Job summary
The National Autistic Society is seeking a highly experienced and innovative Clinical /Educational Psychologist with expertise in the diagnosis and assessment of autism spectrum disorders, to provide clinical leadership for one of the multidisciplinary teams delivering the National Diagnostic Assessment and Consultation Services at the Lorna Wing Centre for Autism in Chigwell, Essex.
We are looking for someone with a high level of expertise in clinical and practice development skills who is passionate about working with autistic people and making a positive difference in the lives of autistic people and the services they are provided with. There are also opportunities to work on various NAS National Projects aimed at achieving this, together with overseeing the delivery of a specialist clinical service from our centre in Chigwell, Essex.
This is a unique opportunity for a highly motivated individual to strategically shape a developing and dynamic service and to work with a diverse and highly experienced team of professionals including our Clinical Associates to provide consultations, assessments and interventions for children and young people and their families.
The Lorna Wing Centres for Autism are internationally recognised for their pioneering work in the diagnosis and assessment of autism and related conditions.
Main duties of the job
- To provide clinical leadership for the children and young people’s assessment and diagnostic services and ensure clinical governance standards are adhered to.
- To work closely with the Business and Operational manager to ensure the Lorna Wing Centre Essex, delivers high quality diagnostic assessments and consultation services.
- To contribute to the strategic development of the Lorna Wing Centre service offer to ensure clinical excellence.
- To prepare and provide highly specialist diagnostic assessments using standardised assessment tools and observational techniques for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and related neurodevelopmental and behavioural and/or mental health conditions for children, young people.
- To provide specialist advice, guidance and consultation regarding the assessment formulation, diagnosis and recommendations for treatment where relevant to external agencies
- To communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and recommendations for people with complex presentations of ASDs
- To oversee the delivery of a pre-diagnostic and post-diagnostic consultation service, that provides psychological support, developmental guidance and psychoeducation using a solution focussed approach.
- To provide professional supervision for other clinicians working within the Lorna Wing Centres.
About us
The National Autistic Society is the UK’s leading charity for autistic people. Since 1962, we’ve been transforming lives, changing attitudes and helping to create a society that works for autistic adults and children.
We transform lives by providing support, guidance and practical advice for the 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK, as well as their three million family members and carers. Autistic people turn to us at key moments or challenging times in their lives, be it getting a diagnosis, going to school or finding work.
We change attitudes by improving public understanding of autism and the difficulties many autistic people face. We also work closely with businesses, local authorities and government to help them provide more autism-friendly spaces, deliver better services and improve laws.
We have come a long way but it is not good enough. There is still so much to do to increase opportunities, reduce social isolation and build a brighter future for people on the spectrum. With your help, we can make it happen.
Job description
Job responsibilities
CLINICAL
- To manage and undertake highly
specialist diagnostic assessments of children and/or adults based upon
appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a number
of sources.
- To prepare detailed diagnostic
assessment reports which involve gathering, analysing, interpreting and
presenting complex case data and information and then provide written reports
contributing directly to formulation, diagnosis and recommendations for
children, young people and/or adults.
- To provide pre-diagnostic
consultations to assess likelihood of ASD, preliminary assessment of needs and
advise on early intervention and/or other support services.
- To provide post-diagnostic
psychological support, developmental guidance, psychoeducation, and
solution-focussed coaching for individuals and/or family according to needs.
- To maintain accurate records of
case contacts, write reports following assessments, and ensure all
administration related to assessments and training is kept up to date in line
with clinical recording protocols.
- To act as an autonomous
practitioner within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct and be
responsible for the delivery and evaluation of responsibilities within the
team.
- Contribute to service risk
assessment and oversee risk mitigations for delivery of services at Lorna Wing
Centre Essex.
