South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Specialist Practitioner Psychologist

The closing date is 30 September 2025

Job summary

We are looking to recruit a part time, 8a Practitioner Psychologist, to lead a new, two-year project working with autistic individuals on inpatient wards in Croydon, with the ultimate aim of supporting a positive discharge. You will work with an autistic peer support worker, and be hosted within the wider Transforming Care in Autism team, a diverse and supportive multi-disciplinary team working across Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark.

The role is based at Monks Orchard House on the Bethlem Hospital site, with weekly travel required to the Maudsley Hospital to meet with the wider Transforming Care in Autism team. You will undertake community based visits, and attend other meetings across the Trust as required. You will be well supported by the lead for the Transforming Care in Autism team and the Consultant Clinical Psychologist for the Adult ADHD and Autism pathway.

Main duties of the job

To provide a highly specialist psychology service to autistic adults on Croydon in-patient wards, including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.

To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.

To provide clinical supervision and consultation as appropriate, functioning as a lead specialist in the Transforming Care in Autism - Croydon inpatient project.

To undertake service evaluation, audit and research.

To work as an autonomous professional within BPS and HCPC guidelines and codes of conduct, and guided by principles and policies or procedures of the service, taking responsibility for interpreting policies within defined parameters.

To agree outcomes/results with clinical/professional lead and to decide how they are best achieved.

About us

This new team will sit alongside the well established Transforming Care in Autism Team, within the wider Adult ADHD and Autism pathway which includes diagnostic and post-diagnostic services, an inpatient unit and a national psychology service. We have good links with the IoPPN, and there is a strong commitment to learning and development across the pathway, including a weekly Education and Research session. Psychological staff are supported by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who works across the pathway.

Details

Date posted

16 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£61,631 to £68,623 a year per annum inclusive of Outer HCAs pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

24 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

334-CLI-7385256

Job locations

Monks Orchard House, Bethlem Hospital

DeCrespigny Park

Beckenham

BR3 3BX


Job description

Job responsibilities

KR 1 Clinical and Client Care

To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients in the TCA including autistic adults at risk of, or currently admitted to mental health wards.

To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.

To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.

KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning

To contribute to the effective working of the team or service and to a psychologically informed framework for the service.

To contribute to the team or services delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.

To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services.

To advise other members of the service on specialist psychological care of clients.

To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans.

To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

KR 3 Policy and service development

To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes.

To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.

To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.

KR 4 Care or management of resources

To take care of, and use carefully, the Trusts equipment and physical resources.

To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed.

KR 5 Management and supervision

To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of more junior psychologists with support from a more senior psychologist.

To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism.

To contribute to the appraisal of more junior psychologists, as appropriate.

To contribute to the recruitment of more junior psychologists, as appropriate.

To provide supervision for the psychological work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate.

KR 6 Teaching and Training

To undertake occasional teaching and training of pre and post- qualification psychologists and specialised training to other professions as appropriate.

To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the TCA team by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.

To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.

KR 7 Record-keeping and Information Governance

To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures.

To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.

KR 8 Research and development

To initiate, undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits.

To initiate and carry out appropriate research

To provide expertise in a specialist research area which will contribute to the TCA service.

To initiate and implement the development of outcome measurement and assessment and assist other staff in the implementation of same.

KR 9 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development

To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC and Trust guidelines.

To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with BPS and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and the HCPC Standards for Continuing Professional Development.

To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies.

To comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency, and ensure professional development in line with these.

To adhere to the BPSs Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.

KR10 General

To travel to home visits, community placements and meetings as appropriate and across the Trust when required.

To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow trust policies relating to its management.

To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing such as behaviours of concern and psychological distress and to support others involved in such situations.

Job description

Job responsibilities

KR 1 Clinical and Client Care

To provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for clients in the TCA including autistic adults at risk of, or currently admitted to mental health wards.

To provide culturally appropriate psychological interventions with carers or families of referred clients when required.

To assess and monitor risk and draw up appropriate risk management plans.

KR 2 Contributing to team or service clinical functioning

To contribute to the effective working of the team or service and to a psychologically informed framework for the service.

To contribute to the team or services delivery of accessible and acceptable services to diverse local communities.

To be proactive in challenging discrimination and support the development of culturally competent services.

To advise other members of the service on specialist psychological care of clients.

