Job summary
This post offers an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and innovative psychologist who is passionate about the delivery of autism informed mental health care to work across the whole of the TEWV footprint supporting all colleagues to provide the best service possible for autistic children, young people and adults.
The Trustwide Autism Service consists of a supportive multidisciplinary team whose role is to offer specialist autism consultation, supervision and training for all TEWV staff across all specialities and corporate services.
We are seeking to appoint an Applied Psychologist who is passionate about delivering autism informed mental health services. The vacancy is open to an existing Band 8A psychologist or a Band 7 psychologist wishing to progress in their career. We will also consider offering a preceptorship option for a newly or recently qualified clinical or counselling psychologist who may not yet meet the essential criteria; to progress from a band 7 into the band 8a position.
Trainee clinical psychologists are eligible to apply for and to be shortlisted for interview and to be offered qualified posts when they are in their third year of training, as they will have completed their core clinical competencies by this stage of the course.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will have a key role in providing autism consultation, training and supervision across all clinicians and within corporate services but will have a particular remit to support the delivery of autism informed governed psychological therapies and the development of autism informed formulations.
In addition, the post holder will offer reflective practice opportunities and consultation for the rest of the Trustwide Autism Service, as well as the supervision of an Assistant Psychologist.
There is a huge opportunity to contribute to service evaluation and development with the chance to innovate and to develop new initiatives that promote autism informed care within the Trust.
Applicants should have significant experience in providing mental health services for autistic adults and/or children and competencies in an evidence based psychological therapy. They will also be able to work comfortably and effectively in a non-direct way, supporting TEWV colleagues across all specialities to work in an autism informed way and to embed reasonable adjustments for autistic children and adults within their work. The successful applicant will be enthusiastic, motivated, and demonstrate a commitment to delivering excellent health care and evidence-based practice.
About us
There are excellent opportunities for peer support/supervision with the team as well as for CPD activities. The Trustwide Autism Service has a commitment to ensuring that we keep up to date with research and developments within the field and there is an expectation that all team members participate in this.
Our service has strong links with the Doctoral Clinical and Counselling Psychology Programmes at Teesside University. The post holder will be involved in offering trainee placements and University teaching will be encouraged and supported to offer research supervision.
This post is full time. Please note that the role is Trustwide and there is a key requirement to travel across the whole of the TEWV footprint in line with demand for our input across all services and localities..
Psychological professions staff will be expected to display the Trust values at all times, working as part of the collective leadership team with shared accountability and responsibility for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of patient care is delivered in a patient centred manner. They will also contribute to ensuring the culture of our services is built upon the Trust Values and the trust's strategy - Our Journey To change (OJTC).
Details
Date posted
09 December 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£47,810 to £62,682 a year per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
346-FMH-146-25-A
Job locations
Lanchester Road Hospital
Lanchester Road
Durham
DH1 5RD
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.
Psychologists & Psychological Therapists provide key leadership roles within the Trust. To support this we have developed leadership profiles for each psychology band and the profile card associated with this post is attached on NHS Jobs. You can find more information about the NHS Leadership Academys Healthcare Leadership Model and the profiles at their website.
We welcome applications from staff who are currently coming to the end of their training in Clinical or counselling psychology that on successful completion will achieve the required qualification and registration with HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist. Trainee counselling psychologists are eligible to apply for and to be shortlisted for interview and to be offered qualified posts when they are in their 3rd year of the doctoral training and have the following confirmed as completed by the university. This information may be requested prior to interview: a. All clinical competencies. b. 80% of the 450 supervised clinical practice hours (360 hours)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
1. Post-graduate training (doctoral level equivalent) in clinical / counselling / forensic psychology (or its equivalent prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS.
2. HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist
3. Trained in clinical supervision (within agreed timescale)
4. Evidence of continuing professional development
5. Evidence of training in autism (awareness and/or diagnostic)
Desirable
6. Post-graduate qualification showing evidence of supervised practice in an evidence-based psychological therapeutic model
Experience
Essential
7. Working as a qualified applied psychologist within the designated service including a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course and a range of clinical severity across a range of care settings.
8. Multi-disciplinary team working experience
9. Experience of supporting the work of other clinicians indirectly
10. Experience of supervising other clinicians
11. Experience of service development
12. Experience of service evaluation and audit
13. Experience of teaching/training
Desirable
14. Experience of delivering one or more GPTs
15. Experience of developing training packages
Knowledge
Essential
16. Doctoral level knowledge of evidence-based practice relevant to the role
17. Risk assessment and risk management
18. Clinical governance
19. Knowledge of legislation in relation to this client group and mental health (autism)
20. Audit and research methodology
21. Neuro-affirmative practice