Lead Clinical Neuropsychologist

Job overview

We are delighted to offer this exciting opportunity to lead the community neuropsychology services for Islington and Haringey, Whittington Health NHS Trust. We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic neuropsychologist who can draw on strong communication and team-working skills to work with MDT colleagues to support patients and significant others in their psychological recovery from stroke and other neurological conditions. The successful candidate will have extensive post-qualification clinical and consulting experience in the area of physical health care and will have provided neuropsychological interventions across a range of settings. The post-holder will work closely with the community neurorehabilitation multidisciplinary teams and support and manage a neuropsychology team.

A wide range of CPD opportunities are available within NLFT as well as access to specialist neuropsychology supervision and other specialist supervision as needed. The postholder can join the Whittington Clinical Health Psychology team's CPD meetings where there are exciting opportunities for sharing learning and service development ideas.  The teams value and celebrate diversity and welcome candidates from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will be responsible for the integration and delivery of neuropsychology services with the locality therapy teams for Islington and Haringey, in line with Whittington NHS priorities. They will ensure the service offers evidence-based neuropsychological interventions according to NHS and professional guidance. This service lead role provides line management and clinical supervision to a team of neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists and an assistant psychologist. They will liaise with the Whittington NHS Trust operational leads regarding the delivery of the service.

The psychologist will be able to work independently and flexibly, providing specialist neuropsychological assessment, clinical formulation, intervention and management recommendations to patients, families and other staff. The postholder is invited to work creatively, drawing on a range of therapy approaches, to help clients to cope with and recover from their neurological condition.

The post involves offering advice and consultation on clients’ neuropsychological care to highly skilled non-psychologist colleagues and to other, non-professional carers; working autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the service’s policies and procedures; using research skills for audit, policy and service development and research.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This post forms part of a specialist multidisciplinary team (MDT) which delivers community neurorehabilitation to adult residents of Islington and Haringey. The MDT comprises of a range of professionals (including psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, and rehabilitation assistants).

The postholder will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the psychology staff including caseloads, staffing and other resources.

The post holder will carry their own clinical caseload offering neuropsychological assessment and intervention, as well as offering supervision and consultation to the team.

The post holder will adhere to the requirements of the service operational policy and strategy, and ensure that safe, evidence-based, effective culturally competent care is delivered in a timely manner to service users.

The post holder will be responsible for maintaining the neuropsychology specialism and ensuring the psychology team have access to appropriate CPD to maintain their specialist skills.  The postholder must be registered on, or eligible and close to registration on, the Specialist Register of Clinical Neuropsychologists (SRCN), and be able to supervise psychologists undertaking the Qualification in Clinical Neuropsychology (also known as Training in Clinical Neuropsychology; TiCN).

The post holder will have responsibility within the wider trust (NLFT) for the supervision of neuropsychological assessment. This will include the running of a supervision group for memory services psychologists completing cognitive assessments.

The post holder will be responsible for the management of the 8a role in Lifeforce (end of life and bereavement service for children in Haringey and Islington). Where needed they will support the Lifeforce psychology team in recruitment to this post.

This is not an exhaustive list, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information on the role requirements and duties.