Job summary An exciting opportunity has arisen for 1.8 WTE Senior Clinical Psychologists to join the Mid Yorkshire Trust Autism Assessment Pathway service. You will join a friendly and supportive MDT comprising psychologists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and nurse specialists. The post will sit within the innovative and growing MY Psychological Services Department within a large acute hospital trust, which comprises a strong team of Psychological Professions working into a range of specialities across the hospital setting. We actively encourage and support supervision, CPD and service-related research. As a department we take trainees from several local training courses in Clinical Psychology and have good academic links to the local training courses. Professional supervision and support will be provided by experienced Clinical Psychologists within the department. Main duties of the job The post holder will contribute to specialist triage and assessment for children and families referred through the ASD Assessment Pathway. The post holder will undertake individual and family assessment as part of a wider MDT assessment, working both independently and jointly with the ASD MDT (e.g. school visits, patient observation, involvement with childrens services and other agencies). The post-holder will attend MDT meetings as well as indirect work with staff including supervision, training and teaching. There has been significant expansion of the autism assessment pathway and there is ample opportunity for the post holder to support wider service development. The successful candidate will have at least 12 months experience in clinical work with children and families across a range of settings, ideally in the field of ASD.We welcome applications from enthusiastic, highly motivated and resourceful individuals with strong skills in assessment and delivering psychological input and in working effectively within multi-disciplinary teams. The successful applicant will work across the Mid Yorkshire Teaching Hospitals sites at Pinderfields General Hospital, Dewsbury District Hospital and Pontefract General Infirmary. We welcome conversations around family-friendly and flexible working arrangements. Applicants must be HCPC registered and hold a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 2000) as accredited by the BPS. About us We provide care and support to over a million people in Wakefield and Kirklees in their homes, community settings and across our three hospital sites at Pontefract, Dewsbury and Pinderfields (Wakefield). Always striving for excellence, we are at the forefront of innovation and research, and we invest in teaching and the development of our workforce. We live by our values of caring, improving, being respectful and maintaining high standards. We listen and learn because we aim to make Mid Yorkshire the best place to work and receive care. We value diversity and welcome talent and enthusiasm irrespective of age, disability, neurodivergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances including providing unpaid carers support to someone with a health and care need. As ethnic minority groups, members of the LGBTQ community, and people with a disability/neurodivergence are currently under-represented across the organisation, we encourage applications from members of these groups. We have policies and procedures to ensure all applicants are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud of our staff networks - who offer valuable guidance and feedback from those with lived experience. We have a clear vision and you could be part of this If you share our values and you want to make a difference to the lives of our patients and their families and carers, we would love to hear from you. Date posted 06 March 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8a Salary £53,755 to £60,504 a year pro rata part time Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working Reference number C9377-FCS6053 Job locations Pinderfields Hospital Aberford Road Wakefield West Yorkshire WF14DG Job description Job responsibilities To provide a lead role in the psychological assessment of children and young people referred to the autism pathway and contribute positively to the development of the service. The post holder will manage referrals, their own caseload and will lead development of some aspects of the service related to assessment, education and promote multi-agency support for patients and families outside the Trust. To provide specialist autism assessment of children and young people within the autism assessment service, utilising information from psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observation and semi structured interviews with patients, family members and others involved in the patients care. To make skilled evaluations and decisions about assessment outcomes and treatment options, responsible for working with complex presentations, taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological therapeutic intervention and/or management of a patients psychological health problems based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the problems and employing methods of proven efficacy. To apply highly developed specialist professional knowledge acquired through degree and post graduate training, augmented by further clinical supervision and training, to provide high quality care. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for relevant individual patients and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management. To communicate highly complex and potentially highly contentious information in a highly skilled and sensitive manner, in situations with clients who may be highly emotional, requiring the highest level of communication skills. To support and/or contribute to the triage of referrals received by the autism assessment service, ensuring that a childs assessment and professionals involved in this are reflective of their needs and any complexities. To ensure accurate clinical and audit records are maintained. To communicate in a sensitive and skilled manner information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plan to the patient themselves, their parents/carers, referral agents and where appropriate other involved professionals, relatives or carers. To identify, provide and promote appropriate interventions / means of support for carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviours. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues. To provide input to other services within the department as required.Please see attached job description for further information. Please see attached job description for further information. Job description Job responsibilities To provide a lead role in the psychological assessment of children and young people referred to the autism pathway and contribute positively to the development of the service. The post holder will manage referrals, their own caseload and will lead development of some aspects of the service related to assessment, education and promote multi-agency support for patients and families outside the Trust. To provide specialist autism assessment of children and young people within the autism assessment service, utilising information from psychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observation and semi structured interviews with patients, family members and others involved in the patients care. To make skilled evaluations and decisions about assessment outcomes and treatment options, responsible for working with complex presentations, taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group. To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological therapeutic intervention and/or management of a patients psychological health problems based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the problems and employing methods of proven efficacy. To apply highly developed specialist professional knowledge acquired through degree and post graduate training, augmented by further clinical supervision and training, to provide high quality care. To undertake risk assessment and risk management for relevant individual patients and to provide advice to other professions on psychological aspects of risk assessment and risk management. To communicate highly complex and potentially highly contentious information in a highly skilled and sensitive manner, in situations with clients who may be highly emotional, requiring the highest level of communication skills. To support and/or contribute to the triage of referrals received by the autism assessment service, ensuring that a childs assessment and professionals involved in this are reflective of their needs and any complexities. To ensure accurate clinical and audit records are maintained. To communicate in a sensitive and skilled manner information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plan to the patient themselves, their parents/carers, referral agents and where appropriate other involved professionals, relatives or carers. To identify, provide and promote appropriate interventions / means of support for carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviours. