Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
Clinical Practice
- Provide specialist psychological assessments and formulations for autistic adults and adults with learning disabilities presenting with complex mental health needs.
- Deliver adapted, evidence-based and trauma-informed psychological therapies, consistent with SAT principles and neuroaffirmative practice.
- Undertake comprehensive risk assessment and risk management, contributing to robust, proportionate clinical risk management.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and high-quality clinical records in line with professional, legal, and organisational requirements.
- Work flexibly across community, clinic, and remote settings as clinically appropriate.
Multidisciplinary & Collaborative Working
- Work with MDT colleagues as required. Although the SAT service is predominantly a psychological therapy service, other disciplines including psychiatrists, nurses, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, assistant psychologists, and caseworkers also work for SSC in related services and collaborative Reflection, case discussion and CPD opportunities exist.
- Provide psychological consultation and advice to MDT colleagues in other services such as MHT and MHT+ services to support psychologically informed care.
- Contribute to joint working and successful discharge with mainstream NHS services, social care, and other partners.
Clinical Governance, CQG & CQC Responsibilities
Understand the broad clinical governance frameworks provided by both the NHS and the CQC and how they impact on SSCs approach to Quality Assurance and improvement, especially in regard to the SAT programme.
Understand how the seven pillars adopted by SSC from the NHS Clinical Governance framework impact on the SAT service and prioritise and implement any missing elements within the SAT service:
- Patient and public involvement- Service users at the centre of all our services
- Clinical effectiveness - Evidence-based practice with recognised treatment and outcome measures where they are available
- Clinical risk management - assessing, mitigating and reviewing risk on an ongoing iterative basis.
- Education and training - a commitment to providing internal training, mentoring, supervision and support as required, as well as providing access to external supervision and training where this is appropriate.
- Information management - adhering strictly to the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act and guided by the Information Commission Office (ICO) and our own Data Protection Officer in our own internal data management practices and in our interactions with other agencies with whom we need to have data-sharing agreements.
- Performance and monitoring - This refers to recruitment and management of staff within SSC as well as carrying out clinical and performance audits of activity, standards and regulated activities.
- Governance and leadership - through providing an open, inclusive culture in which there are clear lines of accountability, supervision and support, forums for discussion and debate, and all staff are enabled to contribute new ideas, critique existing approaches, and collaborate in decision-making and implementation.
Understand that as SSC operates under the legal framework of the 2008 Health and Social Care act, which is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), it must also take heed of the clinical governance standards outlined by the CQC, which overlap with but are not synonymous with the above NHS standards. As such the post-holder must also prioritise and implement any missing CQC elements within the SAT service, as follows:
- Ensuring effective governance within the SAT service
- Implementing Assurance and auditing systems and processes within the SAT service
- Assess, monitor, mitigate and re-evaluate clinical risks on an ongoing basis within the SAT service
- Seek and act on feedback from service users, their family and advocates within the SAT service
- Ensure compliance with best practice clinical requirements for assessment, treatment and discharge within the SAT programme
- Ensure there is a programme for monitoring, evaluating and improving services within the SAT service
- Ensure health records within the SAT service are compliant with Information Governance requirements and sufficiently detailed to serve the needs of clients attending the SAT service
- Provide periodic reports and information to Clinical governance forums (CLDA Clinical Governance meetings monthly and corporate CQ&G meetings quarterly) and Line Manager and others (Clinical Director and Director of Operations) as required
- Demonstrate an understanding of and implement other requirements, including Incident reporting, Safeguarding and Duty of Candour
Safeguarding & Risk
- Act in accordance with SSC safeguarding policies and local safeguarding procedures
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding legislation and best practice
- Identify, escalate, and appropriately manage safeguarding concerns involving adults at risk
Supervision, CPD & Professional Development
- Receive regular clinical supervision from the Clinical Lead for SAT
- Maintain HCPC registration and professional competence through continuing professional development (CPD)
- Participate in reflective practice, peer supervision, and service-learning forums
- Support the development and supervision of assistant psychologists, other professions where appropriate, and less experienced staff as required
Service Development & Leadership
- Contribute to the ongoing development of the SAT service, pathways, and clinical models.
- Support service evaluation and innovation aligned with emerging evidence and best practice.
- Act as an ambassador for SSC values, promoting psychologically informed, inclusive, and ethical practice.
Information Governance & Confidentiality
- Ensure compliance with information governance, data protection legislation, and SSC policies.
- Maintain confidentiality and manage information appropriately at all times
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
- Deliver care that is inclusive, accessible, and responsive to individual needs.
- Uphold SSCs commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, challenging discrimination and promoting dignity and respect in all aspects of work.
