We are seeking a qualified applied psychologist with strong interpersonal skills to join our small and friendly adult autism assessment team. This post is offered part-time (15-22.5 hours per week), with a combination of in-person, flexible working, and working from home available. For those seeking full-time hours, there is opportunity for a split post across the autism assessment service and other services within Sinclair-Strong Consultants Ltd, such as the Kent and Medway Complex Autism Service (KAMCAS). As an independent mental health provider working closely with the NHS, this role offers an excellent opportunity to develop experience of working within an alternative service provision.

We are looking for candidates with transferable skills and experience; you do not need to be an expert in autism to apply. The supportive nature of the team and the variety of work means there are opportunities to develop both your knowledge of autism and co-occurring difficulties. Applications from current third year trainees are welcome. There will be opportunity to undertake a 24 month preceptorship programme, with a view to progressing to a Band 8a position once you have demonstrated that you meet the required competencies of this role.

Main duties of the job

• Provide a high quality assessment service to adults presenting with complex co-occurring difficulties (i.e. mental health, personality disorder, neurodevelopmental difficulties, etc.) as part of the wider Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust Neurodevelopmental Service.
• Provide clinical leadership, co-ordination, and supervision for junior staff, under the general direction and supervision of the Lead Principal Psychologist.
• Carry a specialist caseload of clients, including communicating the outcome of their assessment and recommendations to them and their family members/carers post-diagnosis.
• Take an active role in contributing to service development projects and research to contribute to the body of knowledge about how to effectively support autistic adults.

About us

The Complex Adult Autism Assessment Service is delivered by Sinclair-Strong Consultants Ltd. It has been in operation since June 2020 and is commissioned by Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT). The team currently comprises three clinical psychologists, one forensic psychologist, and two assistant psychologists, with ongoing recruitment to expand the team.

Sinclair-Strong Consultants Ltd is a well-regarded independent Psychology-led service. In addition to autism, we work across adult mental health, personal injury sectors, and within community and secure services for people with autism and intellectual disability.

We offer a salary in line with Agenda for Change and an annual leave entitlement commensurate with the NHS. We are passionate about supporting professional development both in house and via attendance at external courses.

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

The Complex Adult Autism Assessment Service is commissioned by Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) as an integral provider within the adult Neurodevelopmental Pathway, which comprises another local autism assessment service and two adult ADHD assessment providers. Referrals are received from local GPs and health and social care services, and are triaged by KCHFT before reaching us.

Key duties of the role:

• Conduct high quality, formulation-led autism assessments, involving direct contact with clients, carers/family, and professionals for adults presenting with an intellectual disability or complex co-occurring mental health difficulties.
• Work within an assessment protocol that includes standardised screening and standardised assessment tools, following NICE guidelines, and with consideration and screening for co-occurring and/or differential diagnostic issues.
• Analyse complex client information, derived from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with the client, family members and others involved in the client's care.
• Exercise clinical autonomy for a caseload of complex autism assessments.
• Identify when an onward referral is required and manage this.
• Write high-quality assessment reports with recommendations.
• Attend meetings with key stakeholders, team case discussions, journal club, company-wide CPD days, etc.
• Provide clinical leadership, co-ordination, and supervision for junior staff, under the general direction and supervision of the Lead Principal Psychologist.
• Communicate complex and sensitive information to clients where the atmosphere may be emotive, or there may be barriers to understanding.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Qualified Applied Psychologist (DClinPsych, DEdPsy, DForenPsy, or equivalent), eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist Status with the British Psychological Society and registration with the HCPC.
• Further training in neurodevelopmental conditions (autism, ADHD, and/or intellectual disability).

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to integrate complex data; make highly skilled evaluations and decisions.
• Good organisation and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and use initiative within a small service.
• Ability to work as a member of a clinical team.
• An Enhanced DBS check will be required for this role.

Experience

• Interest in working with people with neurodevelopmental conditions and complex mental health presentations.
• Broad knowledge and familiarity of autism and/or ADHD and of the services in the NHS where autism and/or ADHD assessment and treatment are commonly applied.
• Broad knowledge of the autism assessment process.
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients.
• Experience, and/or training in diversity awareness and social inequality.
• Experience gained during supervised training of working with autistic clients or clients with other neurodevelopmental conditions.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.

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.

Full-time,Part-time,Flexible working,Home or remote working