Registered Clinical Psychologist - Adult Autism Assessment Service

NHS; West Malling; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading independent mental health service is seeking a qualified clinical psychologist to join their Adult Autism Assessment Service. This role offers flexible working options and opportunities for professional development within a supportive team environment. You will conduct assessments and provide clinical leadership while working with a diverse range of clients.

Benefits

Professional Development Opportunities

Flexible Working Options

Annual Leave Entitlement

Qualifications

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment.
• Interest in working with people with autism and/or ADHD.

Responsibilities

• Conduct high-quality Autism assessments for adults with complex needs.
• Provide clinical leadership and supervision for junior staff.
• Write detailed assessment reports with recommendations.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Knowledge of Autism

Knowledge of ADHD

Clinical Autonomy

Education

DClinPsy or equivalent

Job description

Job summary

We are seeking a qualified clinical psychologist with strong interpersonal skills to join our small & developing Adult Autism Assessment Service (AAAS) based in Kings Hill and Canterbury. The AAAS team has been in operation since June 2020 and is commissioned by the NHS to carry out complex Autism assessments across Kent & Medway. The AAAS team currently comprises Psychologists, assistant psychologists and SaLTs with plans to expand. This post is offered on a full time or part-time basis (between 15-37.5 hours per week) with a combination of face-to-face, flexible working and working from home options available. For those seeking full-time hours, there is also an opportunity for a split post across the AAAS Team and the SSC Adapted Therapies or Adult Mental Health Service. As an independent mental health provider, this role offers an excellent opportunity to develop experience of working within an independent health service which has a number of current contracts with the NHS. We are looking for candidates with transferable skills and experience and you do not have to be an established expert in Autism to apply. The supportive nature of the team and the variety of clients we see means that there are opportunities to develop both your knowledge of Autism and of co-occurring difficulties. Applications from current third year clinical psychology trainees with an interest in/experience of working with autistic adults are welcomed.

Main duties of the job

To provide a high-quality Autism assessment service to adults presenting with possible Autism, often with complex co-occurring difficulties (i.e. mental health, personality disorder, wider neurodevelopmental difficulties etc). The service is commissioned by the NHS as part of the Neurodevelopmental pathway overseen by the Kent Community Health Foundation Trust.

To provide clinical leadership, co-ordination, and supervision for junior staff, including Assistant Psychologists, under the general direction and supervision of the Lead Clinician for the service (normally a Principal Psychologist or above).

To undertake Autism assessments for both routine and complex referrals (where there are comorbidities), write or supervise and edit Autism diagnostic assessment reports which include detailed and individually tailored recommendations for the individual with regard to next steps, appropriate adjustments and further sources of support.

To continue to support the growth and development of the Adult Autism Assessment team through involvement and support of clinical governance meetings within the team and the organization.

To develop the Autism assessment process in conjunction with Artificial Intelligence aids, staying abreast of current developments in this area and remaining aware of the various opportunities and risks presented by this approach.

To remain current with developments in the field of Autism generally and Assessment of Autism in Adults in particular.

About us

Sinclair Strong Consultants is a well-regarded independent Mental Health service, with a good support team in IT and administration along with over 20 registered professionals including Psychiatry, Psychology, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy. We also have a team of 6 Assistant Psychologists and are recruiting more in all areas.. In addition to autism assessment and support, we work across ADHD diagnosis and treatment, adult mental health, consulting and court reports, community services for people with autism and intellectual disability and we have held the NHS contract for the provision of the Kent and Medway Complex Autism Service since its inception.

We offer a salary aligned with Agenda for Change and an annual leave entitlement commensurate with the NHS. We are passionate about supporting professional development both in house and attendance at external courses.