- Contribute to the consultation
and engagement of service users in planning and developing the services of LWCs
- To both Initiate and contribute
to clinical research activities connected with LWC services
- Develop outcome measurements for
the service as well as assisting other staff in the implementation of these
- Receive regular clinical/practice
supervision from the Clinical Director
- Provide professional support and
supervision to clinical team members and Associates working within the LWC,
Essex and jointly plan the delivery and content of CPD programme across both
LWC centres with Clinical Director.
- To contribute to the development
of skills and competencies in other professionals and business support staff
working at LWCs in relation to knowledge and expertise around ASD
- To support the business support
staff with referral and clinical enquiries
- Maintain personal HCPC
registration through CPD targets from annual appraisal
LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION
- To work with the Clinical
Director and Clinical Leads on the implementation of clinical governance
initiatives
- To work with the Clinical
Director and Clinical Leads on strategic and operational service development
through evaluation of the service and audit
- To report to and attend business
management meetings for LWC clinic services and identify risks to service.
- To work with business and
operational manager and business support team to ensure quality standards for
service are met.
- To manage complaints, incident
reporting and safeguarding risks in relation to the team and service users and
escalate these when appropriate.
- To support and manage a network
of experienced, skilled Associate clinicians who work for the centre on a
consultancy basis.
- To provide performance management
for the clinical staff team consisting of direct reports and Associates.
- To be part of the planning and
delivery of the CPD programme for the clinical team, including Associates.
- To work on National Programme
Projects that require clinical knowledge and expertise inputs as they develop
- To work within the NAS
information governance, health and safety and safeguarding policy guidelines
- Safeguard Lead for the Lorna Wing
Centre, Essex
SUPERVISION AND TRAINING
- To receive regular
clinical/practice supervision from the Clinical Director
- To maintain professional status
and competence to an advanced level taking responsibility for keeping own
knowledge and skills up to date by engaging in continuous professional
development and lifelong learning
- To maintain personal HCPC
registration through CPD and SMART targets from annual appraisal
- To identify own CPD needs and
discuss with Clinical Director
- To access peer supervision with
professional groups outside the NAS to ensure clinical best practice and
appropriate decision making
- To ensure all mandatory training
is kept up to date with 100% compliance
- To share knowledge gained from
CPD with others
- To act as a source of clinical
expertise and advice to others within the team and promote an understanding of
clinical practices
- To maintain confidentiality and
information consistent with the NAS GDPR policy.
ENVIRONMENT
- Contributing to maintaining a
safe and healthy environment by working closely with the Business and
Operational Manager.
- To source and maintain specific
clinic equipment and resources as required for the Lorna Wing Centre, Essex
site.
- To comply with relevant
legislation and NAS policies relating to the work place.
Job descriptions only reflect 80%
of a role, and are not an exhaustive list of duties. You are expected to carry
out other activities that are within the scope of the role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
CLINICAL
- To manage and undertake highly
specialist diagnostic assessments of children and/or adults based upon
appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a number
of sources.
- To prepare detailed diagnostic
assessment reports which involve gathering, analysing, interpreting and
presenting complex case data and information and then provide written reports
contributing directly to formulation, diagnosis and recommendations for
children, young people and/or adults.
- To provide pre-diagnostic
consultations to assess likelihood of ASD, preliminary assessment of needs and
advise on early intervention and/or other support services.
- To provide post-diagnostic
psychological support, developmental guidance, psychoeducation, and
solution-focussed coaching for individuals and/or family according to needs.
- To maintain accurate records of
case contacts, write reports following assessments, and ensure all
administration related to assessments and training is kept up to date in line
with clinical recording protocols.
- To act as an autonomous
practitioner within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct and be
responsible for the delivery and evaluation of responsibilities within the
team.
- Contribute to service risk
assessment and oversee risk mitigations for delivery of services at Lorna Wing
Centre Essex.
