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.

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:

• Be experienced in undertaking autism assessments including having skills in developmental and autism-specific history taking, as well as being ADOS-2 trained.
• Able to provide supervision to an assistant psychologist and other members of the MDT.
• Maintain a high degree of professionalism when working in settings with a highly emotive atmosphere.
• Be flexible in their approach and have resilience under pressure.
• Work both in a team environment and autonomously

We can offer you:

• Regular clinical and professional supervision from a clinical psychologist
• 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.

Details
Date posted: 14 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
Reference number: 812-26-MD-04-CP
Job locations: Howard Court, 14 Tewin Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1BW, United Kingdom

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, suzannah.gratton@nhs.net, Mob: 07920 751966.
Sarah Cole Clinical Psychologist, sarah.cole46@nhs.net
Mayuri Dave, Operational Lead for Neurodivergent Children Pathway & Sensory Processing Service, mayuridave@nhs.net, 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

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Address: Howard Court, 14 Tewin Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1BW, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.hct.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Dr Suzie Gratton
suzannah.gratton@nhs.net
07920751966

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.