Head of Psychology - Elizabeth House (Leicester)
Location: Leicester, LE3 6QR
Pay: Depending on experience
Hours: 40 hours per week
Type: Full Time, Permanent
Make a Difference Every Day
We are seeking a Head of Psychology to join our team at our acute services which support people who are detained under the Mental Health Act, or who are admitted to hospital informally. People may access our acute service as a direct admission via their local NHS mental health hospital or community teams. We can support individuals experiencing difficulties due to a range of conditions including bipolar disorder, psychosis, depression, personality disorder and self-harm. We aim to prepare all service users for discharge straight back to their local community under the care of the community mental health team, or to the least restrictive environment appropriate to meet their own individual needs.
Our acute inpatient mental health service provides a safe and stabilising environment for men and women who are in crisis, experiencing an acute episode of mental illness and requiring an emergency admission.
JOB PURPOSE
The Head of Psychology provides strategic, professional and clinical leadership for Psychology Services across the organisation.
The post holder provides professional leadership in relation to psychological practice and governance, supports the development of psychologically informed services, and provides professional leadership to psychology staff working across a range of specialist healthcare settings.
The role works collaboratively with operational, clinical and corporate colleagues to support the delivery of safe, effective and person-centred care across the organisation's services, including mental health, neurorehabilitation, acquired brain injury, personality disorder, substance misuse and other specialist healthcare settings.
The post holder acts as the senior professional lead for Psychology and provides expert psychological advice, consultation and guidance to services, teams and senior leaders.
The role provides professional leadership and specialist psychological advice across services but does not hold direct operational responsibility for the management of individual services or departments.
The post holder provides professional leadership and consultation across services and does not hold direct accountability for operational performance, service delivery targets or budgetary management within individual services.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Professional Leadership
• Provide professional leadership for Psychology Services across the organisation.
• Promote high standards of professional practice in accordance with HCPC, BPS and other relevant professional standards and guidance.
• Support the development of psychologically informed approaches to care across services.
• Provide expert professional advice and consultation regarding psychological practice and service provision.
• Provide psychological advice and consultation in relation to organisational strategies, developments and initiatives where appropriate.
• Promote the integration of psychological perspectives within multidisciplinary care and service delivery.
Clinical Governance
• Support appropriate governance arrangements relating to psychological practice across the organisation.
• Promote effective systems for professional supervision, reflective practice and continuing professional development.
• Contribute to the development and review of policies, procedures and guidance relevant to psychological practice.
• Provide advice regarding professional, ethical and clinical issues affecting psychological services.
• Promote a culture of learning, reflective practice and professional accountability.
• Promote safe, effective and evidence-informed psychological practice.
Workforce Development
• Provide professional leadership, support and guidance to psychology staff across the organisation.
• Contribute to workforce planning discussions relating to Psychology Services.
• Contribute professional advice to recruitment, induction and professional development activities relating to psychology staff when required.
• Promote opportunities for training, learning and professional development.
• Support effective communication and professional liaison between psychology staff working across different services and locations where appropriate.
• Support the development of psychologically skilled and psychologically informed workforces.
Supervision and Professional Support
• Provide professional supervision and consultation to qualified, trainee and assistant psychology staff as appropriate.
• Support the provision of professional supervision arrangements across Psychology Services.
• Promote reflective and psychologically informed approaches to practice.
• Provide specialist advice and consultation to multidisciplinary teams where appropriate.
• Provide professional advice and guidance relating to professional development and professional standards within Psychology Services.
Service Development
• Provide psychological consultation and professional advice in relation to service development and clinically informed service delivery.
• Work collaboratively with clinical and operational colleagues to support psychologically informed approaches to care.
• Promote evidence-informed approaches to psychological practice.
• Provide psychological advice regarding the development of psychologically informed systems, pathways and environments where appropriate.
• Provide psychological perspectives in discussions relating to service development and clinically informed care.
Communication and Collaboration
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams across services.
• Represent Psychology Services within organisational meetings, forums and working groups as appropriate.
• Contribute psychological perspectives to organisational discussions and decision-making.
• Foster collaborative working relationships across services, professions and disciplines.
Professional Responsibilities
• Maintain registration and professional standards as required by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Maintain continuing professional development in accordance with professional and regulatory requirements.
• Work within relevant legislation, professional standards, organisational policies and governance frameworks.
• Act in accordance with professional codes of conduct and ethical standards.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to the seniority and scope of the role.
• The scope and priorities of the role will be determined in conjunction with organisational needs, available resources and agreed objectives.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
• Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC.
• Doctoral level qualification in Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, Forensic Psychology or equivalent recognised professional training.
• Significant post-qualification experience working within complex healthcare environments.
• Experience of providing professional leadership and supervision.
• Experience of working within multidisciplinary teams and complex care systems.
• Experience contributing to service development initiatives.
• Knowledge of professional governance, supervision and workforce development.
• Knowledge of psychological approaches relevant to complex mental health, rehabilitation and specialist healthcare settings.
• Excellent communication, consultation and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to provide strategic professional leadership across multiple services and sites.
Desirable
• Experience of leadership across multiple services or sites as Head of Psychology for at least 2 years.
• Experience leading mental health, neurorehabilitation, acquired brain injury, rehabilitation, personality disorder and/or substance misuse services.
• Experience contributing to organisational change and service transformation.
• Experience of teaching, training or workforce development activities.
• Experience of working within independent healthcare settings.
Ready to join a team that truly values your skills and compassion? Apply now using the link and attach your CV. We can't wait to meet you