The Family Psychologist

Specialist Clinical Psychologist - Autism Divisional Lead

The closing date is 20 October 2025

Job summary

We are excited to share this opportunity for a specialist Clinical Psychologist (8b; 8a considered with exceptional experience) to join our dynamic team as Autism divisional lead. We are a progressive company, based in Kidderminster, running NHS services with a trauma-informed, holistic approach and have a committed approach to face-to-face autism assessments. Our belief is that families and individuals deserve our time and attention at this instrumental time in their lives to ensure that they get the very best outcome for them.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the development of our strong, multi-disciplinary team based in Kidderminster, providing NHS and independent neurodiversity assessments and support across the lifespan in Herefordshire & Worcestershire (H&W) and the West Midlands.

We would love to hear from enthusiastic and experienced colleagues who are looking to take on a leadership role and play a key part in the development of our work to provide outstanding, neuro-affirming assessments and care for neurodivergent children and adults.

A key element of the role will be supervision, consultation, and leadership skills, to support our growing Multi-disciplinary team, including experienced colleagues from within Speech and language, Nursing, Psychology, and Social Work.

We encourage interest from candidates who are passionate about enhancing the lives of clients with neurodiverse traits.

Main duties of the job

As divisional lead, you will work closely with our Clinical Director and other divisional leads to ensure our neurodiversity pathways run effectively and in the best interest of our clients and their families. You will also lead contributions to service development as a core part of our senior management team.

You will bring advanced skills to offer high-quality psychological input. This will include complex assessment, formulation and diagnostic thinking, intervention and consultation. You will support the development of integrated work across pathways to support consistent, uninterrupted experiences of care.

With strong supervisory skills, you will have proven experience of working positively with inter-divisional colleagues.

As part of our collaborative ethos of leadership, you will be well-supported as you work together with colleagues to deliver a progressive and dynamic quality of care with clients and their families at the forefront of everything that we do.

There will be opportunities to be involved in service development and research to ensure that services are accessible and meet the needs of the communities we work with. As the provider of our local NHS pathway, we work closely with commissioners and stakeholders across H&W. As Neurodiversity Lead, liaison with these networks will be a key part of the role, offering an important opportunity to be at the forefront of the development of local policy and provision.

About us

The Family Psychologist is a multidisciplinary assessment and support clinic, working to provide a unique and varied mix of mental health, neurodiversity, and educational support across the Midlands and the UK.

As part of our close and supportive team, you will have opportunities for learning and development within a flexible and caring work environment.

Whilst we are an Independent Provider, we hold the NHS contract for Adult (16+) Autism Assessments and U16 Right to Choose for both Autism and ADHD within Herefordshire & Worcestershire. We are committed to the provision of accessible and inclusive services working to the NHS core values of; Working together for patients; Respect and dignity; Commitment to quality of care; Compassion; Improving lives: Everyone counts.

Beyond these values, we as a team are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive work environment, in which individual strengths, needs, and circumstances are well supported and you will be encouraged to develop and thrive within your role.

You will be well supported by our in-house Consultant Clinical Psychologist, as well as robust clinical supervision. You will work as a central part of our strong multi-disciplinary team, as well as having access to excellent CPD opportunities specific to your division and to further your leadership capabilities.

(see organisation chart in supporting documents)

Details

Date posted

06 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£64,455 to £74,896 a year Step points depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

E0171-25-0002

Job locations

26 Church Street

Kidderminster

Worcestershire

DY10 2AR


Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be leading our NHS Adult Autism service as well as our NHS U18 Right to Choose offering. This is a dynamic role which has seen significant demand in line with the national trend. Resources are available when required to grow the service in line with any capacity restraints.

Our Adult Autism Pathway is well-established, and its leadership will be creative and supportive of their team to ensure the individuals and families have the very best outcomes, and will be constantly seeking ways to improve the service both clinically and strategically.

