Clinical neuropsychologist
Clinical Neuropsychology is concerned with the assessment and rehabilitation of people with brain injury or other neurological disease.
Clinical Neuropsychologists are specially trained to understand the relationship between brain and neuropsychological function. Clinical neuropsychologists require not only knowledge of the broad range of mental health problems, but also specialist knowledge in the neurosciences.
Brain injuries and neurological illnesses can affect the way a person thinks, feels and behaves. It is the clinical neuropsychologist’s job to assess and help to treat the effects of these problems.
Where could I work?
Clinical Neuropsychologists work across a range of health and social care providers including NHS, social care, third sector and independent providers and education. This can be in a variety of settings including acute hospital, community or hospital based rehabilitation services, educational services and court.
Who could I work with?
Clinical neuropsychologists work with people who have, or who are thought to have, illnesses or injuries that affect the function of the brain or central nervous system.
This includes illnesses and injuries such as:
- Stroke
- Traumatic brain injury
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Dementia
- Functional neurological symptoms
Clinical neuropsychologists may work as part of multi-professional teams including neurosurgeons, neurologists and allied health professionals.
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Training
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Neuropsychology is a post qualification discipline, available to chartered psychologists within the field of educational or clinical psychology. Find out more about working and training as a clinical psychologist
On completion of training, practitioners will usually work for at least one year in a specialist service and then undertake the British Psychological Society's (BPS) Qualification in Clinical Neuropsychology (QiCN) which confers eligibility for entry onto the Society’s Specialist Register of Clinical Neuropsychologists. Criteria for the QiCN involves completing a post-doctoral diploma in clinical neuropsychology and examination of a two-year portfolio of clinical neuropsychology cases.
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Pay and conditions
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Most jobs in the NHS are covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay scales. This pay system covers all staff except doctors, dentists and the most senior managers.
While training, clinical psychologists will be paid at band 6 and after completing their training, they will be paid at band 7. Senior psychologist posts are banded at AfC 8d-9.
Psychologists in the NHS will usually work standard hours of 37.5 per week. Terms and conditions can vary for employers outside of the NHS.
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Job market and vacancies
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Neuropsychologist is not a Health and Care Professions Council protected title, however the British Psychological Society holds a Specialist Register of Clinical Neuropsychologists which in September 2017, had 433 registrants.
Most NHS organisations advertise their job vacancies on NHS Jobs, including those who run NHS services. Some advertise on their own websites. You can find a list of NHS organisations at NHS Choices.
If you're applying for a role either directly in the NHS or in an organisation that provides NHS services, you'll be asked to show how you think the values of the NHS Constitution apply in your everyday work. The same will be true if you are applying for a university course funded by the NHS. Find out more about NHS values.
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Further information
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For more information about working as a clinical neuropsychologist, please contact:
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