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Principal Clinical Psychologist

East London NHS Foundation Trust

BEDFORD, MK41 6AT £66,582 – £77,368 a year Permanent Posted 1 September 2026 Apply by 29 September 2026

Home Office register entry: East London NHS Foundation Trust, London

Visa sponsorship

This role is listed by an employer that holds a live Home Office sponsor licence on the Skilled Worker route.

Closest occupation match: SOC 2225, Clinical psychologists. Pay for this occupation is set by national pay scales (NHS bands), so no single Home Office going rate applies.

This occupation falls under the Health and Care Worker route. Public reference figures for that route: the general salary minimum is £25,000 a year, and salaries set by national pay scales (NHS bands) at or above the relevant band rate typically meet the occupation's requirement. Individual eligibility depends on personal circumstances. These figures are public reference information, not advice or a verdict on this job.

Role description

Job summary

We are looking to recruit a highly motivated, innovative and inspiring HCPC Registered Principle Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to welcome into our Services for Adults with Learning Disabilities. The postholder will work closely with Service and Operational Managers and have specific clinical leadership responsibilities in the Adult Autism Diagnostic Service which is for people without a Learning Disability.

The post is suitable for an experienced Psychologist who champions services for autistic people, learning disability and ADHD. You must have an excellent understanding of working systemically across and within organisational boundaries. You must be keen to embrace the privileges of working in a diverse County, have experience of working with adults with complex mental health needs and from a range of religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. We develop and deliver our services through co-production with staff and people with lived experience. We would expect you to be fully committed to partnership working and co-production.

There are opportunities for excellent CPD that supports the Trust Strategy. Much of the work is in person and you will be expected to travel across Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes County and on occasion to London.

Main duties of the job

In line with the ELFT Trust Mission, Values and Strategy, the post holder will be the Clinical Lead and contribute to the highest standards of multidisciplinary health care in the BLMK Adult Autism Diagnostic Service. The post holder will also deputise as required by the Consultant Psychological Professions Lead, Bedfordshire who has professional responsibility for The Specialist Healthcare Team, Intensive Support Team and the AAD Service.

The post holder will ensure the systematic provision of a high-quality comprehensive specialist psychological service to the service users of the Adult Autism Diagnostic Service. They will provide senior clinical and strategic input into these services.

The post holder will directly provide highly specialist psychological assessments, formulations, specialist risk assessments and advise on risk management, as well as the provision of psychological advice and consultation to others involved in service user care. The post holder will also supervise and support other psychologists, psychological professionals and members of the MDT as appropriate, with devolved governance responsibility for agreeing case and workload levels, and systems of monitoring quality of practice. As such, they may be required to support operational line managers with any disciplinary, capability or sickness processes as necessary.

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.

Date posted

01 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

363-BED8216618

Job locations

Twinwoods Clinical Resource Centre

Milton Road, Clapham

BEDFORD

MK41 6AT

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

We expect all staff to work inline with the Trust's mission, values and strategy with a particular focus on equity. Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for the details of the post.

Person Specification

Education/Training/ Qualifications

Essential

Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology
HCPC Registration
Training in clinical supervision
Training in adult autism diagnostic assessments

Desirable

Post-doctoral training in one or more relevant specialist areas of psychological practice.
Management and/or Leadership Training
Quality Improvement Training
Reflective practice and/or working with group dynamics training
Training and/or qualification in Neuropsychological Assessment

Experience

Essential

Substantial experience as a qualified Psychologist working in MDT's for adults with autism, a learning disability, ADHD, complex and mental health
Autism Diagnostic Assessments
Assessing capacity to consent
Working with diverse groups/populations and working with interpreters
Co-production with service users, carers, staff
Supervising psychological professionals in relevant service area
Supervisiong non psychological professionals in relevant service area
Training MDT's in working with people with autism, learning disability, ADHD, mental health
Recruitment and selection
Working with VCSE, LA, other community partners

Desirable

Managing psychological professions staff and managing non psychological professions staffessionals
Leading a QI project
Facilitating MDT reflective practice

Knowledge and skills

Essential

Adapting communication for the client group
Knowledge of relevant policy and national guidance
Highly developed knowledge, theory, practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies with adults with autism, learning disability, ADHD and complex mental health should include CBT
Respectful approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals.

Other

Essential

Driving license, access to a vehicle and insurance for business travel.

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.

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.