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues. To provide input to other services within the department as required.Please see attached job description for further information. Please see attached job description for further information. Person Specification Experience Essential Experience of working as a qualified Clinical Psychologist with children, young people and families (CYPF). Experience of the application of psychology in family, group and individual settings, and different cultural contexts. Experience of specialist psychological assessment and/or treatment of CYPF across the full range of care settings. Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care. Experience of teaching, training and providing professional and clinical supervision. Experience of maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems. Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS / HCPC. Desirable Experience of specialist assessment and/or intervention with people presenting with autism, neurodiversity and/or learning disabilities. Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams and offering systemic interpretations to have impact on the team role in patient care. Experience of contributing to service development within an organisation. Experience of taking a leadership role in developing services. Qualifications Essential Post-graduate doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 2000) as accredited by the BPS. HCPC registration as a Clinical Psychologist. Trained in clinical supervision and the supervision of doctoral trainees Desirable ADOS training. Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice. Knowledge and Skills Essential Doctoral level knowledge of clinical psychology, including highly developed knowledge of clinical psychometrics and appropriate psychological therapies. Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management (including risk assessment and management) frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration. To have excellent communication and interpersonal skills with colleagues, children, young people and parents and an ability to work with people from different backgrounds, cultures and of different ages. Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to CYPF, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS. Ability to plan, organise and flexibly manage own workload, adapting to the changing priorities of a complex organisational environment. To be able to handle highly complex & sensitive information where there are significant barriers to understanding and acceptance. Desirable Up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific patient group and mental health generally. Personal Attributes Essential Ability to cope with exposure to distressing and highly emotional clinical material and employ, as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and stressful conditions. Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to distressing situations. Ability to cope with physical requirements of the job. This may also include exposure to verbal aggression and some risks of exposure to physical aggression. Able to work in accordance with the Trust Values and Behaviours. Able to work flexibly and co-operatively as part of a team. Awareness of own limitations. Able to use own initiative and make decisions independently. The ability to contain and work with organisational stress and the ability to contain the stress of others. Desirable The ability to work remotely from home for a proportion of the week. Ability to move between trust sites where required. Person Specification Experience Essential Experience of working as a qualified Clinical Psychologist with children, young people and families (CYPF). Experience of the application of psychology in family, group and individual settings, and different cultural contexts. Experience of specialist psychological assessment and/or treatment of CYPF across the full range of care settings. Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care. Experience of teaching, training and providing professional and clinical supervision. Experience of maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems. Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS / HCPC. Desirable Experience of specialist assessment and/or intervention with people presenting with autism, neurodiversity and/or learning disabilities. Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams and offering systemic interpretations to have impact on the team role in patient care. Experience of contributing to service development within an organisation. Experience of taking a leadership role in developing services. Qualifications Essential Post-graduate doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 2000) as accredited by the BPS. HCPC registration as a Clinical Psychologist. Trained in clinical supervision and the supervision of doctoral trainees Desirable ADOS training. Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice. Knowledge and Skills Essential Doctoral level knowledge of clinical psychology, including highly developed knowledge of clinical psychometrics and appropriate psychological therapies. Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management (including risk assessment and management) frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration. To have excellent communication and interpersonal skills with colleagues, children, young people and parents and an ability to work with people from different backgrounds, cultures and of different ages. Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to CYPF, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS. Ability to plan, organise and flexibly manage own workload, adapting to the changing priorities of a complex organisational environment. To be able to handle highly complex & sensitive information where there are significant barriers to understanding and acceptance. Desirable Up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific patient group and mental health generally. Personal Attributes Essential Ability to cope with exposure to distressing and highly emotional clinical material and employ, as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and stressful conditions. Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to distressing situations. Ability to cope with physical requirements of the job. This may also include exposure to verbal aggression and some risks of exposure to physical aggression. Able to work in accordance with the Trust Values and Behaviours. Able to work flexibly and co-operatively as part of a team. Awareness of own limitations. Able to use own initiative and make decisions independently. The ability to contain and work with organisational stress and the ability to contain the stress of others. Desirable The ability to work remotely from home for a proportion of the week. Ability to move between trust sites where required. 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Address Pinderfields Hospital Aberford Road Wakefield West Yorkshire WF14DG Employer's website https://www.midyorks.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)