- Contribute to the consultation
and engagement of service users in planning and developing the services of LWCs
- To both Initiate and contribute
to clinical research activities connected with LWC services
- Develop outcome measurements for
the service as well as assisting other staff in the implementation of these
- Receive regular clinical/practice
supervision from the Clinical Director
- Provide professional support and
supervision to clinical team members and Associates working within the LWC,
Essex and jointly plan the delivery and content of CPD programme across both
LWC centres with Clinical Director.
- To contribute to the development
of skills and competencies in other professionals and business support staff
working at LWCs in relation to knowledge and expertise around ASD
- To support the business support
staff with referral and clinical enquiries
- Maintain personal HCPC
registration through CPD targets from annual appraisal
LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION
- To work with the Clinical
Director and Clinical Leads on the implementation of clinical governance
initiatives
- To work with the Clinical
Director and Clinical Leads on strategic and operational service development
through evaluation of the service and audit
- To report to and attend business
management meetings for LWC clinic services and identify risks to service.
- To work with business and
operational manager and business support team to ensure quality standards for
service are met.
- To manage complaints, incident
reporting and safeguarding risks in relation to the team and service users and
escalate these when appropriate.
- To support and manage a network
of experienced, skilled Associate clinicians who work for the centre on a
consultancy basis.
- To provide performance management
for the clinical staff team consisting of direct reports and Associates.
- To be part of the planning and
delivery of the CPD programme for the clinical team, including Associates.
- To work on National Programme
Projects that require clinical knowledge and expertise inputs as they develop
- To work within the NAS
information governance, health and safety and safeguarding policy guidelines
- Safeguard Lead for the Lorna Wing
Centre, Essex
SUPERVISION AND TRAINING
- To receive regular
clinical/practice supervision from the Clinical Director
- To maintain professional status
and competence to an advanced level taking responsibility for keeping own
knowledge and skills up to date by engaging in continuous professional
development and lifelong learning
- To maintain personal HCPC
registration through CPD and SMART targets from annual appraisal
- To identify own CPD needs and
discuss with Clinical Director
- To access peer supervision with
professional groups outside the NAS to ensure clinical best practice and
appropriate decision making
- To ensure all mandatory training
is kept up to date with 100% compliance
- To share knowledge gained from
CPD with others
- To act as a source of clinical
expertise and advice to others within the team and promote an understanding of
clinical practices
- To maintain confidentiality and
information consistent with the NAS GDPR policy.
ENVIRONMENT
- Contributing to maintaining a
safe and healthy environment by working closely with the Business and
Operational Manager.
- To source and maintain specific
clinic equipment and resources as required for the Lorna Wing Centre, Essex
site.
- To comply with relevant
legislation and NAS policies relating to the work place.
Job descriptions only reflect 80%
of a role, and are not an exhaustive list of duties. You are expected to carry
out other activities that are within the scope of the role.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- The relevant experience of working with autistic people and their families.
- Experience of working with a variety of client groups across the whole life span with presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity.
- Experience of diagnostic assessments and taking detailed developmental histories with parents/carers.
- Experience of working within transdisciplinary and multi-agency frameworks.
- Experience in supervision as well as providing supervision for others.
- Experience of leading, developing and running services.
Desirable
- Experience of working in NHS/local authority services and/or the independent sector.
- Experience of teaching and training of professionals at post graduate level.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to lead and manage a multi-professional team and maintain constructive working relationships.
- Ability to self-manage and diffuse difficult situations and work with organizational stress.
- Ability to provide practice supervision and line management for professional staff.
- Ability to manage resources efficiently and effectively.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Excellent planning, organizing and time management skills.
- Ability to carry out specialist diagnostic assessments specific to autism spectrum disorders (ASD), with children young people and/or adults.
- Ability to interpret and integrate complex information using an appropriate conceptual framework to develop psychological formulations.
- Well-developed and effective skills in communicating orally and in writing, complex and clinically sensitive information to autistic people, their families and professionals.
- Skills in working with people across the life-span.
Desirable
- Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
- Ability to plan, deliver and monitor evidence-based interventions for autistic people.