Our CYP Right to Choose Pathway is a newly established pathway within H&W. This leader will be instrumental in creating a Right to Choose service that these young people and their families can rely on. They will be committed to ensuring the young person's futures will not be prohibited or restricted by their neurodiverse traits.

You will be a qualified Clinical Psychologist with notable post-qualifying experience, passion and strengths for working with neurodiverse individuals and their families at all ages. You will have strong clinical leadership skills, bringing a compassionate and supportive approach to join others in leading this innovative division.

You will have the knowledge and skills in neurodiversity and mental health to undertake complex assessments and deliver evidence-based and outcomes, as well as supporting others in this work.

You will not be an island in this role; you will be supported by our other divisional leads which include ADHD specialist and our interventions lead and safeguarding as well as the overarching support from our Consultant Clinical Director.

You will understand the importance of collaborative working with the individual and extended family including carers and schools to ensure the right clinical decision is made for the individual. To ensure this is achieved you will liaise with our interventions and safeguarding leads where appropriate to ensure a trauma-informed approach is at the centre of everything we do.

You will be a reflective practitioner with strengths to bring to a multi-disciplinary team. You will have advanced skills and knowledge to support the development of others through supervision, consultation and training.

Your multidisciplinary divisional team may include Assistant Psychology, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Teachers, Social Workers and Mental Health Practitioners/Nurses from a diverse range of backgrounds. This provides an opportunity to work in a team with a strong multidisciplinary ethos as well as collaborating with colleagues in other divisions and working in partnership with other agencies.

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will be leading our NHS Adult Autism service as well as our NHS U18 Right to Choose offering. This is a dynamic role which has seen significant demand in line with the national trend. Resources are available when required to grow the service in line with any capacity restraints.

Our Adult Autism Pathway is well-established, and its leadership will be creative and supportive of their team to ensure the individuals and families have the very best outcomes, and will be constantly seeking ways to improve the service both clinically and strategically.

Our CYP Right to Choose Pathway is a newly established pathway within H&W. This leader will be instrumental in creating a Right to Choose service that these young people and their families can rely on. They will be committed to ensuring the young person's futures will not be prohibited or restricted by their neurodiverse traits.

You will be a qualified Clinical Psychologist with notable post-qualifying experience, passion and strengths for working with neurodiverse individuals and their families at all ages. You will have strong clinical leadership skills, bringing a compassionate and supportive approach to join others in leading this innovative division.

You will have the knowledge and skills in neurodiversity and mental health to undertake complex assessments and deliver evidence-based and outcomes, as well as supporting others in this work.

You will not be an island in this role; you will be supported by our other divisional leads which include ADHD specialist and our interventions lead and safeguarding as well as the overarching support from our Consultant Clinical Director.

You will understand the importance of collaborative working with the individual and extended family including carers and schools to ensure the right clinical decision is made for the individual. To ensure this is achieved you will liaise with our interventions and safeguarding leads where appropriate to ensure a trauma-informed approach is at the centre of everything we do.

You will be a reflective practitioner with strengths to bring to a multi-disciplinary team. You will have advanced skills and knowledge to support the development of others through supervision, consultation and training.

Your multidisciplinary divisional team may include Assistant Psychology, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Teachers, Social Workers and Mental Health Practitioners/Nurses from a diverse range of backgrounds. This provides an opportunity to work in a team with a strong multidisciplinary ethos as well as collaborating with colleagues in other divisions and working in partnership with other agencies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent e.g. Master's level qualification in Clinical Psychology if qualified before 1996.
  • Active registration as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC
  • Post qualification training in supervision.
  • Post qualification training or proven equivalent experience in leadership or management
  • Post qualification assessment training relevant to adults, children and young people with neurodiverse traits

