About this role
Job summary
Our established Adult Autism Assessment Service in Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon is looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Clinical/Counselling Psychologist to work within our service, offering autism assessment and helping to develop the post-diagnostic pathways within the service.
The successful candidate will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to support MDT diagnostic assessments of adults for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The post holder will also contribute to the pre/post diagnostic pathways. Our teams are friendly and dynamic multidisciplinary teams which include peer workers, nurses, administrators, SLT and OT.
We are keen to invest in the development of new practitioners joining our service to enhance their knowledge, clinical skills, leadership and confidence in working in this area. We offer a strong culture of CPD, with access to protected training time and opportunities to enhance your skills in areas of your interest.
Our ideal candidate has experience of working with individuals with neurodevelopmental difficulties and is enthusiastic about working to improve services for autistic adults and/or those seeking assessment across the boroughs we serve.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist who is enthusiastic about working with autistic people. You will be primarily offering diagnostic assessment and also developing our post-diagnostic offer in conjunction with our Peer Support Workers.
In this role, you will complete diagnostic assessments for adults, and contribute to multi-disciplinary diagnostic decision making meetings. You will work closely with colleagues within the MDT as part of the diagnostic assessment pathway and in the post-diagnostic pathway.
You will be responsible for the supervision of junior and pre-qualified psychologists within the team. You will be able to inspire and support your colleagues within a busy service and work closely with the MDT to ensure the provision of high quality assessments and interventions for people accessing the service.
There are opportunities to provide teaching, training and consultation as part of the wider service offer to support mainstream services in improving their offer for autistic people accessing their services.
About us
We are delighted that you are interested in working with us here at CNWL. Our Trust is an exciting place to work with a wealth of opportunities available for our staff.
At CNWL we encourage our psychological professions staff to pursue leadership opportunities in senior roles. Various prominent leadership roles within the Trust are currently held by Psychologists including: Director of Strategy and Integration, Chief Information Officer, 3 Clinical Directors. We try to facilitate the development of our psychological professions staff across all areas.
CNWL is recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ in line with our values, our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries. With us, you will get:
A Trust committed to staff personal development, with a trust wide culture change and leadership programme with staff wellbeing at its core. An opportunity to work for one of the top 10 NHS employers Flexible working Variety of work We encourage staff input and ideas in relation to moving services forward, improving care pathways and meeting the client group's needs.
As a Trust we are committed to investing in our staff through a range of initiatives, both profession-specific and organisation wide. Psychological professions staff are able to access a range of trust-wide CPD initiatives.
Job description Job responsibilities
To provide a highly specialist psychology service to autistic people including specialist assessment, treatment planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead specialist in the adult autism service
To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.
To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.
To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved.
Person Specification
Quali Essential
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. 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. Completed training course in clinical supervision
Desirable
Training in autism assessment tools
Experience Essential
Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in autism or a relevant area Experience of specialist psychological assessment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in the context of autism Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training 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
Desirable
Experience of using formal assessment tools to diagnose autism and consider differential diagnosis
Knowledge Essential
Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for autistic people Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics as these relate to neurodevelopmental conditions Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis
Skills Essential
To select and administer specialist diagnostic and psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources 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. Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups To plan allocation of tasks to assistant psychologists
Abilities Essential
Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles. Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate
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.
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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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 Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Address The Kingswood Centre
134 Honeypot Lane, Kingsbury
London
NW9 9QY
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)