- Ability to conduct functional assessments of challenging behaviour and advise on interventions.
- Ability to assess emotional well-being and mental health needs in autistic children and young people.
Qualifications
Essential
- Clinical Psychologist:
- Doctoral level training in clinical psychology as accredited by the BPS or a BPS statement of equivalence.
- Eligibility for chartered psychologist status (BPS).
- HCPC registration.
- Educational Psychologist:
- Doctoral level training in educational psychology as accredited by the BPS or a BPS statement of equivalence.
- Eligibility for chartered psychologist status (BPS).
- HCPC registration.
- Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS/RCSLT/HCPC other relevant professional bodies.
- Commitment to ongoing professional, personal and clinical development.
Desirable
- Accredited DISCO user
- Accredited ADOS user
Knowledge
Essential
- High level of knowledge of theory and practice relating to autism and the use of specialist diagnostic tools, including the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO).
- Knowledge of complex presentations of ASD with co-morbid conditions as well as how ASD presents in women and girls.
- Knowledge of legislation and national policy relevant to working with autistic children, young people and /or adults.
- Awareness of ethnicity, culture and diversity issues in relation to ASD through attendance of relevant training.
- Knowledge of a range of therapeutic evidence-based interventions suitable for autistic people.
Desirable
- Assessing mental capacity in autistic people.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- The relevant experience of working with autistic people and their families.
- Experience of working with a variety of client groups across the whole life span with presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity.
- Experience of diagnostic assessments and taking detailed developmental histories with parents/carers.
- Experience of working within transdisciplinary and multi-agency frameworks.
- Experience in supervision as well as providing supervision for others.
- Experience of leading, developing and running services.
Desirable
- Experience of working in NHS/local authority services and/or the independent sector.
- Experience of teaching and training of professionals at post graduate level.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to lead and manage a multi-professional team and maintain constructive working relationships.
- Ability to self-manage and diffuse difficult situations and work with organizational stress.
- Ability to provide practice supervision and line management for professional staff.
- Ability to manage resources efficiently and effectively.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Excellent planning, organizing and time management skills.
- Ability to carry out specialist diagnostic assessments specific to autism spectrum disorders (ASD), with children young people and/or adults.
- Ability to interpret and integrate complex information using an appropriate conceptual framework to develop psychological formulations.
- Well-developed and effective skills in communicating orally and in writing, complex and clinically sensitive information to autistic people, their families and professionals.
- Skills in working with people across the life-span.
Desirable
- Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
- Ability to plan, deliver and monitor evidence-based interventions for autistic people.
- Ability to conduct functional assessments of challenging behaviour and advise on interventions.
- Ability to assess emotional well-being and mental health needs in autistic children and young people.
Qualifications
Essential
- Clinical Psychologist:
- Doctoral level training in clinical psychology as accredited by the BPS or a BPS statement of equivalence.
- Eligibility for chartered psychologist status (BPS).
- HCPC registration.
- Educational Psychologist:
- Doctoral level training in educational psychology as accredited by the BPS or a BPS statement of equivalence.
- Eligibility for chartered psychologist status (BPS).
- HCPC registration.
- Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS/RCSLT/HCPC other relevant professional bodies.
- Commitment to ongoing professional, personal and clinical development.
Desirable
- Accredited DISCO user
- Accredited ADOS user
Knowledge
Essential
- High level of knowledge of theory and practice relating to autism and the use of specialist diagnostic tools, including the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO).
- Knowledge of complex presentations of ASD with co-morbid conditions as well as how ASD presents in women and girls.
- Knowledge of legislation and national policy relevant to working with autistic children, young people and /or adults.
- Awareness of ethnicity, culture and diversity issues in relation to ASD through attendance of relevant training.
- Knowledge of a range of therapeutic evidence-based interventions suitable for autistic people.
Desirable
- Assessing mental capacity in autistic people.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
