Principle Clinical Psychologist

Job overview

CAMHS Principle Clinical Psychologist ,  Nottinghamshire ASD Assessment Pathway.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Principal Clinical Psychologist (0.6 WTE) to support Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessments for children and young people in the Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County neurodevelopmental pathways.  You will join a small team of Psychologists to support the provision of highly specialist psychological expertise as part of the multi-agency and multi-disciplinary assessment pathway for possible ASD often in the context of complex social care, mental health and/ or learning needs.

The postholder will be expected to contribute to ASD assessments through consultation, direct assessment, training and supervision.  This is a newly established service and additional provision to the wider neurodevelopmental pathway. This role offers lots of opportunities to support service development and evaluation, alongside experience working with other agencies including Community Paediatrics and local authority agencies.

As part of the Nottinghamshire CAMHS service, you will also be joining a larger group of Psychology colleagues and CAMHS colleagues to support liaison and co-working to share knowledge, expertise and support appropriate pathways for assessment.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will support the Community Paediatricians in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire regions through consultation and direct assessment of children, young people and families as part of ASD assessments.  This role will involve working closely with Community Paediatricians, Speech and Language Therapists and Specialist Nurses to undertake specialist assessment and support psychological expertise within ASD assessments.

The post holder will be skilled in assessment of ASD and consideration of alternative formulations or co-existing needs, using standardised and evidence-based assessments.  Part of the role will also involve supporting the pre-assessment services through consultation, ensuring children and young people are on the most appropriate pathway for their needs.

As a newly established service, a further key role will be establishing the impact of the additional Psychology provision to the wider pathway. Therefore, the role will also involve supporting the evaluation of the service and feedback to service managers and commissioners to inform policy and service development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will also join an integrated, friendly, and supportive group of 24 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.

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. 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.  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.  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.  To advise on any clinical risk identified as part of assessment activity and to direct to the appropriate service for further support.  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.  To provide a highly expert assessment where opinion regarding a child’s needs may differ across the CAMHS and other agencies.   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

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010.