This is an exciting opportunity for a Band 8a Clinical Psychologist to join the Autism and Learning Disabilities Team.

The team provides two specialist services: a) a multi-disciplinary autism diagnostic service for children and young people who have mental health needs and social communication and interaction needs up to the age of 18, and b) psychological therapies for autistic children, young people and their families and for those with developmental learning disabilities.

The autism diagnostic service offers a collaborative diagnostic assessment for young people in North Central London and Hertfordshire. We usually see adolescents and young adults, with some parts of the assessment process taking place in schools/colleges as appropriate. The assessment includes brief, post-diagnostic psycho-educative support where relevant.

The therapies service is for children, young people and adults up to the age of 25. There is a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary working and broad biopsychosocial approaches to supporting the client group as well as their families and supporting networks. Liaison and communication with local services is an essential aspect of the work and there is a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary working and broad biopsychosocial approaches.

The Autism and Learning Disabilities Team, alongside other specialist CAMHS services, is part of the Child Complex Service.

This is a part-time (0.6 FTE), permanent post.

Main duties of the job

The role requires a dynamic, engaging and skilled Clinical Psychologist with excellent interpersonal and communication skills. A commitment to reflexive and reflective practice to advocacy, inclusion and belonging and the capacity to work in partnership with service users, their families and the practitioners around them is essential for this role.

We are looking for an experienced Clinical Psychologist, seeking to enhance their existing knowledge and skills in working with autistic and disabled people and related neurodevelopmental needs. A desire to think together with others and to engage in continuing professional development is vital. The role is varied and includes therapeutic work with individuals, families and groups, as well as highly specialist diagnostic assessments. The post holder will be expected to actively contribute to service development and provide clinical supervision to trainee clinical psychologists and other more junior members of staff.

This is an exciting time to be joining the service in terms of the strategic aims in the NHS Long Term Plan to ensure that all people with a learning disability, autism or both can live happier, healthier and longer lives.

About us

The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health trust with a focus on training and education alongside a full range of mental health services and psychological therapies for children and their families, young people and adults.

We are committed to improving mental health and emotional wellbeing, believing that high quality mental health services should be available for all who need them. We bring a distinctive contribution based on the importance we attach to social experience at all stages of people's lives, and our focus on psychological and developmental approaches to the promotion of health and the prevention and treatment of mental ill health

We contribute to the pool of ideas through our own research and development, but are also committed to bringing together the best ideas of the time, old and new, from inside and out, together with the most gifted and able professionals in our fields of endeavour. We aim to share our ideas and practice through as many routes as possible.

As a Trust we aim constantly to be evolving in nature and form in relation to the environment in which we work, to ensure that our contribution remains relevant.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree level as a minimum plus developed specialist and practical knowledge equating to Doctoral/ Masters level
• Registration with HCPC or relevant body as a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist.

EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Evidence of clinical experience of working with client population. A clear track record of managing complexity and risk whilst maintaining high standards of service delivery
• A comprehensive understanding of the changing NHS and Social Care environment and the challenges they face
• Experience of working at all levels of the system with internal and external stakeholders
• Expertise of managing and treating the client group Some experience of clinical supervision

Desirable

• Some experience of clinical management of staff
• Some experience of involvement in project work e.g. quality improvement

SKILLS

Essential

• High level of skill and knowledge in safeguarding and risk management
• Personal duty of care in relation to equipment or resources
• Basic keyboard skills for updating client records
• Ability to manage own clinical case load

KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• Willingness to contribute to strategic and business planning
• Skills for assessing and communicating complex client conditions and applying appropriate clinical treatments

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Essential

• Demonstrate equality, diversity and inclusion awareness and application of EDI issues
• Proactive, positive and enthusiastic attitude
• Ability to work effectively within a team
• Ability to remain calm whilst under pressure
• Flexible approach to working hours to meet Services needs

OTHER

Essential

• Ability to travel
• Keyboard / IMT skills

Employer details

Employer name

Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Tavistock Centre

120 Belsize Ln

London

NW3 5BA

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

260-TP-755