There are exciting times ahead for our Neurodevelopmental Services in Hywel Dda University Health Board and we would like to appoint a full time, permanent, Band 8b Clinical Psychologist/Clinical Lead into our Integrated Autism Service. The service offers diagnostic assessment of autism and time-limited, outcome-focused intervention for adults who do not meet eligibility criteria for statutory services such as mental health and learning disabilities. The service also offers professional consultation and training across all sectors.

As the Clinical Lead, the role will have a particular focus on quality, evaluation, audit and monitoring outcomes. They will support the integration of the IAS with the existing Adult ADHD service. The role will involve working clinically as part of the multi-disciplinary team around assessment and intervention.

The role is based in Carmarthen but will cover the whole of the Health Board footprint. The post-holder will be part of a friendly and cohesive Psychology service across the Mental Health & Learning Disability Directorate. Applicants requiring part time working hours will be considered.

Main duties of the job

Developing evidence based clinical practice within the service will be central to this role. The successful candidate will be responsible for further developing the Psychology perspective within the team to include assessment, formulation and developing psychological interventions, particularly for the more complex presentations.

There will also be a focus on waiting list management, including the developing and implementing of initiatives. The post holder will support the Team Lead and Service Delivery Manager (when required) in the on-going development of the service.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

About us

Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 11,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services for around 384,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:

Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest

Seven community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery in Carmarthenshire Tregaron, Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire

48 general practices (four of which are managed practices), 47 dental practices (including three orthodontic), 99 community pharmacies, 44 general ophthalmic practices (43 providing Eye Health Examination Wales and 34 low vision services) and 17 domiciliary only providers and 11 health centres

Numerous locations providing mental health and learning disabilities services.

Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post is advertised as Band 8b. However, applicants who do not currently meet all the skills and competences for the band 8b role, are encouraged to apply and, if successful, will be appointed under Agenda for Change Arrangement for Pay and Banding of Trainees (Annex 21) supported by a development plan for two years. The application of Annex 21 with pay protection at band 8a may be considered until competencies are met for Band 8b, which will be expected to be met within 2 years. Following successful completion and successful attainment of skills and competences for the role, the post holder will then be paid at band 8b (minimum point on the scale). Continued support and supervision will be provided in order to develop the practitioner to the band 8b role.

As part of the Annex 21 process, there is no financial penalty to those who apply for this role where the percentage will cause a reduction in pay, subsequently a local protection would be put in place until the pay has caught up.

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 20/09/2024

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Honours degree in Psychology conferring eligibility for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society (BPS)
• Post-graduate Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS
• Registration with the Health & Care Professionals Council (HCPC) as a Psychology Practitioner.
• Training also to specifically include models of psychopathology and two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan development psychology.
• Significant post qualification training in assessment and intervention with autistic clients and other neuro-divergent conditions
• Training in specialist assessments for the diagnosis of Autism.
• Training in the administration of formal psychometric assessments.
• Knowledge of policy and legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS & HCPC
• Further relevant specialist training/experience or qualifications in Autism.
• Specialist training in the delivery of clinical supervision.

Desirable

• Training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice
• Training in the assessment of other neuor-divergent conditions such as ADHD, Tics and Tourettes.
• Training in psychological interventions for autistic clients and awareness of appropriate interventions
• Knowledge of social models of disability

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience in conducting and interpreting cognitive/neuropsychological assessment and clinical psychometrics
• Significant experience of working with a wide variety of client groups across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, in-patient and residential care settings severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
• Significant post qualification experience of assessing and tailoring interventions for neurodivergent clients.
• Experience of working with clients with mild to moderate mental health problems and/or learning disabilities.
• Extensive experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan.
• Experience of leading projects related to quality of service provision and service development.
• Experience of teaching, training and clinical supervision of staff working with children and young people with complex presentations.
• Experience required to fulfil the post.

Desirable

• Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care.
• Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts
• Experience of providing clinical consultation to others.
• Experience of working with clients with challenging behaviour.
• Experience of Multi-agency partnership working
• Experience of applying a social model of disability to every day practice.
• Experience of clinically leading and operationally managing staff.

Language Skills

Desirable

• Welsh Speaker (Level 1)

Employer details

Employer name

Hywel Dda University Health Board

Address

Ty Gwili

Bronwydd Road

Carmarthen

SA31 2AJ

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

100-PST036-0824