Job overview
We’re seeking an exceptional leader to become Head of Psychology & Psychotherapy for Forensic Services at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. This role offers the opportunity to influence care across secure inpatient and community settings, guiding a diverse and expert team of psychological professionals.
You’ll drive clinical excellence, workforce development, and strategic innovation across services including MSUs, LSUs, and specialist pathways. As a key member of the Trust-wide leadership group (TPPAC), you’ll help shape policy, governance, and quality standards across the organisation.
We offer a unique environment where care, research, and education intersect - partnering with King’s College London and King’s Health Partners. Join us to lead meaningful change, support recovery-focused care, and contribute to nationally recognised service development.
If you’re ready to lead with compassion, expertise, and vision - this is your next step.
Main duties of the job
To work with Operational Managers and senior clinical leaders to ensure all service users of the Forensic Services in-patient and community services have appropriate access to psychology or psychotherapy as an element in their pathway to recovery.
To provide forensic psychology and psychotherapy leadership, encapsulating: workforce development; professional regulation and development; implementation and development of psychology and psychotherapy guidance and policy; development of psychology and psychotherapy protocols specific to the Forensic Services, Trust and professional regulation (HCPC).
To contribute to strategic developments of the Forensic Services.
To lead, manage and plan the delivery of a highly specialist psychology and psychotherapy service to Forensic Services and personally provide expert clinical input.
The postholder will ensure the conduct of research, service evaluation and audits relevant to the Forensic Service, the psychology & psychotherapy service provision and the service research and evidence-based practice agenda.
Establish training and educational needs and ensure good communication and liaison with the Trust Director of Psychology & Psychotherapy, Trust advisors and the Education and Training Department in partnership with the IoPPN to facilitate appropriate learning, training and education
Working for our organisation
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs & alcohol. We work with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London and are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide-ranging capabilities. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care & treatment, science & research, and training.
SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.
By coming to work at SLaM, you will gain experience of being part of an organisation with a rich history and international reputation in mental health care. You will have access to professional development / learning opportunities, and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field. SLaM delivered more than 14,000 training experiences in 2014; providing an extensive range of learning opportunities for staff at all levels.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The role covers Medium Secure, Low Secure, Community Forensic Mental Health teams including specialist community teams and offender personality disorder services. The service supports male and female service users. The P&P staffing complement is currently in excess of 40 individuals and this is growing with current service developments. The team work together to deliver individualised recovery-orientated care in individual therapies and group interventions. The service has recently benefitted from the inclusion of peer support work, and the service development continues to grow this aspect. The implementation of the Patient & Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) has been a priority of the Directorate in its aspirations to contribute to the Trust’s Anti-Racism Action Plan.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. To have undertaken a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions, e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, medicine, social work and occupational therapy OR to have equivalent relevant experience and demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field in the NHS.
2. Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy or equivalent and demonstrable practice in this field (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/supervised practice/additional training) that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration. (A/I). For Psychologists: · Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration as a Practitioner Psychologist. (A/I) For Family / Systemic Psychotherapists: Post-graduate qualification in relevant mental health/social welfare profession and demonstrable practice in this field (A/I) PLUS Masters level qualification in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy or equivalent qualification, accredited by UKCP (A/I) For Psychotherapists: Entry-level qualification in Psychotherapy that has been accepted by the APC/BPC/UKCP/BACP/BABCP for purposes of professional registration. (A/I). For Arts Therapists: Masters Degree (or equivalent) in Arts Therapy or Dance Movement Therapy. (or specify Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Dramatherapy or Dance Movement Therapy)
3. For Psychologists: · Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology (professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level additional training) that has been accepted by the HCPC for purposes of professional registration as a Practitioner Psychologist. (A/I)
4. For Family / Systemic Psychotherapists: Post-graduate qualification in relevant mental health/social welfare profession and demonstrable practice in this field (A/I) PLUS Masters level qualification in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy or equivalent qualification, accredited by UKCP (A/I)
5. For Psychotherapists: Entry-level qualification in Psychotherapy that has been accepted by the APC/BPC/UKCP/BACP/BABCP for purposes of professional registration. (A/I).
6. For Arts Therapists: Masters Degree (or equivalent) in Arts Therapy or Dance Movement Therapy. (or specify Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Dramatherapy or Dance Movement Therapy)
Experience
Essential criteria
7. Extensive experience in professional leadership of psychologists and psychotherapists such as in a directorate type structure (A/I/E)
8. Experience of leading and managing a psychology and/or psychotherapy service in Forensic Services (A/I/E)
9. Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for the psychological care and treatment with clients with complex needs. (A/I/E)
10. Experience of providing teaching and training to psychologists and/or other professional groups. (A/I/E)
11. Extensive experience in psychological therapy
Knowledge / Skills
Essential criteria
12. Knowledge of the theory and practice of management and leadership. (A/I/R)
13. Advanced theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for the relevant treatment (specify for the post if necessary). (A/I/R)
14. Advanced knowledge of the theory of psychological practice / processes and their therapeutic application.
15. Knowledge of assessment and clinical psychometrics. (A/I/R)
16. Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities. (A/I/R)
Desirable criteria
17. To select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpreting and integrating complex data that require analysis, interpretation and comparison, drawn from several sources according to discipline (specify if knowledge needed in a specialist area). (A/I/R)