Highly Specialised Clinical/Counselling Psychologist

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others. There’s a place for you at CNWL. We’re passionate about delivering first‑class patient‑centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust.

With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career. With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you’re at, there’s always a place for you at CNWL.

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run. Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference.

We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff. We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page. CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Job overview: Are you looking for an exciting and varied role where you will be able to work across a range of settings, as part of a well‑established and supportive multi‑disciplinary team? The Hillingdon Community Learning Disability Team have a Band 8A role available for a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist. Psychology is a valued part of the team and you would be joining an 8A psychotherapist, and Assistant Psychologist, who have strong connections to Learning Disabilities Services across the trust and in the NW London region. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the delivery of high‑quality psychological services for adults with learning disabilities, their families, and carers.

You will play a key role in providing specialist psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention, as well as consultation and training to colleagues across health and social care. In CNWL, psychological professions have a strong sense of leadership and a distinct professional identity. There is an emphasis on Continuing Professional Development and developing your skills in line with your career progression goals. As a Trust, we are committed to staff development and will work with you to identify your development goals and support you to access training to enhance your role.

• Deliver specialist psychological assessments and interventions for adults with learning disabilities accessing the Hillingdon Community Learning Disability Team including specialist assessment, treatment, planning, implementation and monitoring of outcomes.
• To contribute to enabling other staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds to flourish by working to create a psychologically safe environment.
• Provide consultation, supervision, and training to multidisciplinary colleagues functioning as a lead specialist in Learning Disability.
• Contribute to service development, research, and audit activities.
• Work collaboratively with families, carers, and partner agencies to promote person‑centred care.
• Support the team in embedding trauma‑informed and evidence‑based practice.

Qualifications: Entry‑level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration. Additional training in a specialised area of psychological practice related to Learning Disability or autism through formal post‑qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice‑based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma. Completed training course in clinical supervision. Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC. Further training in Positive Behaviour Support, Functional Analysis or Applied Behaviour Analysis. Further training in systemic or family therapy.

Experience: Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in Learning Disability. Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in Learning Disability. Experience of supervising assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training. Post‑qualification experience that supports working with, and addressing issues of, diversity within local communities. Experience of carrying out post‑doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects. Experience of working with a multidisciplinary team in the context of highly emotive or distressed behaviours.

Knowledge: Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological assessments and interventions for people with Learning Disabilities/autistic people. Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics. Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities. Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis. Knowledge of factors affecting acceptability and accessibility of mental health care. Knowledge of the theory and practice of Positive Behaviour Support.

Skills: To be skilled in the administration of psychometric and neuropsychological tests, including those that require complex manipulation of test materials. Well‑developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data. Skills in providing teaching and training to other professional groups.

Abilities: Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles. Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate. Ability to develop and use complex multimedia materials for presentations in public, professional and academic meetings. Ability to maintain concentration and to remain in restricted positions for long periods during observations, assessments and psychological interventions, and to deal with unexpected interruptions or changes during these. Ability to manage emotionally stressful situations such as working with victims of abuse or trauma, or with people who engage in severe self‑harming or aggressive behaviour. Ability to manage verbal aggression and hostility directed at self.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible. Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system. Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period. If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.