Senior Assistant Psychologist | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Job description

About

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 5 Senior Assistant Psychologist in our CommunityPaediatricService. The vacancy is ideal for candidates who have an interest in working with young people with a diagnosis of anAutism Spectrum Disorder/ Condition and their families. The post will involve working closely with externalorganisations, as well as members of the Multidisciplinary Team which includes Consultant CommunityPaediatricians, Clinical Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Nurses. 

Under supervision from the Clinical Psychologist, the successful applicant will work as part of our Autistic Spectrum Disorder Pathway to provide training, support and advice to families who arein the process of seekingan assessment. This pathway is part of The Dorset Development andBehaviourPathwaywhich is a locally driven initiative designed to inform and support families who access our service.  

The post holder will promote and coordinate thepatientjourney through the service,utilisinganevidence basedapproach.  They will act as a single point of contact for families to keep theminformed aboutduring the process of assessment and to give practical tips whilst waiting or making referrals toappropriate services. 

We are looking foramotivated and flexible individual with an undergraduate/postgraduate degree in Psychology.Strong communicationandorganisationalskills arerequired. 

Interview: 10th November

The post will form a key part of the Dorset Development and Behavioural Pathway, specifically supporting the parents/carers of young people with suspected ASD. The post is intended to contribute to an efficient and supported journey for young people and their families/carers within the multiagency diagnostic pathway for ASD and related conditions. It is intended that this role will support clinicians with assessments so that their time and capacity is spent where it is needed most. The post-holder will be involved in information gathering and administering standardised assessments under supervision of the Lead Clinical Psychologist. The post-holder will be able to provide information and signpost parents to Early Help Services across Dorset which can support them further. This post is also intended to support those children and families who do not get adiagnosisbut who have outstanding support needs. The post holder will need to make referrals into other services which can help. The post holder will collate and share with families and professionals, up-to-date local and national information on community and digital resources to support young people with ASD. The post holder will be supervised by a registered Clinical Psychologist working in the service. 

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.

 

Please see attached for full details:

The post will form a key part of the Dorset Development and Behavioural Pathway, specifically supporting the parents/carers of young people with suspected ASD. The post is intended to contribute to an efficient and supported journey for young people and their families/carers within the multiagency diagnostic pathway for ASD and related conditions. It is intended that this role will support clinicians with assessments so that their time and capacity is spent where it is needed most. The post-holder will be involved in information gathering and administering standardised assessments under supervision of the Lead Clinical Psychologist. The post-holder will be able to provide information and signpost parents to Early Help Services across Dorset which can support them further. This post is also intended to support those children and families who do not get adiagnosisbut who have outstanding support needs. The post holder will need to make referrals into other services which can help. The post holder will collate and share with families and professionals, up-to-date local and national information on community and digital resources to support young people with ASD. The post holder will be supervised by a registered Clinical Psychologist working in the service. 

This advert closes on Sunday 1 Nov 2026