To liaise with referrers, GPs and other professionals concerned with clients in order to develop and review care plans.

To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support evidence based practice in individual work and work with other team members.

KR 3 Policy and service development

To implement policies and procedures in own area of work, and to propose improvements or beneficial changes.

To contribute to service development through undertaking and participating in appropriate projects.

To contribute to the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and delivering services which meet the needs of local communities.

KR 4 Care or management of resources

To take care of, and use carefully, the Trusts equipment and physical resources.

To ensure that the post-holder has sufficient resources by estimating future needs and requesting or ordering supplies as needed.

KR 5 Management and supervision

To be responsible for the allocation and/or clinical supervision of the work of more junior psychologists with support from a more senior psychologist.

To supervise trainee applied psychologists within own area of specialism.

To contribute to the appraisal of more junior psychologists, as appropriate.

To contribute to the recruitment of more junior psychologists, as appropriate.

To provide supervision for the psychological work of other multi-disciplinary staff as appropriate.

KR 6 Teaching and Training

To undertake occasional teaching and training of pre and post- qualification psychologists and specialised training to other professions as appropriate.

To contribute to the development of the knowledge and skills base within the TCA team by maintaining an active awareness of current developments in psychology and by implementing knowledge gained in practice.

To disseminate research and service evaluation findings through presentations and published articles.

KR 7 Record-keeping and Information Governance

To ensure that all information generated by own work is recorded as required by Trust policies and local procedures.

To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping and report writing, according to professional and Trust guidelines, including electronic data entry.

KR 8 Research and development

To initiate, undertake, support and supervise regular complex service evaluation and audits.

To initiate and carry out appropriate research

To provide expertise in a specialist research area which will contribute to the TCA service.

To initiate and implement the development of outcome measurement and assessment and assist other staff in the implementation of same.

KR 9 Maintaining professional standards and continuing professional development

To receive regular clinical and professional supervision from a more senior psychologist according to HCPC and Trust guidelines.

To ensure own Continuing Professional Development in line with BPS and Trust Personal Development Plan requirements and the HCPC Standards for Continuing Professional Development.

To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current developments in professional and clinical practice and of relevant legislation and policies.

To comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency, and ensure professional development in line with these.

To adhere to the BPSs Professional Practice Guidelines and Trust policies and procedures.

KR10 General

To travel to home visits, community placements and meetings as appropriate and across the Trust when required.

To be aware of risk relating to aggressive and challenging behaviour amongst the client group, and follow trust policies relating to its management.

To respond appropriately and professionally to emotionally distressing such as behaviours of concern and psychological distress and to support others involved in such situations.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • oEntry-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. (A/I)
  • oCompleted training course in clinical supervision. (A/I/R)

Experience

Essential

  • oEvidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in a neurodevelopmental service (e.g. learning disability, autism) (A/I)
  • oExperience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training. (A/I)
  • oPost-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. (A/I)
  • oExperience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects. (A/I)

Knowledge

Essential

  • oKnowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for autistic adults
  • oKnowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
  • oKnowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.

Skills

Essential

  • oTo select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
  • oSkills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups (A/I/R).

Abilities

Essential

  • oAbility to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
  • oAbility 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. (A/I)
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • oEntry-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. (A/I)
  • oCompleted training course in clinical supervision. (A/I/R)

Experience

Essential

  • oEvidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in a neurodevelopmental service (e.g. learning disability, autism) (A/I)
  • oExperience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training. (A/I)
  • oPost-qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. (A/I)
  • oExperience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects. (A/I)

Knowledge

Essential

  • oKnowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for autistic adults
  • oKnowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities.
  • oKnowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care.

Skills

Essential

  • oTo select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources.
  • oSkills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups (A/I/R).

Abilities

Essential

  • oAbility to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles.
  • oAbility 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. (A/I)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Monks Orchard House, Bethlem Hospital

DeCrespigny Park

Beckenham

BR3 3BX


Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Monks Orchard House, Bethlem Hospital

DeCrespigny Park

Beckenham

BR3 3BX


Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Sophie Doswell

sophie.doswell@slam.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

16 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£61,631 to £68,623 a year per annum inclusive of Outer HCAs pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

24 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

334-CLI-7385256

Job locations

Monks Orchard House, Bethlem Hospital

DeCrespigny Park

Beckenham

BR3 3BX


Supporting documents

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