Description:
The Principal Specialist Neuropsychologist is a senior clinical and leadership role responsible for the development and delivery of a high-quality neuropsychology service within an acute hospital neuropsychology setting. The post-holder provides expert assessment, intervention, consultation, and service development for patients across inpatient and outpatient pathways.
Responsibilities Key Responsibilities Clinical
- Deliver a specialist neuropsychology service including comprehensive assessment, formulation, and evidence-based intervention.
- Manage a complex clinical caseload and referral pathways, including prioritisation and waiting list management.
- Provide consultation to multidisciplinary team (MDT) colleagues and contribute to integrated patient care planning.
- Produce high-quality clinical reports and communicate findings effectively to patients, families, and professionals.
Leadership and Service Development
- With the Head of Psychology, lead the development, planning, and evaluation of neuropsychology services in line with organisational and national priorities.
- Contribute to service planning, policy development, and implementation of clinical pathways and operational procedures.
- Promote quality improvement, clinical audit, and evidence-based practice.
- Participate in and support organisational change, innovation, and service redesign initiatives.
Management and Supervision
- Provide clinical supervision to psychology staff (assistant, basic, and senior grades).
- Contribute to recruitment, selection, and induction of staff
- Support workforce planning, training needs analysis, and continuing professional development (CPD).
- Deputise for the Head of Psychology or senior manager as required.
Education and Training
- Contribute to education and training of MDT staff through teaching, consultation, and knowledge translation.
- Support undergraduate and postgraduate psychology training, including supervision of trainees.
- Maintain links with academic institutions and contribute to professional development initiatives.
Research and Audit
- Engage in and lead research relevant to neuropsychology.
- Contribute to audit, service evaluation, and dissemination of findings (e.g. publications, presentations).
- Support integration of research evidence into clinical practice.
Governance, Quality and Professional Practice
- Ensure compliance with professional, ethical, and legal standards, including data protection and confidentiality.
- Maintain accurate clinical records and contribute to service data collection and reporting.
- Participate in departmental and hospital governance structures, meetings, and committees.
Qualifications Essential
- Honours degree in Psychology and recognised postgraduate qualification in Clinical or Counselling Psychology.
- Minimum of 8 years post-qualification experience, including at least 3 years at senior level.
- Demonstrated expertise in neuropsychological assessment and intervention.
- Experience working with complex neuropsychological conditions in an acute or specialist setting.
- Experience of supervision, leadership, and service development.
- Strong multidisciplinary working and communication skills.
Desirable
- Specialist training, experience or qualification in Neuropsychology.
- Experience in research, audit, and publication.
- Experience in service planning, quality improvement, and change management.
- Leadership and management training/experience.