Job Summary
We are seeking a dynamic and compassionate Lead Psychologist to join our dedicated team.
The Lead Psychologist will provide high-quality, evidence-based psychological assessment, formulation, diagnosis, and intervention for children (6+), young people, and adults presenting with neurodevelopmental and complex mental health needs.
The role combines specialist diagnostic assessment with broader psychological expertise to support individuals with co-occurring mental health conditions and contribute to high-quality, person-centred care.
Working autonomously within HCPC and professional guidelines, the post holder will play a key role in multidisciplinary diagnostic decision-making, clinical governance, service development, and the promotion of psychologically informed practice across the organisation.
As a senior clinician, you will provide leadership, consultation, supervision, and contribute to continuous quality improvement in line with NICE guidance, DSM-5, ICD-11, CQC standards, and organisational objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct comprehensive ASD and ADHD assessments for children, young people, and adults including more complex presentations with potential differential diagnosis
- Chair MDT’s to support clinical sign off of ADHD/ADSD assessment
- Obtain detailed developmental, educational, occupational, family, and psychosocial histories.
- Administer, interpret, and integrate findings from validated assessment tools including:
- ADOS-2
- DIVA-5
- Conners Rating Scales
- SNAP-IV
- Additional standardised psychometric assessments where clinically indicated.
- Analyse multi-informant information, clinical observations, educational reports, and collateral information.
- Produce clear diagnostic formulations using DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria.
- Consider differential diagnoses including:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- ADHD
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Trauma-related presentations
- Personality difficulties
- Learning disability
- Intellectual disability
- Attachment and emotional regulation difficulties
- Functional neurological or behavioural presentations.
Psychological Assessment & Intervention
- Deliver specialist psychological assessments, formulation, and evidence-based interventions for individuals presenting with complex mental health conditions.
- Develop collaborative, strengths-based and trauma-informed care plans.
- Provide psychologically informed recommendations to families, schools, employers, GPs and other professionals.
- Promote neurodiversity-affirming practice while recognising co-occurring mental health needs.
- Support patients to develop effective coping strategies and improve psychological wellbeing.
MDT Working & Clinical Leadership
- Present assessments at multidisciplinary diagnostic meetings.
- Contribute specialist psychological opinion to consultant-led diagnostic decisions.
- Work collaboratively with assistant psychiatrists, psychiatrists, nurses, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and other professionals.
- Provide psychological consultation to multidisciplinary teams.
- Support psychologically informed care planning across services.
- Escalate complex or high-risk cases appropriately.
- Demonstrate leadership responsibilities appropriate to a senior clinician, contributing to strategic service planning and innovation.
Reporting & Clinical Documentation
- Produce comprehensive diagnostic and psychological reports suitable for:
- Patients and families
- GPs
- Schools and colleges
- Local Authorities
- Employers where appropriate
- Deliver clear and compassionate feedback sessions.
- Produce child-friendly and accessible summaries where appropriate.
- Ensure documentation meets NHS, Right to Choose, CQC and organisational quality standards.
- Maintain accurate and timely electronic clinical records.
Safeguarding, Risk & Governance
- Identify safeguarding concerns and follow organisational safeguarding procedures.
- Complete psychological risk assessments where indicated.
- Work within:
- Mental Capacity Act
- Gillick Competence
- Consent legislation
- Information Governance
- HCPC Standards of Conduct
- Participate in clinical governance, audit, quality improvement, and incident review processes.
- Contribute to maintaining excellent CQC compliance.
Service Development
- Lead or contribute to service improvement initiatives including:
- Neurodevelopmental pathway development
- Trauma-informed practice
- Reflective practice
- Quality assurance
- Outcome measurement
- Clinical audit
- Research and innovation
- Support implementation of evidence-based practice.
- Contribute to policy development and clinical protocols.
Supervision & Professional Development
- Provide supervision to Assistant Psychologists, Trainee Psychologists and junior clinicians where appropriate.
- Support competency development across the multidisciplinary team.
- Participate in:
- Clinical supervision
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- Mandatory and Statutory Training (MAST)
- Maintain professional registration and evidence of continuing competence.
Essential Criteria
Qualifications
- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Educational Psychology or equivalent recognised qualification.
- Current HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist.
Experience
- Minimum 2 years of post-qualification experience conducting ASD and/or ADHD diagnostic assessments.
- Experience working with children, young people and/or adults.
- Experience using ADOS-2, DIVA-5 and standardised psychometric assessment tools.
- Experience producing high-quality diagnostic reports.
- Experience of multidisciplinary working.
- Experience providing psychological assessment, formulation and evidence-based interventions.
- Experience managing complex presentations with co-occurring mental health conditions.
- Experience contributing to service development, audit or quality improvement.
Knowledge
Strong working knowledge of:
- NICE NG87 (Autism)
- NICE NG142 (ADHD)
- DSM-5
- ICD-11
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Trauma-informed practice
- Psychological formulation
- Positive Behaviour Support principles (desirable)
- Mental Capacity Act
- Safeguarding legislation
- CQC quality standards
- Right to Choose pathways (desirable)
Skills
- Excellent clinical interviewing and assessment skills.
- Advanced formulation skills.
- Strong report-writing ability.
- Excellent verbal and written communication.
- Ability to communicate complex psychological information clearly.
- Skilled in providing consultation to professionals and families.
- Excellent organisational and time management skills.
- Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within an MDT.
- High level of professional judgement and clinical decision-making.
Personal Attributes
- Neurodiversity-affirming and strengths-based.
- Compassionate, respectful and person-centred.
- High levels of integrity, professionalism and clinical accountability.
- Motivated to deliver high-quality psychological care.
- Collaborative and supportive team member.
- Innovative and committed to continuous improvement.
- Flexible, resilient and able to manage a varied clinical workload.
Committed to evidence-based practice and lifelong learning.
Pay: £57,000.00-£78,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
