Senior Psychologist in Woking

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Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.

There’s a place for you at CNWL.

We’re passionate about delivering first‑class patient‑centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.

Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.

With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.

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Main area Health and Justice Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Mon - Fri) Job ref 333-D-HJ-2086

Site HMP Send Town Woking, surrey Salary £59,798 - £67,020 per annum (pro rata if P/T) Salary period Yearly Closing 23/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 14/12/2027

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Job overview

Join a service where psychological thinking is central to understanding and responding to complex needs.

As a Qualified Psychologist, you will provide specialist psychological assessment, formulation and evidence-based interventions, while supporting the wider multidisciplinary team to deliver psychologically informed care. Our motto, “Caring NOT Judging”, reflects our commitment to understanding the person behind the behaviour and supporting recovery, wellbeing and social inclusion.

You will also provide professional and clinical supervision to relevant colleagues and have opportunities to shape and improve the service through audit, research, quality improvement and service development.

The post is Band 8a, 1.0 WTE, based at HMP Send.

Main duties of the job

• Provide a specialist psychology service to people with complex mental health and psychological needs within a secure setting.
• Manage a clinical caseload, undertaking specialist psychological assessment, formulation and evidence-based interventions.
• Undertake risk assessment, formulation and management, exercising autonomous clinical judgement in complex situations.
• Provide psychological consultation, advice and training to the multidisciplinary team and promote psychologically informed care.
• Provide professional and clinical supervision to assistant and trainee psychologists, junior psychologists, psychological therapists and other relevant colleagues.
• Contribute to clinical governance, service development, audit, research and quality improvement.
• Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, prison services and partner agencies to support effective care and risk management.
• Demonstrate strong communication, leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work autonomously, prioritise a complex workload and work effectively within a multidisciplinary environment.

Working for our organisation

You will be joining a close-knit, supportive and collaborative healthcare team, working alongside Primary Care, Mental Health and partner agencies to provide high-quality, compassionate care and achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients.

Our Health and Justice services offer a unique and rewarding environment where you can make a real difference to people who may experience significant health inequalities. Our ethos of “Caring NOT Judging” is at the heart of how we work, with a strong focus on teamwork, respect, inclusion and psychologically informed care.

We are committed to supporting your wellbeing and professional development. Benefits includeregular clinical supervision, annual appraisal and personal development planning, reflective practice, career development opportunities and access to a wide range of internal and external training. You will also have opportunities to develop your clinical, leadership and specialist skills within Health and Justice services.

We value and recognise the contribution of our staff through initiatives including our Hidden Gem recognition scheme and annual staff awards.

Our site offers free use of the onsite leisure facilities- Gym and fitness classes as well as free parking for staff.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

The postholder will provide a high-quality specialist psychology service and work as a senior member of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, supporting the assessment, treatment and management of people with complex psychological and mental health needs.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Hold and manage a complex clinical caseload, taking autonomous professional responsibility for assessment, formulation, treatment planning, intervention and discharge.
• Undertake specialist psychological and, where appropriate, neuropsychological assessments using evidence-based assessment methods.
• Develop psychological formulations and deliver evidence-based psychological interventions to individuals, groups, families and carers.
• Undertake psychological risk assessment, formulation and management for individuals presenting with complex needs.
• Use advanced clinical judgement and analytical skills to make appropriate treatment and clinical management decisions in complex situations.
• Work collaboratively with service users, the multidisciplinary healthcare team, prison colleagues and partner agencies to deliver safe, effective and psychologically informed care.

Consultation, Supervision and Training

• Provide specialist psychological consultation, advice and guidance to colleagues and other professionals involved in the individual's care.
• Provide professional and clinical supervision to assistant and trainee psychologists, junior psychologists, psychological therapists and other relevant staff.
• Promote psychological thinking and psychologically informed practice across the wider multidisciplinary team through consultation, formulation, supervision and training.
• Contribute to the teaching, training and professional development of staff and psychology trainees.

Leadership and Service Development

• Contribute to the development and delivery of high-quality, accessible and psychologically informed services.
• Support the development, evaluation and monitoring of clinical pathways, operational policies and service delivery.
• Provide psychological expertise to service development and contribute to the leadership and governance of psychological practice.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and partner agencies to identify opportunities to improve patient care and outcomes.

Clinical Governance, Research and Quality Improvement

• Contribute to clinical governance, audit, service evaluation, research and quality improvement.
• Use psychological theory, research and evidence-based practice to support the continued development of clinical services.
• Undertake and contribute to audit, research and service evaluation projects and support the dissemination and implementation of findings.
• Maintain high standards of clinical documentation, confidentiality and professional practice.
• Maintain professional registration and continuing professional development, engaging in regular professional supervision and appraisal.

The postholder will be expected to work autonomously within professional guidelines while remaining an active and collaborative member of the wider healthcare team. The role requires excellent communication and interpersonal skills, strong clinical leadership, resilience, reflective practice and the ability to work effectively with complexity and risk within a secure healthcare environment.

Our ethos of “Caring NOT Judging” should underpin all aspects of practice, ensuring care is compassionate, respectful, inclusive and focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for our patients.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Doctoral level training in clinical psychology, including specific models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology, equivalent to that accredited by the BPS
• Evidence of post‑qualification specialist training, experience and developing expertise in a specialist area of clinical practice.
• HCPC Registration.
• Pre- or Post-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.
• Reflective practice training and experience
• Post‑graduate training or experience in a forensic mental health setting.

Skills , Knowledge and Abilities

• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
• Broad knowledge of models of assessment, management and treatment of children and young people in secure settings.
• Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
• Ability to work intensively with people who present challenges in the complexity of their problems and needs, including sexual and violent offending and self‑harming and suicidal behaviours.
• An understanding of the social determinates of health inequalities and relevant psychological theory and practice
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology or equivalent for non‑psychology professionals
• Possesses range of clinical knowledge, skills & information technology expertise relevant to post
• Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi‑media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour
• Ability to work intensively with people who present challenges in the complexity of their problems and needs, including sexual and violent offending and self‑harming and suicidal behaviours
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult‑to‑treat groups (e.g. people with additional disabilities).
• Ability to write reports for varied audiences, including courts and purchasers of services.
• Can apply psychological knowledge creatively in developing new initiatives

Previous Experience

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient settings
• Demonstrate specialist experience gained post‑qualification of working as an applied psychologist with evidence of having received a substantial amount of clinical supervision (normally in the region of approximately 50 hours).
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
• Experience of representing psychology within context of multidisciplinary care.
• Experience of the application of applied psychology in different cultural contexts and experience of working within a multicultural framework.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
• Experience or demonstrable knowledge of working with the particular client group served by the team/service
• Knowledge of guidance and legislation in relation to the client group and mental health
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnosis, people with additional disabilities etc)
• High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.
• High level knowledge and skills in neuropsychology and evidence of further practice and/or training since qualification
• Formal Training in Supervision of other psychologists.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC
• Experience of working in secure environments and/or forensic mental health.
• Experience of using a trauma informed approach.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI can be used as a support tool, not a replacement for the applicant’s own work.Applications must remain personal, accurate, and reflective of the candidate’s real experience.AI-generated content must not misrepresent skills, qualifications, or experience.Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct. Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

• Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
• Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system
• Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
• If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Kevin Macey Job title Mental Health Service Lead Email address kevin.macey3@nhs.net Telephone number 01483471075 Additional information

Dr. Jacquelyn Kennedy

jacquelyn.kennedy3@nhs.net

Consultant Psychologist, Registered Forensic Psychologist

HMP Send 01483 471 239