Principle Clinical Psychologist

As a result of developments supporting both local and national strategy in the transformation of ASD diagnostic assessment we have two exciting opportunities for highly specialist clinical psychologists seeking to develop both clinical and leadership expertise. The post holders will lead a specialist psychology provision as part of an integrated multiagency pathway for ASD diagnostic assessment across Nottingham City, Central and South Nottinghamshire. A key aspect of these two posts will be to support the development of an integrated multiagency provision together with commissioners and partner agencies so that it aligns with existing interagency provision across the North Nottinghamshire area.

The post holder will provide highly specialist clinical psychology expertise through consultation and direct assessment as part of a multiagency assessment pathway for children and young people up to 19 years regarding possible ASD often in the context of complex social care, mental health and or learning needs. The post holder will also contribute to the early intervention assessment triage for new referrals, providing consultation and advice for those complex referrals where ASD has been queried but where additional complexities such as social care and relational trauma needs that may indicate an alternative formulation and a more appropriate recommendation for support / intervention in the first instance.

There will be a strong emphasis on clinical leadership with post holders supporting pathway evaluation providing regular reports for service managers and commissioners, advising where appropriate on service needs and future development.

Post holders are required to hold a post graduate doctorate or equivalent in clinical psychology as accredited by the BPS and have Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration. Experience in delivering ASD assessment across a broad age range is essential. Knowledge and experience of a range of models of assessment, formulation and treatment of complex and severe mental health needs will also be important. Experience in planning and leading on the delivering of service pathways is also desirable.

We have a huge variety of opportunities in our expansive Trust covering geographically from South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire to Leicester, providing mental health inpatient and community services, community health services, forensic mental health services and secure prison healthcare across the East Midlands.

We have more than 100 sites and a huge scope of unique opportunities to develop your career and gain some amazing experiences. We strive to be a great place to work and offer many staff benefits and tailored staff support and wellbeing programmes.

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The post holder will also join an integrated, friendly, and supportive group of 17 Clinical Psychologists working across the Nottingham City and County conurbation multi-disciplinary CAMHs. There are good opportunities for CPD, strong mechanisms for support and good links with the DClinpsy courses at Trent, Sheffield and Leicester University.

We have a huge variety of opportunities in our expansive Trust covering geographically from South Yorkshire , Nottinghamshire to Leicester, providing mental health inpatient and community services, community health services forensic mental health services and secure prison healthcare across the East Midlands.

We have more than 100 sites and a huge scope of unique opportunities to develop your career and gain some amazing experiences. We strive to be a great place to work and offer many staff benefits and tailored staff support and wellbeing programmes.
1. To make highly skilled decisions, recommendations & advise within multiagency consultation about future assessment & treatment options taking into account information and assessment findings from a range of different data sources.
2. To provide direct specialist psychological assessments of children & young people where there are concerns relating to social communication and interaction based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological (and neuropsychological) tests, with clients, family members and others involved in the child’s care.
3. To coordinate & lead the MDT assessment panel discussion where indicated for children and young people where there maybe developmental concerns within the context of complex, multifactorial factorial presentations of need and where expert opinion may differ.
4. To ensure comprehensive assessment of ASD for all cases in line with NICE guidance and local protocol, ensuring the use of multiple sources of information and consideration of alternative formulation of need where indicated including intellectual disability, relational needs and or developmental trauma.
5. To advise on any clinical risk identified as part of assessment activity and to direct to the appropriate service for further support.
6. To ensure comprehensive verbal and written feedback to both families and agencies supporting children, which will inform recommendations for local Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision and also future care plans provided at a multi–agency level.
7. To provide a highly expert assessment where opinion regarding a child’s needs may differ across the CAMHS and other agencies.
8. To provide appropriate support structures through supervision and consultation to the MDT Assessment panel and wider support networks around complex presentation where ASD may be diagnosed within the context of multiple contributing factors including intellectual disability, mental health and social care needs, with a view to providing a more comprehensive formulation / understanding of need.