Clinical psychologist

Do you have a strong interest in Autism, and differential diagnosis? Are you interested in working with children, young people and families? Do you want to be part of a supportive, reflective and developing multi-disciplinary service in Hertfordshire?

Hertfordshire Community Trust (HCT) has an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and passionate individual to provide support for Children and Young People (CYP) across the age range who may be autistic. HCT is working closely with system partners to implement a transformed diagnostic pathway for neurodivergent CYP. The vision in Hertfordshire is to ensure CYP and their families can access early support, advice, and information including timely provision of diagnostic assessments where clinically needed. We are an innovative and flexible team working to develop neuroaffirmative practices.

Due to additional funding, we are looking to recruit 0.8 wte Band 8a, Clinical Psychologist into a permanent post, who bring strong skills and experience in Autism to the multidisciplinary Autism Assessment Team across Hertfordshire.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work closely with the MDT and other agencies to undertake diagnostic assessments for autism and contribute to the psychology provision within the autism assessment service.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be experienced in undertaking autism assessments, including having skills in developmental and autism-specific history taking, as well as being ADOS-2 trained.
• Be able to provide supervision to an assistant psychologist and other members of the MDT.
• Maintain a high degree of professionalism when working in settings with a highly emotive atmosphere.
• Be flexible in their approach and have resilience under pressure.
• Work both in a team environment and autonomously.

Benefits and supporting provisions

• Regular clinical and professional supervision from a clinical psychologist.
• Personal development planning and opportunities for continuing professional development.
• Support and guidance in transitioning into your new post.
• Opportunities to work closely with a multi-disciplinary team, which includes other psychologists.
• Involvement in service development including undertaking clinical audits, project work and service forums.

About us

We put our patients, their families and carers at the centre of our vision – Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities. Our staff are proud to be pioneering, caring and inclusive in their work to help achieve the Trust vision. We welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds and ages.

Job responsibilities

This is a permanent post based across Hertfordshire. The base will be agreed to meet service needs and demand. There might also be an opportunity for a proportion of their time to be home working (to be discussed with your manager).

In addition to the basic salary, some posts attract a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of basic salary subject to a minimum and a maximum payment per annum, pro rata where applicable, depending on base.

For this role you will need to have a full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Full time/part time working patterns/secondments will be considered. Interviews will be held on 24th June 2026. Mayuri Dave, Operational Lead for Neurodivergent Children Pathway & Sensory Processing Service, mayuridave@nhs.net, Mob: 07721667614.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

• Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist.
• Doctoral level training in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996), including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology.
• Formal training in supervision of trainee clinical psychologist.
• Formal training in the assessment of Autism or willingness to train.

Experience & Knowledge

• Experience and skills in psychological assessment and interventions with children & young people with learning disabilities and/or social communication difficulties.
• Experience of supervision of trainee and / or assistant clinical psychologists.
• Using the ADOS-2 for the assessment and diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders or willingness to train.
• Experience of the use of the ADI‑R or 3DI for the assessment and diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders or willingness to train.

Skills & Abilities

• Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and /or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.

Other requirements

• A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
• Eligible to live and work in the UK.

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.

£57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum pro rata