Senior Clinical Psychologist - Neurodiversity

Senior Clinical Psychologist - Neurodiversity

In line with transformation, we are looking for an experienced Clinical Psychologist to join us in a senior role (Band 8a) in our Neurodiversity pathway, providing specialist assessments and interventions to neurodivergent children and young people across Devon.

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.

It’s an exciting time of change as we develop an integrated, needs-led pathway under iThrive. We are passionate about our work and are committed to providing quality services across Devon to improve outcomes for children and young people.

The Neurodiversity Pathway is a developing integrated pathway within CFHD. This 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. 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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 the opportunity to provide consultation, clinical supervision, and training, as well as specialist assessment and intervention. You will use your clinical leadership, audit, and research skills 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, hannah.gooding1@nhs.net

Gill Marsh, Operations Manager for Neurodiversity Pathway, gillmarsh@nhs.net

Person Specification

Qualifications

• 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

• 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.
• 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

• 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 Children Act).
• Advanced psychological assessment and formulation skills including risk assessment.
• Ability to travel across the geographical service area as required.
• 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.

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