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Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

About

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) is one of the largest trusts in the UK, caring for people with a wide range of physical and mental health needs. We have approximately 7,000 staff who provide healthcare to a third of London's population and across wider geographical areas, including Milton Keynes, Kent, Surrey and Hampshire.

As a Foundation Trust we involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run and our future development. If you are interested in becoming a member of our Foundation Trust please visit: www.cnwl.nhs.uk

(source: Central and North West London NHS Foundation NHS Trust website)

Contact

Address: 350 Euston Road; Regent's Place; London; London; NW1 3AX
Contact Number: 02032145700

Find out more

Jobs Website

Open

Ref: 333-J-WE-0828 Vacancy ID: 7933946

Head of Psychology

Accepting applications until: 04-May-2026 23:59

Vacancy status: Open

Accepting applications until: 04-May-2026 23:59

Location

Site: Gordon Hospital
Address: Bloomberg St
Town: London
Postcode: SW1V 2RH
Major / Minor Region: London

Contract type & working pattern

Contract: Fixed term: 12 months (possibility of extending)
Hours: Part time - 22.5 hours per week (Some flexibility for days and hours worked; subject to role requirements)

Salary

Salary: £103,102 - £117,560 pa inc HCAS pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Grade: (NHS AfC: Band 8d)

Specialty

Main area: Psychology

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please review the attached job description for more details about the role

To participate as a senior clinician in the strategic planning and delivery of high quality and accessible mental health services in the Borough, advising both service and professional management on those aspects of services where psychological and/or organisational matters need addressing.

To be a senior member of the profession and/or directorate management teams and to contribute to the work commissioned by these teams.

To contribute to Trust, Directorate & Borough strategic development and implementation of new initiatives e.g. national guidelines including NICE, through membership of committees and/or working parties as required.

To be responsible for systematic governance of meetings, and/or chair professional management meetings.

To ensure a system is in place for the professional management and appraisal of psychological therapists, assistant psychological therapists and other professionals, as required.

To initiate and implement service developments within the directorate/team to improve the quality of services, both within psychological therapies and the broader services.

To advise both service and professional management on factors adversely affecting service delivery and staff retention.

To be responsible for managing the psychological resources available to services both in terms of professional management of psychological therapies staff and psychological materials employed in the assessment and treatment of clients.

To liaise with other agencies and service providers in relation to the provision of psychological services as appropriate to the job.

To take a lead role in the recruitment of psychological therapists and other staff in line with Trust policy.

To ensure the service provides placements for regional clinical psychology trainees, supporting all staff qualified to do so to offer a placement

To promote the consultation and engagement of service users in planning and developing services.

To take a lead role in ensuring that services to clients are of a high quality and are managed efficiently, according to the overall requirements of the Trust and government policy (e.g. NICE guidance, NHSE Guidance etc.)

To be responsible for applying Trust and Directorate clinical governance standards within the borough or specialty psychological services and ensure that these are maintained and improved through audit procedures.

To deputise for or represent when appropriate other senior psychological professionals.

To develop psychological therapies provision in line with developments to align mental health provision with Integrated Neighbourhood Teams; including the development of Community Psychology Approaches.

To participate fully as a member of the multidisciplinary borough Senior Management Team. Working closely with the Brough Director, Clinical Director and other senior colleagues. Providing managerial and psychological expertise, advice and consultation to other members of the team.

To take a lead role / participate in system wide projects and workstreams within the Borough as part of the Borough SMT, including those which may not be psychology specific.

To support psychological professionals to play a key role in the development of new clinical and operational initiatives including Open Dialogue, Trauma Informed Approaches, AI and Digital tools.

To work closely with the clinical / operational lead for Westminster Talking Therapies

To ensure effective partnership and liaison with other professional disciplines and with relevant partner agencies at both a strategic and operational level within the Borough, Division, Trust and wider system.

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.

Vaccination

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.

Applicant requirements

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.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Entry-level qualification in Clinical or Counselling Psychology as detailed below; professional Doctorate, (or equivalent combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration
Additional qualification(s) beyond entry-level qualification in a specialised area of psychological practice and / or leadership relevant to local services through formal post-qualification training course, OR a combination of specialist short courses to equivalent level
Completed training course in clinical supervision
Registered with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, and evidence of CPD.

Desirable criteria

Post qualification and / or accreditation / registration in a specialist area of psychological practice
Leadership qualification
Qualification in supervision
Qualification in research
Other relevant professional qualification and / or registrations with relevant professional bodies

Experience

Essential criteria

Established experience of leading / managing a psychology service at Consultant level.
Experience of undertaking system leadership roles
Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for the psychological care and treatment with clients with complex needs and acting as a senior clinician across a service
Experience in leading clinical services that are anti-discriminatory, accessible and acceptable to diverse socio-economic groups
Experience of professional and clinical management of qualified and pre-qualified clinical psychologists.
Experience of providing teaching and training to psychologists or other professional groups.
Experience of carrying out post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation projects
Experience of innovation, proposing and implementing QI and service development projects that impact beyond own service area.

Desirable criteria

Experience of being a lead for psychology in a directorate or division
Record of publications in either peer reviewed, academic or professional journals/books
Experience of leading implementation of digital innovations

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria

To deliver psychological therapy across cultural and other differences
Skills in negotiating & influencing system change.
Ability to hold a leadership role within a multi-disciplinary service/services
Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment and intervention in a specialist area
Highly developed verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex, highly technical and sensitive information to clients, families and colleagues.
Highly developed consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team or other professional groups.
Demonstrated ability in leadership and management skills
Ability to take the lead in developing, identifying and employing mechanisms of clinical governance for the support and maintenance of clinical practice
Well-developed digital & IT skills
Commitment to continuing professional development, to partnership working and to reflective clinical practice.

Desirable criteria

Ability to deliver psychological interventions in a language(s) in addition to English relevant to the local population

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Knowledge of the theory and practice of management and leadership
Advanced knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies and of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatments.
Doctoral level knowledge of psychological research methodology and complex statistical analysis
Knowledge of factors affecting health inequalities, acceptability and accessibility of mental health care, and awareness of racial and diversity issues and knowledge of strategies to promote equity and diversity

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of the socio-economic factors essential to service delivery in Westminster

Other

Essential criteria

Commitment to continuing professional development, to partnership working and to reflective clinical practice.
Professional values in line with the NHS, CNWL and psychology profession