Principal Clinical Psychologist - CDNTs - Dublin

Job Description Job Title and Grade : Head of Psychology Principal Clinical Psychologist (Grade Code 3727, DOH scales as at 1 Aug 2025) Salary : €114,961 €133,271 (LSIs) Contract Type : Permanent, Full-Time (35 hours per week) Location : Based in Clontarf, Dublin with travel to other service locations (Dublin, Waterford, Limerick) as required Overview of Service This organisation provides a wide range of high-quality services to children and adults with complex disabilities through Childrens Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) and enhanced complex care pathways. Psychology services include assessment, intervention, consultation, research, education, and support, all delivered in line with the organisations strategy and within established professional standards, guidelines, and policy. The Head of Psychology will play a pivotal leadership role in developing and delivering services, particularly in expanding supports for autism and neurodiversity, and will provide strategic and clinical leadership to psychology teams. Reporting & Relationships Reports to : Head of National Specialist Services, Research and Education Key Stakeholders : Parents, carers, advocates, multidisciplinary teams, senior management, external agencies (including HSE and voluntary agencies) Purpose of the Post The Head of Psychology will take professional responsibility for the development and oversight of psychology services in a changing disability context, ensuring quality, evidence-based, and person-centred services aligned with organisational strategy. Principal Duties and Responsibilities 1. Strategic Leadership Lead the development and implementation of psychology strategy with a strong focus on autism and neurodiversity. Drive service transformation to expand beyond physical disabilities. Oversee development of enhanced complex care pathways and integration across childrens and adult services. Provide visionary leadership to clinical staff, fostering innovation and excellence. 2. Clinical Leadership Oversee delivery of high-quality psychological services to individuals with complex disabilities. Ensure evidence-based practices are embedded in service delivery. Provide expert case consultation and mentorship to psychology teams. Support performance development and workforce planning. 3. Stakeholder Engagement Build strong relationships with families, carers, and community organisations. Represent the psychology service in external forums and awareness initiatives. Develop mechanisms for service-user and staff feedback to improve quality of care. 4. Research and Innovation Promote a culture of research and innovation. Lead and support research into complex disability, autism, and neurodiversity. Collaborate with academic and research institutions. 5. Education and Knowledge Sharing Promote education and knowledge-sharing within psychology and wider services. Identify and respond to sector education needs. Provide training, supervision, and support for postgraduate and trainee psychologists. 6. Professional / Clinical Duties Deliver and oversee assessment, consultation, and therapy interventions. Produce professional clinical reports for internal and external stakeholders (including HSE, TUSLA, courts). Ensure multi-disciplinary and inter-agency collaboration. Monitor performance via KPIs, data collection, and clinical audit. Ensure compliance with current legislation, national standards, and policies. Provide professional supervision for psychology staff. Manage department budget and staff resources effectively. Lead on recruitment, staff development, and grievance / disciplinary procedures. 7. Other Responsibilities Promote sustainable, efficient service delivery. Ensure health and safety responsibilities are fully met. Support quality and patient safety initiatives. Undertake additional duties relevant to the post as assigned. Eligibility CriteriaQualifications Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (or equivalent). For qualifications obtained outside Ireland, validation by the Department of Health or fulfilment of compensatory criteria is required. Registration with the Psychological Society of Ireland. Experience Significant experience in disability services. Extensive experience with autism and neurodiversity. Proven strategic leadership and service transformation experience. Strong track record of clinical expertise and evidence-based practice. Demonstrated experience in research and innovation. Skills, Competencies & Knowledge Visionary, dynamic leader with ability to inspire and drive innovation. Deep commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities, including autism and neurodiversity. Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills. Collaborative and team-oriented, fostering positive working relationships. Innovative and forward-thinking, with the ability to anticipate sector needs. Strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Solid professional knowledge, ethical practice, and commitment to continuous learning. Stewardship of public resources with a strong focus on accountability and person-centred supports. Skills : Psychology