Senior Clinical Psychologist - Neurodiversity - Preceptorship

NHS; Barnstaple; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS organization is seeking an experienced Senior Clinical Psychologist to join their Neurodiversity pathway in Devon. This role involves providing assessments and interventions for neurodivergent children and young people, with opportunities for professional development and collaboration within a multidisciplinary team. The position offers a competitive salary and a supportive work environment focused on quality care.

Benefits

CPD opportunities

Regular clinical supervision

Support for career progression

Qualifications

• Experience in delivering clinical supervision and training.
• Knowledge of psychometric assessment tools.
• Specialist knowledge of child development.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality complex assessments and psychological input.
• Support children and young people with neurodiversity and mental health.
• Contribute to service development and quality improvement.

Skills

Assessment skills

Psychological therapies

Leadership

Consultation

Collaboration

Education

Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

Active registration as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC

Job description

Job summary

We are looking for an experienced Clinical Psychologist to join us in a senior role in our Neurodiversity pathway, providing assessments and interventions to neurodivergent children and young people across Devon. We have an opportunity of a role that sits across our Exeter, East Devon and North Devon localities (1.0WTE). With flexibility in office bases across Exeter, Tiverton and Barnstaple.

Preceptorship opportunity- new/early qualified psychologists could be appointed to this role at band 7 under a preceptorship to work towards requirements for band 8a, subject to satisfactory completion of preceptorship process.

Its an exciting time of change as we develop integrated, needs-led pathway under iThrive. We are passionate about our work and are committed to providing high quality services across Devon.

The Neurodiversity Pathway is a developing integrated pathway within CFHD. The Integrated Neurodiversity Team provides specialist assessment and intervention for children and young people and their families where the presenting need relates to neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Tics and Tourette Syndrome. This provides an opportunity to work in a team with a strong multidisciplinary ethos as well as collaborating with colleagues in other pathways and working in partnership with other agencies such as local Paediatric teams and education providers.

Main duties of the job

As a Senior Clinical Psychologist, you will be offering high-quality complex assessments and psychological input to children, young people and their families who access the support of this pathways.

You will bring advanced formulation skills and consultation to your team alongside wider service development contributions.

There will be CPD opportunities to support your development and a commitment to supporting your career progression at this stage in relation to consolidating your supervisory role and leadership skills as well as further expanding your clinical knowledge and skills.

Training opportunities to develop skills in standardised assessment tools for autism assessment such as the ADOS-2.

You will have regular clinical supervision and separate line management. You will be supported with a job plan with opportunities to use a breadth of skills including research and service development.

There is a strong and friendly network of Clinical Psychologists working across CFHD, enjoying shared CPD and professional support. We also have excellent links with local Doctoral courses for teaching and Trainee placements.

We encourage interest from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences, both personal and professional.

We would love to hear from experienced colleagues looking to further develop their career in an innovative service at an exciting time of change.

About us

Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) comprises an Alliance of NHS organisations working together to improve health outcomes for children and young people in Devon.

CFHD provides integrated care and treatment for children and young people across physical and mental health which are provided by Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust and Devon Partnership Trust. We are working closely with other organisations and providers to ensure we deliver locality and county-wide based integrated access to all of our services, based on the i-Thrive Framework.

CFHD works closely with our local universities of Plymouth, Exeter & the Peninsula Medical School where we support students in clinical training placements and in addition support our own staff to undertake post graduate training.

Our integrated care and treatment has been developed and refined in partnership with children, young people and their families/carers.

Our children and young people say

We would like the people who work for Children and Family Health Devon to be understanding, patient and respectful. They should be trustworthy and make us feel safe and comfortable. It is important that they use their skills and experience to listen carefully in a non-patronising and non-judgemental way. When staff are positive and friendly, they help to create an environment that is informal and without pressure.

Details Date posted

23 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number

C9369-25-0418

Job locations

Integrated Childrens Services

Fishleigh Road

Roundswell Business Park

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 3UD

Children & Family Health Devon

Bittern Road

Sowton Industrial Estate

Exeter

EX2 7FW

C F H D

Tiverton Way

Tiverton Business Park

Tiverton

EX16 6TG

Job description Job responsibilities

You will be a qualified and experienced Clinical Psychologist ready to move into a Senior role. You will have a passion for working with children, young people and families with complex needs. This will include supporting children and young people experiencing difficulties related to their neurodiversity and mental health. You will have the knowledge and skills to undertake complex assessments and deliver evidence-based and outcome monitored psychological therapies. You will have experience in supporting the development of others through supervision and training and be keen to further develop this. You will be a reflective practitioner with strengths to bring to a multi-disciplinary team and consultative work. You will be committed to service user participation and collaborative working with children, young people, parents, carers and families. You will have a good understanding of safeguarding across the lifespan. You will be motivated to further develop your leadership skills to contribute to quality improvement and service development within your pathway and the wider service.

Neuro Description

The Neurodiversity Pathway is a developing integrated pathway within CFHD. The Integrated Neurodiversity Team provides specialist assessment and intervention for children and young people and their families where the presenting need relates to neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism Spectrum Condition, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Tics and Tourette Syndrome.

The integrated team will bring together a variety of multi-disciplinary colleagues including Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Mental Health Practitioners from a diverse range of backgrounds. This provides an opportunity to work in a team with a strong multidisciplinary ethos as well as collaborating with colleagues in other pathways and working in partnership with other agencies such as local Paediatric teams and education providers.