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of delivering effective evidence-based, outcomes-informed psychological assessments with adults, children, young people and families, including risk assessment and risk management
  • Experience of working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers, including shared decision making and the use of both clinician and patient rated outcome measures
  • Experience of working collaboratively within multi-disciplinary services and across organisational boundaries
  • Experience of working with a wide variety of adult and child mental health problems, across the whole age range, reflecting all levels of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems
  • Experience of obtaining service user feedback and data to improve outcomes and services
  • Experience in teaching, training and assessing in clinical practice.
  • Experience of safeguarding children and ensuring the safety of young people in partnership with other agencies as appropriate.
  • Experience of using an equality and diversity framework in clinical, supervisory and leadership practice.
  • Experience of initiating, chairing, attending and contributing to multi-professional and interagency meetings.
  • Experience of working as an autonomous individual, taking on responsibility, making decisions and seeking support as needed.
  • Experience of providing clinical supervision, undertaking appraisals, developing job plans, recruitment, managing performance, absence and staff development.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

  • Highly developed ability to integrate complex clinical information into a coherent formulation and share this with others including service users and professionals
  • The ability to work as an autonomous senior clinician, make decisions under pressure and seek support as appropriate.
  • The ability to communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner with adults, children and young people, parents, carers and others as appropriate, conveying information that may be contentious or highly distressing concerning assessment, clinical formulation and treatment, at times during emotionally difficult situations and help your team to develop these skills.
  • The ability to present complex, often sensitive information in a variety of formats, both written and verbal, in a professional, clear and organised manner, including public speaking to a range of audiences and ensure your team meets the standards laid out by the Clinical Director.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology or equivalent e.g. Master's level qualification in Clinical Psychology if qualified before 1996.
  • Active registration as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC
  • Post qualification training in supervision.
  • Post qualification training or proven equivalent experience in leadership or management
  • Post qualification assessment training relevant to adults, children and young people with neurodiverse traits

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of delivering effective evidence-based, outcomes-informed psychological assessments with adults, children, young people and families, including risk assessment and risk management
  • Experience of working collaboratively with service users and their families/carers, including shared decision making and the use of both clinician and patient rated outcome measures
  • Experience of working collaboratively within multi-disciplinary services and across organisational boundaries
  • Experience of working with a wide variety of adult and child mental health problems, across the whole age range, reflecting all levels of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems
  • Experience of obtaining service user feedback and data to improve outcomes and services
  • Experience in teaching, training and assessing in clinical practice.
  • Experience of safeguarding children and ensuring the safety of young people in partnership with other agencies as appropriate.
  • Experience of using an equality and diversity framework in clinical, supervisory and leadership practice.
  • Experience of initiating, chairing, attending and contributing to multi-professional and interagency meetings.
  • Experience of working as an autonomous individual, taking on responsibility, making decisions and seeking support as needed.
  • Experience of providing clinical supervision, undertaking appraisals, developing job plans, recruitment, managing performance, absence and staff development.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

  • Highly developed ability to integrate complex clinical information into a coherent formulation and share this with others including service users and professionals
  • The ability to work as an autonomous senior clinician, make decisions under pressure and seek support as appropriate.
  • The ability to communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner with adults, children and young people, parents, carers and others as appropriate, conveying information that may be contentious or highly distressing concerning assessment, clinical formulation and treatment, at times during emotionally difficult situations and help your team to develop these skills.
  • The ability to present complex, often sensitive information in a variety of formats, both written and verbal, in a professional, clear and organised manner, including public speaking to a range of audiences and ensure your team meets the standards laid out by the Clinical Director.

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

The Family Psychologist

Address

26 Church Street

Kidderminster

Worcestershire

DY10 2AR


Employer's website

https://www.thefamilypsychologist.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

The Family Psychologist

Address

26 Church Street

Kidderminster

Worcestershire

DY10 2AR


Employer's website

https://www.thefamilypsychologist.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Operations Director

Gerry McMorrow

careers@thefamilypsychologist.co.uk

01562610011

Details

Date posted

06 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£64,455 to £74,896 a year Step points depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

E0171-25-0002

Job locations

26 Church Street

Kidderminster

Worcestershire

DY10 2AR


Supporting documents

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