Lead Consultant Psychologist

We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day. At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.

We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.

We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.

Job overview

An exciting 3 month secondment opportunity for a part time Lead Consultant Psychologist to provide professional leadership for all psychologists working in Forensic Healthcare Services. To be responsible, in collaboration with the Service Director and other Care Group senior leadership, for the provision, and development of psychological services for the care group, ensuring the delivery of high-quality psychological services. To hold a specialist case load.

Main duties of the job

• To be accountable as part of the CDS leadership team for the management of Trust finances and business development.
• To represent the CDS across Trust-wide services in developing new services, bidding for new business and negotiating contracts with commissioners of services.
• To provide professional leadership for psychology and psychological therapies for the CDS across Trust-wide services.
• To work autonomously within professional guidelines and to provide professional leadership by exercising responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the CDS across Trust-wide services.
• To propose and implement policy and service development changes in relation to psychology and psychological therapies across the service.
• To ensure that systems for effective recruitment, professional appraisal and identification of CPD are in place and working effectively across the service.
• To be responsible for the development of applied psychology services within the care group, including clear systems for effective recruitment, and workforce planning in line with the Trust’s business plan and the CDS service model.
• A major requirement of the job is to initiate, lead and carry out audit, research and training programmes and to propose and implement policy and service development changes within the care group.
• To hold a specialist case load.

Working for our organisation

SPFT is a large NHS organisation that offers clinical and social care services to children, young people, adults and older adults, with emotional and mental health problems or learning disabilities. We provide services to the people of Brighton and Hove, East and West Sussex with Children & Young People’s Services provided across Sussex and Hampshire. The Trust operates as part of a wider network of health and social care and works in partnership with both statutory and non‑statutory agencies. The Trust benefits from a thriving Sussex‑wide psychiatry training scheme where HE Kent, Surrey and Sussex provide foundation, GP, core and higher trainees. We work closely with Brighton and Sussex Medical School, in 2015 we became a member of the Association of UK University Hospitals, the representative body for university hospitals with major teaching and research interests across the UK and internationally. Our vision is to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve. The clinical strategy and organisational strategy we have developed underpin this by providing frameworks to enable sustained improvements in the quality of care we provide. With our Integrated Care System partners, we have developed a compelling case for change in mental health services which strives to improve the links between health and social care to better serve our communities. The Trust is rated by the CQC as Good for being safe, effective, responsive and well‑led and as Outstanding for caring.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to Job Description for more detail.

Clinical - Overall: To be responsible for the delivery of a high quality, effective and safe psychology and psychological therapies service within the Forensic Health Care Service in order to meet Trust wide strategic aims and objectives.

Teaching, training and supervision: Overall: To directly contribute to the Forensic Healthcare strategic aims and objectives.

Management, Leadership, Recruitment, Policy and Service Development

Research and service evaluation.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Post‑graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology (or its equivalent for those trained before 1996 or outside the UK) as approved by the HPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
• Post doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice relevant to the specific Care Group/Service.
• HPC Registered as a practitioner Psychologist.
• Pre‑qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.

SPFT is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and from disabled candidates, as these groups are currently underrepresented.

Successful candidates are normally appointed to the bottom of the pay scale unless previous NHS experience in a similar role can be evidenced.

SPFT takes its responsibilities for safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk very seriously.