• Job Description

  Req#: C9363-25-0520?language=en&page=573&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Tower Hamlets Autism Service (THAS) is a specialist diagnostic and brief intervention service for autistic adults. The service is multidisciplinary with a team comprising of speech and language, occupational therapy, social work, clinical psychology, psychiatry, support work and administration.

  We are looking for an enthusiastic clinician motivated to work with people who may be autistic to work as part of a well-integrated, capable team delivering high quality evidence-based services for this group.

  This is an exciting career opportunity for an applicant with direct experience, or for those with relevant experience who wish to specialise in this developing field.

  The service currently provides diagnostic and post diagnostic input including specialist assessments, brief interventions, psychoeducation, and consultation to partner services and organisations. It has an employment arm through a local third sector provider.

  The successful applicant will receive training where required in the application of specialist autism diagnostic tools and will receive clinical supervision and professional support. They will also be closely involved with the Department of Adult Mental Health Psychology, under whose governance they will experience CPD, including regular specific psychological training. Within this lively and enthusiastic department a range of approaches is promoted, including CBT, CFT and psychodynamic, supported by strong peer and specialist supervision.

  Main duties of the job

  • The systematic provision of a high quality specialist psychology service to the team, including specialised assessments, development and delivery of specialised programmes of care to service users.
  • Be responsible for the day to day management of psychological provision to the team. To identify areas for development or challenges and work closely with the Operational lead, Consultant Psychiatrist and Senior Practitioner to implement and address these.
  • Operate as an integrated member of the team, placing the service user at the centre of service planning and delivery.
  • Promote and facilitate psychological capability and promote psychosocial interventions within the team through teaching and consultation.
  • Provide specialist advice to other teams and voluntary sector agencies concerning the assessment, treatment and management of service users accessing team.
  • Work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the team.
  • Utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research.
  • Participate in CPD and other developmental activities, keeping up to date with relevant psychological research and national guidance (DoH, NICE etc).
  • Define psychology practices and procedures under the clinical supervision of a senior psychologist (who sits outside of THAS).
  • Input into trustwide initiatives concerning service provision for neurodivergent service users.

  About us

  Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

  Details

  Date posted

  27 May 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 8a

  Salary

  £61,927 to £68,676 a year per annum Incl HCAs

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time, Compressed hours

  Reference number

  363-TH7175172

  Job locations

  Tower Hamlets Autism Service

  86 Old Montague Street

  London

  E1 5NN

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Please take a moment to review the primary responsibilities associated with this position, as attached to the vacancy profile. Additionally, JD/PS provide comprehensive details regarding the vacancy and its scope.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Please take a moment to review the primary responsibilities associated with this position, as attached to the vacancy profile. Additionally, JD/PS provide comprehensive details regarding the vacancy and its scope.

  Person Specification

  Education / Qualification / Training

  Essential

  • Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS.
  • Registered with Health and Care Professions Council as a Chartered Psychologist
  • Additional relevant clinical knowledge and skills acquired through formal training, long or short courses, formal supervision (individual and/or group), structured self-study or experience (or a combination of these) to an appropriate level approved by the Head of Psychology and demonstrated by certification, documented supervision logs, management appraisal documentation and/or assessment at interview.

  Desirable

  • Further training in a neuropsychological assessments
  • Clinical supervision training for doctoral psychology trainees
  • Trained in the use of ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule)

  Experience

  Essential

  • At least two years experience of work in the NHS
  • Experience of working with a wide variety of service user groups across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity
  • Experience of working as a specialist clinical psychologist including relevant experience working in a multi-disciplinary team for adults with severe and enduring mental health problems.
  • Experience of teaching, training and supervision.
  • Experience of working in a multi-cultural setting, including working with interpreters.
  • Experience of working with Autism and learning difficulties or neuropsychology services.

  Desirable

  • Experience of developing and delivering specialist training programmes.
  • Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care.
  • Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.

