Job overview
We welcome applications from candidates interested in joining us on a secondment basis.
This is an opportunity to take a leading role within Croydon's Community Learning Disability Team, providing highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for adults with intellectual disabilities.
You'll join an experienced multidisciplinary team where psychology is highly valued. Alongside direct clinical work, you'll provide leadership, supervision and consultation, helping to shape psychological practice across the service while contributing to service development, research and quality improvement.
Working with adults who present with a wide range of needs—including intellectual disabilities, neurodevelopmental conditions, trauma and mental health difficulties. You'll use your expertise across a range of evidence-based approaches, including CBT, Compassion Focused Therapy, Positive Behaviour Support, systemic and narrative approaches, mindfulness and trauma-informed practice.
You'll be supported by our Consultant Clinical Psychologist and become part of the wider Learning Disability Psychology Specialty across South West London and the South Thames Intellectual Disability Faculty, giving you access to a network of experienced psychologists beyond Croydon.
Please note: This is a part-time (22.5 hours) position, with the flexibility to spread your hours across the week to suit your schedule.
Main duties of the job
You'll:
- Deliver highly specialist psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for adults with intellectual disabilities.
- Lead psychologically informed practice across the Community Learning Disability Team.
- Provide consultation, supervision and clinical leadership to psychology colleagues and the wider multidisciplinary team.
- Work collaboratively with families, carers and partner organisations to deliver person-centred care.
- Coordinate complex care and contribute to multidisciplinary planning and decision-making.
- Lead and contribute to service development, audit, research and quality improvement projects.
- Support the development of accessible, inclusive and culturally responsive services.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Staff benefits
- 27 to 33 days annual leave (depending on NHS service), plus bank holidays.
- Automatic enrolment to one of the most generous pension schemes.
- Blue Light Card, offering thousands of discounts at high street retailers.
- Childcare support options.
- Cycle to Work Scheme.
- Access to a wide range of NHS staff wellbeing initiatives and additional employee benefits
Please note: This is a part-time (22.5 hours) position, with the flexibility to spread your hours across the week to suit your schedule.
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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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Principal Psychologist 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 06 Aug 2026.
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