Clinical Psychologist- Neurodiversity Pathway

Job summary
We are excited to offer this full-time position of Band 8a Clinical Psychologist in our new Autism and Social Communication Assessment pathway. This post is based at Edgware Hospital in Barnet.

We are looking for an experienced Clinical Psychologist with considerable prior experience in autism assessment and diagnosis in children 0-6. Candidates will be ADOS-2 trained and have significant experience in multidisciplinary neurodevelopmental assessment clinics, working with paediatricians, SLTs, OTs, psychologists and other clinicians.

This is a new multidisciplinary team which is designed to provide a needs-led, family-centred approach to assessment and diagnosis for children aged 0-6 with neurodivergent needs in Barnet.

We have a strong commitment to supervision, CPD and joint working with a range of other agencies and professionals.

Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will assess children aged 0-6 for possible autism using the ADOS-2 and/or other appropriate assessment tools, interview parents/carers, liaise with schools, and formulate with other members of the MDT to consider the correct outcome for the child. You will give families feedback about the outcome of assessments, discuss post-diagnostic support, and write high-quality clinical reports.

The post-holder will also provide clinical supervision to two band 5 Assistant Psychologists in the service. You will contribute to service improvement, audit and research. You will also be involved in triaging incoming referrals and helping oversee cases with safeguarding or risk elements.

The position requires you to work flexibly within an interdisciplinary framework, engaging with various professionals in a multidisciplinary and multi-agency environment. This includes collaboration with community providers, speech and language therapists (SLTs), occupational therapists (OTs), other psychologists, paediatricians, physiotherapists, and other allied health professionals, as well as Experts by Experience (parents/families of neurodivergent children). The aim is to provide a holistic approach in communicating and sharing advice, information and plans to all relevant parties and family.

About us
The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6 million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17 million tests.

Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivaled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top.

Job responsibilities
The post holder will work as part of the Team for the Assessment of Autism and Social Communication (TAASC) team for children aged 0-6 in Barnet. This is a multidisciplinary team which is designed to provide a needs-led, family-centred approach for children aged 0-6 with neurodivergent learning needs.

The successful candidate will assess children aged 0-6 for possible autism using the ADOS-2 and/or other appropriate assessment tools, interview parents/carers, liaise with schools, and formulate with other members of the MDT to consider the correct outcome for the child. You will give families feedback about the outcome of assessments, discuss post-diagnostic support, and write high-quality clinical reports.

The role involves supervision and line management of two band 5 Assistant Psychologists within the team, leading practice, providing specialist support to children and families, liaising with other professionals, and demonstrating a neuro-affirmative attitude to differences such as autism and ADHD.

The post-holder will work closely with Health, Education, Social services and Voluntary services, Community Paediatricians, Therapists, Children with disabilities team, Health Visitors, School nurses, GPs, Educational Psychologists, Early Years Advisors and particularly families. The aim is to provide a holistic approach in communicating and sharing advice, information and plans to all relevant parties and family.

The post holder will lead psychology provision within the service and contribute psychological skills and expertise to the team, helping to foster a culture of reflective practice in the team.

The post holder will contribute to triaging/screening incoming referrals, helping schedule clinics, managing risk and safeguarding issues, and helping to improve various aspects of the service.

Supervision of junior staff and students is a key component of the role, ensuring their development and professional growth.

The role also involves contributing to the planning, coordination, delivery, and evaluation of the effectiveness of the pathway. Additionally, you will participate in service improvement initiatives and contribute to quality enhancement efforts within the team.

In all the work that you do, you will be expected to represent the role of clinical psychology, to colleagues, professionals and families, to ensure that the support offered within the team truly represents the multidisciplinary expertise represented.

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that all aspects of service provision adhere to relevant performance standards, including safety, effectiveness, and efficiency. This includes monitoring the quality-of-service delivery, achieving developmental targets, and supporting ongoing service development within the TAASC.

Person Specification
Qualifications, Training & Registration

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy)
• HCPC Accreditation
• ADOS-2 Trained

Experience & Abilities (Essential)

• Experience assessing children for autism
• Experience working within an MDT
• Experience providing clinical supervision to Assistant Psychologists
• Experience managing risk and safeguarding issues
• Experience having diagnostic conversations with parents/carers
• Experience using the ADOS-2 with children
• Experience conducting service evaluation and/or audit
• A minimum of 2 years working as a Clinical Psychologist

Experience & Abilities (Desirable)

• Experience of supporting in the operational management of therapy or diagnostic teams
• Experience using the ADI-R or 3Di
• Ability to speak a second language

Skills and aptitudes (Essential)

• Able to organise, plan and prioritise own workload. Demonstrates ability to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management.
• Ability to show sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of clients and their carers in particular when imparting potentially distressing information.
• Demonstrates empathy with clients, carers and families often where barriers to understanding exist ensuring that effective communication is achieved.
• Proven ability to work as part of a team.

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.

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.