Principle Clinical Psychologist

NHS; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK-based healthcare provider in Nottingham is looking for a Principal Clinical Psychologist to support Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessments. You will work with a team of psychologists to provide specialist expertise and engage with multiple agencies. Ideal candidates will have a doctorate in clinical psychology, relevant experience, and a commitment to service development.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in the assessment of children and young people with Autism / ASD.
• Experience in multi-disciplinary and multi-agency working.
• Experience in providing clinical supervision and training.

Responsibilities

• Consult and coordinate ASD assessments.
• Provide direct specialist psychological assessments.
• Lead multidisciplinary assessment panel discussions.

Skills

Communication skills

Specialist skills in engaging with clients

Research and audit skills

Education

Post graduate doctorate in clinical psychology

Current registration with the HCPC

Job description

Overview

CAMHS Principle Clinical Psychologist , Nottinghamshire ASD Assessment Pathway. We have an exciting opportunity for a Principal Clinical Psychologist (0.6 WTE) to support Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessments for children and young people in the Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County neurodevelopmental pathways. You will join a small team of Psychologists to support the provision of highly specialist psychological expertise as part of the multi‑agency and multi‑disciplinary assessment pathway for possible ASD often in the context of complex social care, mental health and/ or learning needs.

The postholder will be expected to contribute to ASD assessments through consultation, direct assessment, training and supervision. This is a newly established service and additional provision to the wider neurodevelopmental pathway. This role offers lots of opportunities to support service development and evaluation, alongside experience working with other agencies including Community Paediatrics and local authority agencies.

As part of the Nottinghamshire CAMHS service, you will also be joining a larger group of Psychology colleagues and CAMHS colleagues to support liaison and co‑working to share knowledge, expertise and support appropriate pathways for assessment.

Responsibilities

• Consult and co‑ordinate ASD assessments for children and young people, working closely with Community Paediatricians, Speech and Language Therapists and Specialist Nurses.
• Provide direct specialist psychological assessments of children and young people, using standardised and evidence‑based assessments and consideration of alternative formulation or co‑existing needs.
• Coordinate and lead multidisciplinary assessment panel discussions, ensuring comprehensive assessment of ASD for all cases in line with NICE guidance and local protocol.
• Advise on any clinical risk identified as part of assessment activity and direct to the appropriate service for further support.
• Ensure comprehensive verbal and written feedback to families and agencies, informing recommendations for local Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision and future care plans.
• Provide expert assessment where opinion regarding a child’s needs may differ across CAMHS and other agencies.
• Provide appropriate support structures through supervision and consultation for the MDT assessment panel and wider support networks around complex presentation.
• Support service development and evaluation, contributing to the evaluation of the service and feedback to service managers and commissioners to inform policy and service development.

Qualifications

• Post graduate doctorate in clinical psychology accredited by the BPS.
• Current Registration with the HCPC.

Desirable

• Additional training in relation to supervision of unqualified and qualified staff.
• Further relevant post‑qualification training including psychological models of assessing and treating developmental trauma.
• Further training in the assessment of comorbid neurodevelopmental presentations e.g. ADHD.

Training

• Further specialist training in the diagnostic assessment of children and young people with Autism / ASD.
• Advanced knowledge and expertise gained in at least one specialist area of clinical practice through post‑qualification specialist training and supervised practice (Psychotherapy, neuropsychology, Attachment Therapy, Clinical Supervision).
• Training in cognitive assessment e.g. psychometric testing of children with complex developmental concerns.

Experience

• Extensive experience in the assessment of children and young people where there may be underlying Autism / ASD in line with diagnostic criterion and NICE guidelines.
• Experience of assessment of children and young people and their families presenting with a broad range of mental health needs, both in terms of severity and complexity.
• Experience of effective multi‑disciplinary, multi‑agency working.
• Experience of provision of clinical supervision and training to psychologists and practitioners from other professional groups.
• Experience of coordinating MDT assessment, clinical audit and service evaluation, and staff training.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of assessment approaches to exploring possible ASD in the context of mental health and relational needs.
• Knowledge of the diagnostic criterion using DSM 5 or ICD‑11 in the application of ASD assessment.
• Knowledge of NICE guidance in the assessment of ASD in children and young people where there may be additional mental health or social care needs.
• Detailed knowledge of a range of models of assessment, formulation, management and treatment of mental health difficulties & relational trauma across a broad age range 0‑19 years.
• Knowledge of safeguarding protocol.

Skills

• Communicate skilled and sensitive manner concerning assessment, formulation and treatment options of clients.
• Specialist skills in engaging with clients with complex communication needs and clinical presentations.
• Research and audit skills to evidence the efficacy of specialist interventions.
• Research and audit activity within a specialist children’s health setting and supervision of audit & research activity within a specialist CAMHS setting.

Values and Behaviours

• Act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust, Honesty, Respect, Compassion, Teamwork.
• Demonstrate an understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role.

Additional Information

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 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.

UK Registration. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer Details. Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Hopewood, Pebble Bridge Foster Drive, Mansfield Road Nottingham, NG5 3FL.

Application Information

Applications are invited through the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust website.