Job overview
We welcome applications from candidates on a secondment basis.
Step into our vibrant, modern offices, where you’ll be part of an exciting time of growth and expansion for our service.
You’ll work with adults who have intellectual disabilities, neurodevelopmental conditions, trauma histories, and mental health challenges. Each day will bring new opportunities to apply your expertise, whether you’re using CBT, guiding clients through mindfulness practices, or working with a variety of therapy models such as narrative, systemic therapies, PBS, third wave, CFT, and trauma-informed care.
You’ll receive support from our consultant clinical psychologist, and there’s plenty of scope to get involved in quality improvement projects, service evaluation, and research. You’ll also be part of the Learning Disability Psychology Specialty across South West London and the South Thames Intellectual Disability Faculty, offering a supportive network to help you grow both personally and professionally.
With child-friendly hours and a team who will support your personal and professional growth, you’ll have the freedom to innovate and make a real difference. And of course, it’s an opportunity to significantly impact the lives of adults with intellectual disabilities, supporting them through their journeys.
To find out more, please click here to view our candidate information pack or follow the link below.
https://kingstonhospital.pagetiger.com/cbueqjp/1
Main duties of the job
Clinical and Client Care
- Lead the delivery of high-quality, specialist psychological and behavioral services that transform the lives of adults with intellectual disabilities.
- Provide compassionate, psychological interventions that meet the unique needs of clients and their families.
- Take ownership of care coordination, ensuring seamless collaboration across network meetings and care plans.
Team and service leadership
- Inspire and steer team meetings.
- Champion accessibility and inclusivity, leading initiatives to build culturally competent and equitable services.
- Serve as a trusted advisor, equipping team members with expert insights into psychological care.
- Drive innovation by embedding evidence-based practices that enhance outcomes for clients and their families.
Policy and Service Development
- Implement cutting-edge policies and procedures, ensuring the service stays ahead of best practices.
- Identify opportunities for growth and spearhead transformative service development projects.
- Shape the future of service delivery by incorporating feedback and insights from those who rely on it most.
Teaching, Training, and Research
- Share your expertise by delivering dynamic training sessions that uplift the skills of professionals across disciplines.
- Lead impactful research and service evaluations, ensuring your findings inspire change and improvement.
- Publish and present your insights, contributing to the broader understanding of psychology and service excellence.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
************* PLEASE SEE JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILS REGARDING THIS POST*************
Person specification
EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in intellectual disabilities and / or autism services.
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in intellectual disabilities and / or autism.
- experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training.
- Experience of providing teaching and training to psychologists or other professional groups. P
- post-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. •
- Experience of research and service development projects within own service area.
Desirable
- Record of publications in either peer reviewed, academic or professional journals/books
SKILLS ABILITIES
Essential
- To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences.
- To plan projects and work schedules for groups of psychologists.
- Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups.
- Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
- Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self-harming or aggressive behaviour. • Ability to cope emotionally with challenging behaviours displayed by individuals and to support carers in times of distress.
- Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate. • Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings • Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Essential
- Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism who engage in behaviours that severely challenge
- Advanced theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment such as PBS, trauma informed and/or systemic approaches. • Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics.
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to these client groups and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
- Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis.
EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS AND/OR TRAINING
Essential
- Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration. Clinical psychologist: Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent.
- Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice–based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma.
- Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.
- Completed training course in clinical supervision.
Desirable
- PBS / Systemic approaches
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This advert is for Principal Psychologist (Intellectual disabilities) with Croydon Health Services NHS Trust in Thornton Heath, London, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is £72,719 - £83,505 per annum. The contract type is 12 months (12 months fixed-term contract - maternity cover). The application deadline is 05 Aug 2026.
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