As a Senior Clinical Psychologist in the Neurodiversity pathway you would have opportunity to provide consultation, clinical supervision and training, as well as specialist assessment, and intervention. You will use your clinical leadership, audit and research skill to take a lead in areas of service development to support a culture of Quality improvement.

Main contacts

Dr Hannah Gooding, Principal Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Lead, Neurodiversity Pathway, [e-mail]

Gill Marsh, Operations Manager for Neurodiversity Pathway,[e-mail]

Job description Job responsibilities

You will be a qualified and experienced Clinical Psychologist ready to move into a Senior role. You will have a passion for working with children, young people and families with complex needs. This will include supporting children and young people experiencing difficulties related to their neurodiversity and mental health. You will have the knowledge and skills to undertake complex assessments and deliver evidence-based and outcome monitored psychological therapies. You will have experience in supporting the development of others through supervision and training and be keen to further develop this. You will be a reflective practitioner with strengths to bring to a multi-disciplinary team and consultative work. You will be committed to service user participation and collaborative working with children, young people, parents, carers and families. You will have a good understanding of safeguarding across the lifespan. You will be motivated to further develop your leadership skills to contribute to quality improvement and service development within your pathway and the wider service.

Neuro Description

The Neurodiversity Pathway is a developing integrated pathway within CFHD. The Integrated Neurodiversity Team provides specialist assessment and intervention for children and young people and their families where the presenting need relates to neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism Spectrum Condition, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Tics and Tourette Syndrome.

The integrated team will bring together a variety of multi-disciplinary colleagues including Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Mental Health Practitioners from a diverse range of backgrounds. This provides an opportunity to work in a team with a strong multidisciplinary ethos as well as collaborating with colleagues in other pathways and working in partnership with other agencies such as local Paediatric teams and education providers.

As a Senior Clinical Psychologist in the Neurodiversity pathway you would have opportunity to provide consultation, clinical supervision and training, as well as specialist assessment, and intervention. You will use your clinical leadership, audit and research skill to take a lead in areas of service development to support a culture of Quality improvement.

Main contacts

Dr Hannah Gooding, Principal Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Lead, Neurodiversity Pathway, [e-mail]

Gill Marsh, Operations Manager for Neurodiversity Pathway,[e-mail]

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• A Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent e.g. Masters level qualification in Clinical Psychology if qualified before 1996.
• Active registration as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC.
• Post qualification specialist therapy/assessment training relevant to children and young people.
• Post qualification training or proven equivalent experience in supervision

Experience Essential

• Experience of undertaking specialist psychological assessments and therapeutic interventions for CYP with a wide variety of mental health problems and/or neurodiversity and/or learning disability, reflecting all levels of clinical severity; including risk assessments of self-harming/dangerous/challenging behaviour.
• Experience of teaching and/or training
• Experience of delivering clinical supervision
• Experience, and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality

Desirable

• Experience of work in psychological interventions with children, young people and their families in a range of service settings or agencies
• Experience in undertaking leadership roles within clinical psychology services in the NHS, and in contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies and clinical policies in multi-disciplinary, multi-agency contexts

Knowledge, skills and abilities Essential

• Specialist knowledge of child development and the impact of adverse childhood experiences.
• Broad knowledge of psychological services; and of the services in the NHS where psychology is applied to the needs of children and young people
• Knowledge of psychometric assessment tools and their appropriate use
• Detailed understanding of relevant legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity, Section 25 of the Childrens Act)
• Advanced psychological assessment and formulation skills including risk assessment.
• Ability to travel across the geographical service area as required

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of undertaking neurodevelopmental assessments, including Autism assessments

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• A Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent e.g. Masters level qualification in Clinical Psychology if qualified before 1996.
• Active registration as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC.
• Post qualification specialist therapy/assessment training relevant to children and young people.
• Post qualification training or proven equivalent experience in supervision

Experience Essential

• Experience of undertaking specialist psychological assessments and therapeutic interventions for CYP with a wide variety of mental health problems and/or neurodiversity and/or learning disability, reflecting all levels of clinical severity; including risk assessments of self-harming/dangerous/challenging behaviour.
• Experience of teaching and/or training
• Experience of delivering clinical supervision
• Experience, and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality

Desirable

• Experience of work in psychological interventions with children, young people and their families in a range of service settings or agencies
• Experience in undertaking leadership roles within clinical psychology services in the NHS, and in contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies and clinical policies in multi-disciplinary, multi-agency contexts

Knowledge, skills and abilities Essential

• Specialist knowledge of child development and the impact of adverse childhood experiences.
• Broad knowledge of psychological services; and of the services in the NHS where psychology is applied to the needs of children and young people
• Knowledge of psychometric assessment tools and their appropriate use
• Detailed understanding of relevant legislation (e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity, Section 25 of the Childrens Act)
• Advanced psychological assessment and formulation skills including risk assessment.
• Ability to travel across the geographical service area as required

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of undertaking neurodevelopmental assessments, including Autism assessments

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

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Integrated Childrens Services

Fishleigh Road

Roundswell Business Park

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 3UD

Employer's website

https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Integrated Childrens Services

Fishleigh Road

Roundswell Business Park

Barnstaple

Devon

EX31 3UD

Employer's website

https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)