Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Pathway PsychologistinBromleyinBromleyPUBLISHED TUE 25 FEB 2025

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Pathway Psychologist

Agenda for Change Band 8a

Part-time role - 0.6 WTE or 22.5 hours per week

Bromley Healthcare is the provider of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessment in Bromley. The post holder will be part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT), working closely with Community Paediatricians, Speech and Language and Occupational Therapy colleagues to provide comprehensive diagnostic assessments of children and young people with suspected Autism Spectrum conditions/differences using established diagnostic tools.

We can offer:

• In-service training and the opportunity to apply for external courses
• Regular whole-team CPD meetings and small clinical supervision groups
• Regular line management as well as ad-hoc support from colleagues
• Access to clinical specialists for specialist opinions and support
• Opportunities for career progression
• Admin support from Specialist Administrator
• Flexible working
• Opportunities for developing leadership skills (e.g. line-management)

Proposed interview date w/c 17th March 2025

We are currently developing a new single-provider community-based ASD pathway for children in Bromley. To provide this pathway, we are looking for an ADOS (Autism Diagnotic Observation Schedule) trained Psychologist to assess children who are referred into the service.

Day-to-day, you will provide assessment to children and feedback to families in conjunction with other members of the multidisciplinary team.

You will be part of a dynamic, committed team of staff delivering high-quality services to the population of Bromley. We believe in innovation and encourage staff to work in new and effective ways.

Bromley Healthcare is an established social enterprise. As a shareholder you would have greater involvement and an opportunity to influence key decisions.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this in your application/supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

About us

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Clinical

• To provide specialist psychological and neuropsychological advice, guidance, consultation and supervision to other professionals and staff contributing to diagnosis, treatment plans and management of patients
• To carry out high-quality ASD assessments, including ADOS and feedback to parents, as part of the MDT. This will be face to face with children and young people, up to age 18 years, providing expert advice, leadership and education to junior colleagues working as part of the pathway
• To communicate assessment results and other complex and sensitive information orally and in written form in order to support the work of multidisciplinary colleagues
• To work with the Head of AHPs and Community Paediatricians to facilitate changes in practice across the service to improve clinical outcomes to meet the needs of patients and carers
• Demonstrate strong team leadership and provide co-ordination across professional boundaries working closely with other clinicians within the same area of practice and partner agencies

To communicate effectively with neurodiverse children, young people and adults, families, internal and external staff

To work as part of the multidisciplinary team to provide appropriate intervention and support in a person-centred and individualised way

• To manage own varied and complex caseload and to be responsible for completing clinical reports and correspondence in a timely manner in line with the record keeping policy and ASD SOP
• To work as part of the MDT to support efficient risk assessment and risk management
• To sensitively deal with distressing or emotional circumstances regarding patient care, and communicate information, sensitively, requiring empathy and reassurance, to patients and carers
• To have full knowledge of evidence-based practice and be able to demonstrate the highest level of expertise and clinical reasoning skills in this area
• To ensure ADOS-2 Reliability is kept up to date through attendance at annual workshops

2. General

To empower patients and their families through appropriate support and education

To motivate and persuade others through advanced communication skills and to be able to gain the co-operation for treatment/interventions where there may be significant barriers to understanding and to support the other members of the team to do likewise

To provide and receive information which is very sensitive, very complex and often contentious and unwelcome, involving a range of patients, carers, multidisciplinary colleagues, managers and Third Sector colleagues. The setting for communication will often be highly emotive and may be antagonistic, requiring a very high level of interpersonal and communication skill, both verbally and in written communication, explaining, educating and persuading in innovative ways where necessary

Communicate with both internal and external stakeholders, such as service users, carers, other teams, third sector and voluntary organisations, using tact and diplomacy in response to situations that may be complex and sensitive and may have resulted from conflict

Apply enhanced communication skills both oral and written. Communicate information within records and reports within their service area. This may also include the need to respond to and offer and reassurance to questions and concerns from a variety of groups, such as service users, carers and other staff/teams

Build relationships and work collaboratively across the sector, in order to promote best practice and improve patient outcomes

To utilise formal and informal reporting mechanisms, including electronic and handwritten reporting to ensure effective internal and external communications and to ensure all documentation is accurate and professional

To present information and reports as required relating to service area including formal presentations

Fully support the use of EMIS/EMIS (iPad) mobile and provide contemporaneous clinical records

To continuously challenge practice ensuring a sound evidence base thus meeting clinical governance requirements

Support the Service Lead and Operational Leads in delivering the ASD KPIs and in performance management of clinical issues and ensure that capacity is maintained and timelines managed at times of escalation

Supervise and support junior colleagues with development of clinical skills and understanding

Provide mentorship/clinical supervision to staff within the team supporting them in applying theory to practice

Represent Bromley Healthcare at, and actively participate in, relevant external and network meetings, in order to share learning and promote best practice

3. Audit and Research

To contribute to ongoing service development, reviewing service outcomes, designing and participating in audit, research and clinical governance initiatives, and reporting on the results. This will involve communication with a wide range of clinical and managerial colleagues, within and beyond Bromley Healthcare

To evaluate and audit the quality and effectiveness of the practice of self and others

To participate and lead on clinical audits as appropriate on work related research/evaluation projects and to be aware of current research relevant to the speciality

To review new policies and research and contribute to professional discussion about ways of implementing same in clinical practice

To participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of protocols, policies consistent with national standards and current research

4. Professional

Ensure that personal performance meets job requirements, Professional Codes and standards, Bromley Healthcare and post competency standards at all times.

To ensure own compliance with mandatory training programmes and own ongoing professional development and development of the advanced practitioner role.

To maintain a portfolio of advanced practice and personal development activities and evidence; planning, implementing and evaluating strategies to meet own Personal Development Plan.

To take an active part in own clinical supervision and support clinical supervision/ professional reflection of colleagues where appropriate.

To actively participate in Bromley Healthcares appraisal and review process identifying own learning needs.