About this role
Job summary
The Community Paediatric Team assesses and supports children and young people with Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Disabilities. The team collaborates with local authorities, social care, and healthcare professionals to improve outcomes and develop local strategies. The team is based at the Children's Centre, Dorset County Hospital.
The Clinical Psychologist will contribute to the Development & Behaviour Pathway, providing neurodevelopmental assessments for children and young people referred to Community Paediatrics. Key responsibilities include:
Managing new referrals, including initial grading and multidisciplinary triage. Acting as a coordinator and liaising with other services for children and young people. Delivering specialist psychological assessments (e.g., ASD and cognitive assessments, general development assessment) using a range of tools and methods. Providing expert psychological advice and consultation to professionals involved in care planning. Managing a clinical caseload autonomously, including assessment, treatment, and discharge. Signposting or referring families to appropriate services (e.g., CAMHS, parenting support) when neurodevelopmental diagnosis is not the primary need. Delivering teaching and training to healthcare professionals. Supervising trainee psychologists and supporting service development through research, audit, and clinical governance.
Main duties of the job
To work as an independent practitioner psychologist providing specialist psychological assessments, specifically ASD, with consideration to other differential diagnoses including but not limited to intellectual disability or developmental trauma, of children/young people referred to the team based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data 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 clients, family members and others involved in the client's care.
To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to clients' formulation, diagnosis and treatment or management plan.
To make decisions regarding levels of risk (e.g. suicidal ideation and intent, deliberate self-harm, physical risk to self or others, Child Protection issues) based on professional guidelines and to make any necessary referrals to other services e.g. CAMHS or social care.
Provide specialist consultancy to members of the multi-disciplinary care teams regarding understanding the psychological needs of their patients.
Participate in the triaging of referrals made to Community Paediatrics.
Please see full JD & PS for full details.
About us
At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture, we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff.
Our Mission is to provide outstanding care for people in ways which matter to them, and our vision is Dorset County Hospital, working with our health and social care partners, will be at the heart of improving the well-being of our communities.
We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.
We understand that some applicants may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in preparing their application materials. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind candidates that all submissions must be truthful and accurately reflect your own experiences and suitability for this role.
Personal integrity and authenticity are central to our recruitment process. We value honesty and appreciate applications that are genuine and representative of the individual behind them.
UKVI Sponsorship: This role is eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). We welcome applications from individual who require sponsorship to work in the UK. Sponsorship will be offered subject to meeting UKVI eligibility criteria.
Job description Job responsibilities
The Community Paediatric Team assesses and supports children and young people with neurodevelopmental disorders and disabilities. The team collaborates with local authorities, social care, and healthcare professionals to improve outcomes and develop local strategies. The team is based at the Childrens Centre, Dorset County Hospital.
Person Specification
Education, Qualifications & Training Essential
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Relevant Masters degree or demonstrable extensive equivalent experience in the relevant specialty
Knowledge & Experience Essential
Evidence of recent evidence based professional development in an up-to-date portfolio demonstrating leadership, education and service development achievements including links to national work and standards Significant post registration experience within a service working with children and young people with Autism, ADHD and overlapping disorders Effective communicator able to communicate highly complex and sensitive information where there may be barriers to understanding. Demonstrates highly developed expertise and knowledge underpinned by theory acquired through CPD in relation to clinical assessment, treatment and evaluation Experience working with children and young people and their families
Desirable
Evidence of developing policy, guidelines and managing resources
Skills & Abilities Essential
Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions and judgments Ability to gather data, compile information and write reports Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, GPs, hospital staff and other agencies. Caring and empathetic attitude to patients Full driving licence valid in the UK and have access to a car Proficient IT skills
Desirable
Knowledge and understanding of national guidelines relevant to speciality Ability to deal with highly emotional and distressing situations/circumstances
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 Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address Children's Centre
Damers Road
Dorchester
DT1 2DY
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)