This is a rare opportunity for an experienced Clinical Psychologist to combine high quality clinical practice with strategic leadership in quality, governance and service improvement. As Quality Assurance Lead at Held Health, you will play a pivotal role in shaping how safe, effective, neuro-affirming care is delivered at scale.
You will split your time between clinical work with children and young people and leading our clinical quality agenda, influencing practice across multidisciplinary teams. This role offers genuine autonomy, senior clinical influence, and the chance to embed robust quality systems within a fast growing, values led organisation.
If you are passionate about patient safety, clinical excellence, and evidence based practice and want the space to lead, innovate and make a real impact this role offers a unique blend of hands on clinical work and system level leadership in a supportive, forward thinking environment.
Main duties of the job
You will work across two core strands: clinical practice and clinical quality leadership.
Approximately two days per week will be spent delivering high quality psychological assessment and intervention for children and young people with complex emotional, developmental and relational needs. This includes participation in multidisciplinary assessments, formulation, care planning, and collaborative working with families and professionals.
Your remaining time will focus on leading clinical quality and governance activity. This includes oversight of quality assurance systems, clinical audits, effectiveness and improvement programmes, and regulatory compliance. Your role works closely with Clinical Leads and senior colleagues to promote evidence based practice, monitor quality metrics, identify risks, and drive continuous improvement.
The Quality Assurance Lead provides expert guidance on clinical standards, supports preparation for external review and inspection, and contributes to a strong culture of safety, accountability, and learning across the organisation.
About us
Held Health is a growing healthcare organisation redefining assessment and support for neurodivergent children, young people and adults across the UK. We deliver evidencebased pathways for Autism, ADHD, learning difficulties and mental health, underpinned by robust governance, thoughtful use of data, and a strong commitment to quality.
Our culture is collaborative, valuesled and genuinely neuroaffirming. We prioritise reflective practice, psychological safety, and meaningful professional development, creating an environment where clinicians feel trusted, supported and heard. Multidisciplinary working is central to what we do, with close collaboration across clinical, operational and leadership teams.
As an organisation, we are building modern, digitalfirst services that improve access, consistency and outcomes for families. Staff at Held Health benefit from regular clinical supervision, strong peer support, flexibility where possible, and opportunities to shape services as we grow. Our ambition is simple: to deliver care so exceptional that it becomes the natural choice people recommend to others.
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
Clinical Practice approx. 2 days a week
Comprehensive Psychological Assessments
- Conduct psychological evaluations for children, adolescents, and young adults presenting with complex emotional, behavioural, and developmental concerns.
- Perform MDS (Minimum Data Set) and Outcome Measures assessments to gather critical clinical information, including social, behavioural, and developmental data, to inform treatment planning.
- Administer and interpret the ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule)for individuals with suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including those with co-occurring trauma or attachment-related difficulties.
- Utilize evidence-based diagnostic tools and therapeutic techniques to evaluate clients with histories of trauma, attachment disruptions, anxiety, depression, and behavioural dysregulation.
Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
- Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to provide thorough diagnostic evaluations and develop individualized, trauma-informed treatment plans.
- Address a wide range of psychological conditions, with a focus on complex trauma, attachment disorders, and developmental delays in children and young adults.
- Incorporate trauma-sensitive, attachment-based interventions into treatment plans and work with families to promote healing and stability.
- Recommend and implement evidence-based interventions, such as trauma-focused therapy, attachment-focused interventions, and behavioural management techniques, tailored to the unique needs of each client.
Clinical Documentation and Reporting
- Maintain comprehensive, clear, and timely clinical documentation, including assessment reports, treatment plans, and progress notes.
- Prepare detailed and sensitive diagnostic reports for families, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals involved in the treatment team.
- Work closely with other mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, social workers, case managers, and educators, to ensure a holistic approach to client care.
- Participate in multidisciplinary case discussions, team meetings, and care coordination to provide the best outcomes for clients.
- Provide guidance and support to caregivers and families, helping them understand the psychological needs of their children or young adults and how to support their therapeutic process at home.
Trauma-Informed Care
- Integrate trauma-informed principles into every aspect of care, ensuring a safe, supportive environment for children, adolescents, and young adults.
- Offer psychoeducation to families about the impact of trauma and attachment disruptions on mental health and development.
- Foster a non-judgmental, compassionate approach to care, addressing issues of trauma with sensitivity and respect.
Supervision and Mentorship
- Provide clinical supervision and mentorship to interns, trainees, or junior staff working with complex cases involving trauma and attachment.
- Stay updated on the latest research and best practices related to child and adolescent trauma, attachment theory, and developmentally appropriate interventions
Clinical Quality & Governance (approx. 3 days a week)
- Leads the development and delivery of clinical quality and effectiveness programme.
- Oversees quality assurance processes, including audits (internal and external), compliance checks, and service evaluations.
- Ensures alignment with national and local quality priorities.
- Maintain oversight of key domains such as quality, governance, safeguarding and patient safety.
Quality Assurance Leadership
- Develops and maintains QA frameworks, policies, and procedures.
- Provides expert advice to clinical teams on quality standards.
- Monitors quality metrics, KPIs, and performance indicators
Clinical Audit & Effectiveness
- Supports the external audit process, ensuring audits are prioritised and leads on the subsequent production of annual quality reports and improvement plans.
- Promotes evidence based practice and support implementation of clinical guidelines.
- Evaluates clinical outcomes and identify opportunities for improvement.
Stakeholder Engagement & Support
- Collaborates closely with senior leadership, Clinical Leads and external partners.
- Provides guidance and support to clinicians, managers, and multidisciplinary teams.
- Communicate findings, risks, and improvement actions clearly and effectively.
Regulatory Compliance
- Ensures services meet regulatory requirements (e.g. CQC standards).
- Supports preparation for inspections and external reviews.
- Maintain accurate and up to date documentation for compliance purposes.
Person Specification
Experience
- Proven experience in clinical governance, quality assurance, or audit roles and experience leading clinical audit and effectiveness programmes.
- Strong understanding of clinical governance and quality assurance and a solid understanding of CQC guidelines and regulatory expectations.
- Deep commitment to CPD and staying current with research, evidence, and best practice in neurodivergent assessment and care.
- Passion for neuro-affirming language, practices and culture, with excellent communication and influencing skills.
Qualifications
- Qualified Clinical Psychologist – Demonstrable experience as an experienced Clinical Psychologist with a strong background conducting high quality diagnostic assessments using standardised tools, ideally within a scaling organisation.
- Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or equivalent (e.g. Social Work England)
- Experience in service improvement methodologies (e.g., QI, Lean).
- Specialized training in Trauma Therapy.
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.
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