Job summary
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Consultant Clinical Psychologist We are looking for an experienced and committed Clinical, Counselling or Forensic Psychologist for the role of Head of Psychology for the medium secure service at the John Howard Centre. The role will include management of staff from psychological therapies services, art therapy, family therapy and drug and alcohol services. The successful applicant will work with other senior colleagues to help shape and support the implementation of the strategic development of psychological therapies services at the John Howard Centre. You will represent psychological therapies at senior leadership meetings in the Forensic Directorate and across the Trust, with opportunity to lead on specific areas of work identified by the Directorate Management Team.
Main duties of the job 1,Offer clinical leadership and line management to Psychologists and other Psychological Professionals to ensure a high standard of psychological and therapeutic input to service users and carers in the medium secure service.2. Work with other Consultant Psychologists, Heads of Departments and senior leaders in the Forensic Directorate and across ELFT to embed psychological thinking and practice across the work of the organisation, including working with staff from other disciplines, carer and peer support workers and external partners and stakeholders.3. To act as principal advocate for and representative of Psychological professions on service and Trust wide operational/working groups, to undertake tasks arising from the groups' work, and to be responsible for providing a specialist psychological perspective on all aspects of service development to members of the team or group4. Manage budgets and other resources to provide an equitable Psychological Therapies service, which takes into account the impact of structural inequalities on service users' experience of health and justice services.
About us Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations
Details Date posted 11 July 2025
Pay scheme Agenda for change
Band Band 8c
Salary 82,462 to 93,773 a year per annum Inc HCAs
Contract Permanent
Working pattern Full-time
Reference number 363-FOR7212709
Job locations John Howard Centre
12 Kenworthy Road
London
E9 5TD
Job description Job responsibilities Kindly refer to the job description and person specification that is attached to the vacancy profile.
Job description Job responsibilities Kindly refer to the job description and person specification that is attached to the vacancy profile.
Person Specification Education/ Qualification/ Training Essential Postgraduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology or equivalent qualification as accredited by the BPS giving eligibility for chartered status
Post qualification training in a relevant area of psychological practice or therapy modality
Evidence of continuing professional development in accordance with BPS recommendations
Formal training in leadership and healthcare management
Desirable Training in Quality Improvement methodology
Experience Essential Substantial post qualification experience in adult mental health, including experience at a senior level in forensic, adult mental health, or psychiatric rehabilitation services
Substantial post qualification experience of providing specialist psychological assessments and treatment interventions to service users with complex problems, including psychosis, personality disorder, substance misuse and offending behaviour
Experience in a range of care settings including medium secure, outpatient and/or community
Experience of professional management of qualified and pre-qualified psychological therapies staff, including psychologists
Experience of recruitment and staff appraisal
Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment both within the context of a multi-disciplinary care plan and for service users managed by psychologically based care plans
Experience of representing psychology in groups and teams both within the service and outside it
Experience of heading/leading a service or a section of a service
Experience of supporting teams through the delivery of reflective practice and other initiatives aimed at supporting staff.
Desirable Experience of co-production of training and services with carers and service users
Knowledge and Skills Essential Additional relevant clinical and/or managerial knowledge and skills acquired through formal training, long or short courses, formal supervision (individual and/or group), structured self-study, or experience - or a combination of these, demonstrated by certification, documented supervision logs, management appraisal documentation and/or assessment at interview
Skills in planning and delivering services in own specialist area including long term planning
Ability to work in a team and provide clinical leadership. Excellent interpersonal, communication and time management skills
Staff management and appraisal skills
Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non professional groups
Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management including the use of theoretical models to analyse information and develop formulations on which to base choice of treatment.
Knowledge of the evidence based literature for effective interventions for a forensic mental health service user group.
Knowledge of the political, cultural and legal context in which forensic psychology services are provided
Desirable Highly developed skills in risk assessment
Person Specification Education/ Qualification/ Training Essential Postgraduate doctoral level training in clinical psychology or equivalent qualification as accredited by the BPS giving eligibility for chartered status
Post qualification training in a relevant area of psychological practice or therapy modality
Evidence of continuing professional development in accordance with BPS recommendations
Formal training in leadership and healthcare management
Desirable Training in Quality Improvement methodology
Experience Essential Substantial post qualification experience in adult mental health, including experience at a senior level in forensic, adult mental health, or psychiatric rehabilitation services
Substantial post qualification experience of providing specialist psychological assessments and treatment interventions to service users with complex problems, including psychosis, personality disorder, substance misuse and offending behaviour
Experience in a range of care settings including medium secure, outpatient and/or community
Experience of professional management of qualified and pre-qualified psychological therapies staff, including psychologists
Experience of recruitment and staff appraisal
Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment both within the context of a multi-disciplinary care plan and for service users managed by psychologically based care plans
Experience of representing psychology in groups and teams both within the service and outside it
Experience of heading/leading a service or a section of a service
Experience of supporting teams through the delivery of reflective practice and other initiatives aimed at supporting staff.
Desirable Experience of co-production of training and services with carers and service users
Knowledge and Skills Essential Additional relevant clinical and/or managerial knowledge and skills acquired through formal training, long or short courses, formal supervision (individual and/or group), structured self-study, or experience - or a combination of these, demonstrated by certification, documented supervision logs, management appraisal documentation and/or assessment at interview
Skills in planning and delivering services in own specialist area including long term planning
Ability to work in a team and provide clinical leadership. Excellent interpersonal, communication and time management skills
Staff management and appraisal skills
Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non professional groups
Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management including the use of theoretical models to analyse information and develop formulations on which to base choice of treatment.
Knowledge of the evidence based literature for effective interventions for a forensic mental health service user group.
Knowledge of the political, cultural and legal context in which forensic psychology services are provided
Desirable Highly developed skills in risk assessment
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