Job Title: Principal Clinical Psychologist
Agency: East London NHS Foundation Trust
Location: Bedford, United Kingdom
Salary/Rate: 66,582 to 77,368 £ / Year

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Job summary

We are looking to recruit a highly motivated, innovative and inspiring HCPC Registered Principal Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join our Services for Adults with Learning Disabilities. The postholder will work closely with Service and Operational Managers and have specific clinical leadership responsibilities in the Adult Autism Diagnostic Service which is for people without a Learning Disability.

The post is suitable for an experienced Psychologist who champions services for autistic people, learning disability and ADHD. You must have an excellent understanding of working systemically across and within organisational boundaries. You must be keen to embrace the privileges of working in a diverse County, have experience of working with adults with complex mental health needs and from a range of religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. We develop and deliver our services through co-production with staff and people with lived experience. We would expect you to be fully committed to partnership working and co-production.

There are opportunities for excellent CPD that supports the Trust Strategy. Much of the work is in person, and you will be expected to travel across Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes County and on occasion to London.

Main duties of the job

In line with the ELFT Trust Mission, Values and Strategy, the post holder will be the Clinical Lead and contribute to the highest standards of multidisciplinary health care in the BLMK Adult Autism Diagnostic Service. The post holder will also deputise as required by the Consultant Psychological Professions Lead, Bedfordshire, who has professional responsibility for the Specialist Healthcare Team, Intensive Support Team and the AAD Service.

The post holder will ensure the systematic provision of a high-quality comprehensive specialist psychological service to the service users of the Adult Autism Diagnostic Service. They will provide senior clinical and strategic input into these services.

The post holder will directly provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations, specialist risk assessments and advise on risk management, as well as the provision of psychological advice and consultation to others involved in service user care. The post holder will also supervise and support other psychologists, psychological professionals and members of the MDT as appropriate, with devolved governance responsibility for agreeing case and workload levels, and systems of monitoring quality of practice. As such, they may be required to support operational line managers with any disciplinary, capability or sickness processes as necessary.

Person Specification

Education/Training/ Qualifications

Essential

• Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology
• HCPC Registration
• Training in clinical supervision
• Training in adult autism diagnostic assessments

Desirable

• Post-doctoral training in one or more relevant specialist areas of psychological practice.
• Management and/or Leadership Training
• Quality Improvement Training
• Reflective practice and/or working with group dynamics training
• Training and/or qualification in Neuropsychological Assessment

Experience

Essential

• Substantial experience as a qualified Psychologist working in MDT’s for adults with autism, a learning disability, ADHD, complex and mental health
• Autism Diagnostic Assessments
• Assessing capacity to consent
• Working with diverse groups/populations and working with interpreters
• Co-production with service users, carers, staff
• Supervising psychological professionals in relevant service area
• Supervising non-psychological professionals in relevant service area
• Training MDT’s in working with people with autism, learning disability, ADHD, mental health
• Recruitment and selection
• Working with VCSE, LA, other community partners

Desirable

• Managing psychological professions staff and managing non-psychological professions staff
• Leading a QI project
• Facilitating MDT reflective practice

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Adapting communication for the client group
• Knowledge of relevant policy and national guidance
• Highly developed knowledge, theory, practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies with adults with autism, learning disability, ADHD and complex mental health should include CBT
• Respectful approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals.

Other

Essential

• Driving license, access to a vehicle and insurance for business travel.

Closing Date: 29 September 2026

How to Apply;

Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online for this job

Disclaimer

Author: Simon RobertEasyInfoBlog is a multi-author blog. We have experts and professionals in various fields who share their ideas and expert knowledge to help you with your daily information needs. Thanks for reading!