and to support carers in times of distress.
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate. Ability to develop and use complex multi‑media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings. Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these.

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.

Bernard Weatherill House 2nd Floor Zone B