  Knowledge and skills

  Essential

  • Highly developed skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management, including the use of theoretical models to analyse information and to develop formulations upon which to base choice of treatment.
  • Highly-developed skills in the effective communication of highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to a wide variety of recipients in a range of settings within and outside the NHS, including the ability to produce comprehensive and coherent letters, reports and associated documentation.
  • Knowledge of the NICE guidelines relating to Autism.
  • Highly developed communication skills at overcoming barriers to understanding and acceptance.
  • Skills in working in multidisciplinary settings.
  • Skills in providing advice and consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
  • Working knowledge of the practices and approaches of other key disciplines, professions and agencies involved in the care and management network, including medical, employment, social, educational and criminal justice systems.
  • Doctoral-level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex, multivariate data analysis as practised within the field of clinical psychology.
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation mental health.
  • Evidence of CPD as recommended by BPS.
  • Competence in advanced IT packages including keyboard skills.
  • Ability to provide a culturally competent and non-stigmatising service including an awareness of the potential impact of discrimination and disadvantage on mental health.
  • Ability to support and co-ordinate the work of psychology colleagues within the team/service.
  • Ability to co-ordinate the recording and reporting of clinical information as required.

  Desirable

  • Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult - to - treat groups (e.g. complex needs, self harm, personality disorder psychosis, dual diagnosis, persons with additional disabilities etc).
  • Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies - preferably CBT and one other.
  • Knowledge of the academic literature of the specialism.

  Person Specification

  Education / Qualification / Training

  Essential

  • Postgraduate Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS.
  • Registered with Health and Care Professions Council as a Chartered Psychologist
  • Additional relevant clinical knowledge and skills acquired through formal training, long or short courses, formal supervision (individual and/or group), structured self-study or experience (or a combination of these) to an appropriate level approved by the Head of Psychology and demonstrated by certification, documented supervision logs, management appraisal documentation and/or assessment at interview.

  Desirable

  • Further training in a neuropsychological assessments
  • Clinical supervision training for doctoral psychology trainees
  • Trained in the use of ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule)

  Experience

  Essential

  • At least two years experience of work in the NHS
  • Experience of working with a wide variety of service user groups across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity
  • Experience of working as a specialist clinical psychologist including relevant experience working in a multi-disciplinary team for adults with severe and enduring mental health problems.
  • Experience of teaching, training and supervision.
  • Experience of working in a multi-cultural setting, including working with interpreters.
  • Experience of working with Autism and learning difficulties or neuropsychology services.

  Desirable

  • Experience of developing and delivering specialist training programmes.
  • Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care.
  • Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.

  Knowledge and skills

  Essential

  • Highly developed skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management, including the use of theoretical models to analyse information and to develop formulations upon which to base choice of treatment.
  • Highly-developed skills in the effective communication of highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to a wide variety of recipients in a range of settings within and outside the NHS, including the ability to produce comprehensive and coherent letters, reports and associated documentation.
  • Knowledge of the NICE guidelines relating to Autism.
  • Highly developed communication skills at overcoming barriers to understanding and acceptance.
  • Skills in working in multidisciplinary settings.
  • Skills in providing advice and consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
  • Working knowledge of the practices and approaches of other key disciplines, professions and agencies involved in the care and management network, including medical, employment, social, educational and criminal justice systems.
  • Doctoral-level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex, multivariate data analysis as practised within the field of clinical psychology.
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation mental health.
  • Evidence of CPD as recommended by BPS.
  • Competence in advanced IT packages including keyboard skills.
  • Ability to provide a culturally competent and non-stigmatising service including an awareness of the potential impact of discrimination and disadvantage on mental health.
  • Ability to support and co-ordinate the work of psychology colleagues within the team/service.
  • Ability to co-ordinate the recording and reporting of clinical information as required.

  Desirable

  • Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult - to - treat groups (e.g. complex needs, self harm, personality disorder psychosis, dual diagnosis, persons with additional disabilities etc).
  • Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies - preferably CBT and one other.
  • Knowledge of the academic literature of the specialism.

  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

  East London NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Tower Hamlets Autism Service

  86 Old Montague Street

  London

  E1 5NN

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  East London NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Tower Hamlets Autism Service

  86 Old Montague Street

  London

  E1 5NN

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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