Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

• To provide leadership for the governance and quality of neurodevelopmental assessment, formulation, and intervention within SHINE.
• To support the development, implementation, and review of consistent SHINE clinical pathways, assessment standards, diagnostic frameworks, and clinical guidance.
• To promote effective multidisciplinary team functioning, high-quality clinical discussion, shared decision-making, and appropriate professional challenge.
• To work with service and local clinical leads to develop a community of practice and a SHINE Clinical Leads Forum that supports engagement, shared learning, and consistency across localities.
• To interpret national and local policy, evidence, and professional guidance for application within SHINE and to support the development and implementation of clinical policies, protocols, standard operating procedures, and guidance.
• To ensure relevant NICE guidance and professional standards are reflected within SHINE pathways and practice.
• To support meaningful co-production and engagement with children, young people, families, and carers in service development and evaluation.
• To participate in or lead relevant Trust, Divisional, and system-wide committees, working groups, and strategic initiatives.
• To work with partner services and agencies to develop integrated pathways around the needs of children, young people, and families.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology Professional Doctorate, (or exceptionally a combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration.
• Additional training beyond entry-level qualification in a specialized area of psychological practice – Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders in children and young people through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses and/or an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by a BPS National Assessor and an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma or higher.
• Completed training course in clinical supervision.
• Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.

Desirable criteria

• Qualification in leadership or management.
• Post-qualification qualification(s) in clinical, research, or management practice relevant to the service.
• Registration and membership of additional relevant professional bodies.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Evidence of having worked as a clinical specialist under supervision in mental health and neurodevelopmental pathways.
• Experience of undertaking leadership roles.
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients with a range of psychological needs of a complex nature in neurodiversity.
• Experience of supervising qualified assistant and trainee psychologists having completed the relevant training.
• Experience of providing teaching and training to psychologists or other professional groups.
• 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 proposing and implementing service development projects that impact beyond own service area.
• Experience of participation in recruitment.

Desirable criteria

• Record of publications in either peer-reviewed, academic, or professional journals/books.
• Use and implementation of digital health care tools and systems.

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of management and leadership.
• Advanced knowledge of the theory and practice of specialized psychological therapies for children and young people with autism and/or ADHD.
• Advanced theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant assessment and treatment in ND for Children and Young People.
• Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and clinical psychometrics in ND for Children and Young People.
• 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.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of digital practice in health care.

Skills

Essential criteria

• To deliver psychological assessment and therapy across cultural and other differences.
• To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation, and comparison, drawn from several sources, on which expert opinion may differ.
• To communicate skilfully and sensitively complex and sensitive information with clients, carers, and colleagues overcoming barriers to communication including sensory, emotional difficulties, cultural differences, and hostility to or rejection of information.
• To plan and schedule assessment and interventions for individual clients and groups and carers, and to organise meetings such as CPAs and case reviews.
• To plan delivery of neuro-developmental and psychological services to the client group and carers, involving partner agencies.
• To be expert in the skilled administration of psychometric tests, including skilled manipulation of test materials; and to be able to supervise others in administration of psychometric tests.
• Well-developed consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team or other professional groups.
• Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data and for teaching purposes and the use of digital healthcare tools.
• Skills in providing supervision, consultation, teaching, and training to multi-disciplinary professional groups.

Abilities

Essential criteria

• 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 multi-media 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.