Clinical Psychologist

Job summary

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 exciting opportunities for dynamic and passionate individuals 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 neuroaffirmitive practices.

Due to service development, we are looking to recruit 1.6 WTE Band 8a Clinical Psychologists on a permanent contract who can bring strong skills and experience in Autism to the multidisciplinary Autism Assessment Team across Hertfordshire. A preceptorship would be considered for the permanent contract role.

HCT will prioritise recruitment of workers living in England under the new immigration rules for care workers effective from 9 April 2025. Employers must first prove that they have attempted to recruit a worker from within England who needs new sponsorship. This ensures that those who came to the UK to pursue a career in adult social care can do so.

Main duties of the job

The post holders 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:

o Be experienced in undertaking autism assessments including having skills in developmental and autism-specific history taking, as well as being ADOS-2 trained.

o Able to provide supervision to an assistant psychologist and other members of the MDT.

o Maintain a high degree of professionalism when working in settings with a highly emotive atmosphere.

o Be flexible in their approach and have resilience under pressure.

o Work both in a team environment and autonomously

We can offer you:

o Regular clinical and professional supervision from a clinical psychologist

o 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

You'll find it a great place to work with many benefits offered to you as a member of our staff

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

We don't want you to miss out so we'd like you to know that if we have a high level of interest in this role, the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date, so please make your application as soon as possible - Apply now

You've made a great decision to apply to join to HCT - we're looking forward to taking the next steps of the journey with you.

The use of AI is monitored and if you have used it then you are required to declare this, as well as what type of AI tools you have used and for what purpose. We reserve the right to further test your individual knowledge and skills in relation to the requirements for the post through robust and thorough interview and assessment.

Job responsibilities

These posts are based across Hertfordshire and working location 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, the permanent post attracts 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)

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for more specific information about this role.

Are you interested in developing your skills further? If so, apply now to be part of this friendly and forward-thinking trust.

Advertised hours /part time working patterns/secondments will be considered.

Interviews to be held on 8th September 2026

For further details / informal visits contact:

Suzie Gratton, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, [email protected],

Mob: 07920 751966.

Sarah Cole Clinical Psychologist, [email protected]

Mayuri Dave, Operational Lead for Neurodivergent Children Pathway & Sensory Processing Service, [email protected], Mob: 07721667614.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• 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 and Knowledge

Essential

• 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 and Abilities

Essential

• 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

Essential

• 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