Details Date posted

15 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £60,504 a year This is a Band 7 or 8a role depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

U0100-25-0001

Job locations

Building 80 Churchill Square

Kings Hill

West Malling

Kent

ME19 4YU

Job description Job responsibilities

• Conduct high quality, formulation-led ASD assessments, involving direct contact with the clients' carers/family, professionals etc., for adults presenting with complex co-occurring mental health difficulties.
• Work within an assessment protocol that includes standardised screening and standardised assessment tools, following NICE guidelines, and with consideration and screening for co-occurring and/or differential diagnostic issues.
• Analyse complex client information, derived from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with the client, family members and others involved in the client's care.
• Exercise clinical autonomy for a caseload of complex ASD assessments
• Identify when onward referral is required and manage this.
• Write high-quality assessment reports with recommendations.
• Attend ND meetings, team case discussions, journal club, SSC wide CPD days.
• Assist in the allocation and supervision of work by assistant psychologists.
• Provide clinical leadership, co-ordination, and supervision for junior staff, under the general direction and supervision of the Lead Clinician for the service.
• Communicate complex and sensitive information to clients where the atmosphere may be emotive, or there may be barriers to understanding.

Job description Job responsibilities

• Conduct high quality, formulation-led ASD assessments, involving direct contact with the clients' carers/family, professionals etc., for adults presenting with complex co-occurring mental health difficulties.
• Work within an assessment protocol that includes standardised screening and standardised assessment tools, following NICE guidelines, and with consideration and screening for co-occurring and/or differential diagnostic issues.
• Analyse complex client information, derived from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with the client, family members and others involved in the client's care.
• Exercise clinical autonomy for a caseload of complex ASD assessments
• Identify when onward referral is required and manage this.
• Write high-quality assessment reports with recommendations.
• Attend ND meetings, team case discussions, journal club, SSC wide CPD days.
• Assist in the allocation and supervision of work by assistant psychologists.
• Provide clinical leadership, co-ordination, and supervision for junior staff, under the general direction and supervision of the Lead Clinician for the service.
• Communicate complex and sensitive information to clients where the atmosphere may be emotive, or there may be barriers to understanding.

Person Specification Other Essential

• Knowledge and familiarity of autism and ADHD
• Ability to work independently and use initiative within a small and developing service
• Ability to work as a member of a clinical and wider team.
• Ability to formulate taking account of a clients personal history, presentation, current diagnoses etc

Qualifications Essential

• Qualified/or soon to be qualified clinical psychologist (DClinPsy or equivalent), eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist Status in the British Psychological Society.
• Registration with HCPC The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) | (hcpc-uk.org)

Desirable

• Some further training in autism and/or ADHD
• Some further training in at least one psychological therapy

Experience Essential

• An interest in working with people with autism and/or ADHD
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across a wide range of care settings, such as outpatient, community, primary care and in-patient settings.

Desirable

• Experience gained during supervised training of working with autism and/or ADHD.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision
• Experience in providing feedback from assessment results to clients and their family.

Person Specification Other Essential

• Knowledge and familiarity of autism and ADHD
• Ability to work independently and use initiative within a small and developing service
• Ability to work as a member of a clinical and wider team.
• Ability to formulate taking account of a clients personal history, presentation, current diagnoses etc

Qualifications Essential

• Qualified/or soon to be qualified clinical psychologist (DClinPsy or equivalent), eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist Status in the British Psychological Society.
• Registration with HCPC The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) | (hcpc-uk.org)

Desirable

• Some further training in autism and/or ADHD
• Some further training in at least one psychological therapy

Experience Essential

• An interest in working with people with autism and/or ADHD
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across a wide range of care settings, such as outpatient, community, primary care and in-patient settings.

Desirable

• Experience gained during supervised training of working with autism and/or ADHD.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision
• Experience in providing feedback from assessment results to clients and their family.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Sinclair-Strong Consultants Ltd

Address

Building 80 Churchill Square

Kings Hill

West Malling

Kent

ME19 4YU

Employer's website

http://www.sinclairstrong.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Sinclair-Strong Consultants Ltd

Address

Building 80 Churchill Square

Kings Hill

West Malling

Kent

ME19 4YU

Employer's website

http://www.sinclairstrong.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)