Psychologist (Autism Service)

This is a permanent post supporting the multi-disiplinary team in the delivery of effective clinical services through assessment, intervention and ongoing support to children, young people and families accessing the service.

You will contribute to the development and implementation of autism assessment and intervention pathways including diagnostic assessment, post-diagnostic recommendations, guidance, advice, and workshop programmes for children and young people, and the adults working with or caring for them such as teachers, health or social care workers and parents.

You will assess, formulate and deliver interventions and evaluate clinical outcomes. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes Learning Disability Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Paediatrician, Assistant Psychologists, Clinical Assistants and charity volunteers.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in an autism specialist service working primarily with 4 to 11 year olds but may include children and young adults to age 25 years.

• To provide specialist psychological assessments of children referred to the service based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, observations and interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the child’s care.
• To provide specialist knowledge and skills in the assessment and diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders and other neurodevelopmental disorders where appropriate.
• To contribute to diagnostic formulation and implement plans for psychological intervention to promote the child, young person and family to develop strategies to manage challenges arising and promote optimal personal development and child, young person and family functioning.

· To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and intervention plans for children, young people and families accessing the service.

· To contribute to service evaluation and monitoring.

· To monitor progress and evaluate outcomes.

· To contribute to developing and delivering workshops to children, young people, families and staff from other settings.

MAIN DUTIES

• Undertake assessments of children and young people and their families accessing the CICC, using relevant standardised and non-standardised assessment tools and processes.
• Prepare reports and communicate the findings to others as required, for example parents, children, and team colleagues taking account of the communication needs of others in doing so. To work as an integrated member of the MDT in doing so and coordinate with colleagues.
• Working with colleagues and independently; provide workshops and individual assessment and interventions.
• To implement a range of interventions for children, young people, carers, families, staff from other settings and groups as required.
• To participate in formulation, and decision making about recommendations and interventions taking into account theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the child, family or group.
• To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to formulation, diagnosis and intervention planning.
• To contribute to risk assessment and risk management and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management.
• To work as a team member on the assessment and intervention plans in respect of children, taking responsibility for initiating planning and reviewing progress with children, their carers, referring agents and others involved in their network of care as requested.

This Job Description indicates only the main duties and responsibilities of the post. It is not intended as an exhaustive list. The Organisation reserve the right to amend this Job Description from time to time, according to business needs.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Criteria:

· HCPC Registered Psychologist (Clinical, Counselling or Educational).

· Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment across a range of settings,

· Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.

· Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.

· Experience in the assessment and diagnosis of autism.

· Experience of working with a variety of client groups, including children, young people, families, autism and developmental disabilities across a range that reflect a wide range of clinical severity. Work with children with autism and/or complex needs/ LD.

· Maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive scenarios.

· Experience of working in an MDT.

· Experience of working with families.

· Experience of undertaking standardised formal psychometric assessments, structured professional judgments and informal observations and interviews.

· Formulation and implementation of interventions.

· Knowledge of a range of neurodevelopmental disorders.

· Knowledge and experience in the use of neuropsychological assessment in children.

· High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.

· PBS, person centered and systems approaches.

· Knowledge of statutory/mandatory training requirements

· Understanding of evidence based practice

· Knowledge of relevant legislation.

· Knowledge of current safeguarding and child protection legislation and practice.

· Knowledge of Information Governance Standards.

· Knowledge of Health & Safety legislation.

· Knowledge of Education Health Care Plans.

· Delivering training to a range of audiences.

· Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of approaches.

· Understanding of Clinical Governance and its application in practice.

· Excellent team-working and communication skills.

· Excellent time management and organisational skills.

· Excellent interpersonal skills.

· Ability to work under pressure.

· An openness and willingness to learn new skills and to put these into practice.

· A personal commitment to the organisation’s values and principles.

· A commitment to the principles and practice of continual service improvement.

· A commitment to uphold the rights of children; vulnerable and disabled people.

· A commitment to the organisation’s approaches to equality and diversity.

· A positive can-do attitude.

· Ability to demonstrate a flexible approach to work.

· Able to meet the physical requirements of the role after reasonable adjustments have been made for illness or disability.

· Undertake personal and professional development in order to meet the changing demands of the job.

· Able to travel to meet the needs of the post.

Desirable Criteria:

· Qualifications in research methodology, staff training, supervision and/or other fields of applied psychology.

DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE CHECKS

The Charity is committed to safeguarding children and young people and therefore adopts a safer recruitment approach through a robust recruitment and selection process. All posts within the Charity are subject to DBS checks, in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974). This role is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and is therefore eligible for Enhanced disclosures with children’s and adults’ barred list checks.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: Up to £61,200.00 per year

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Referral programme

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Keele, ST5 5NT: Relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: In person