Joint Head of Clinical Health Psychology

<strong>Job Overview<br><br></strong><strong>Head of Clinical Health Psychology (0.5 WTE, Job Share, Fixed Term 1 year)<br><br></strong><strong>Consultant Clinical Psychologist – Band 8D<br><br></strong><strong>Employer: Central North West London Foundation NHS Trust (CNWL)<br><br></strong><strong>Hosted by: Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust</strong> (<strong>ICHT)<br><br></strong><strong>Closing date: 20th February<br><br></strong><strong>Contact: Agnes Kocsis – agnes.kocsis@nhs.net<br><br></strong>CNWL is recruiting a senior Consultant Clinical Psychologist as Head of Clinical Health Psychology (0.5 WTE job share with the incumbent who is stepping down to .5 wte), leading the CNWL-delivered psychology service embedded within Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. This high‑profile leadership role spans Medicine, Surgery and Specialist Services, including pathways delivered through Service Level Agreements.<br><br>We are seeking an experienced, compassionate and strategic leader with a strong background in physical health psychology, service development and multidisciplinary collaboration. You will shape Trust‑wide psychological strategy, lead a skilled workforce and contribute to research, education and innovation in partnership with Imperial College Healthcare.<br><br><strong>VALUES‑BASED RECRUITMENT<br><br></strong>We are looking for a leader who:<br><br><ul><li>places compassion at the centre of patient and staff experience</li><li>champions inclusion and culturally competent care<br><br></li></ul>Main duties of the job<br><br>Please see attached documents which have been created jointly with Imperial College Healthcare NHS trust and which give detailed specifications in the job description<br><br>Working for our organisation<br><br>See attached documents. There may be internal documents that could be relevant here but there is again detailed information in the uploaded documents for what is a very senior post<br><br><strong>Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities<br><br></strong>Pleaes see attached documents which contain a very detailed job description and an outline of the list of responsibilities<br><br>Person specification<br><br><strong>Education And Qualifications<br><br></strong>Essential criteria<br><br><ul><li>Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) or equivalent doctoral-level training</li><li>Evidence of ongoing CPD relevant to physical health psychology, leadership and supervision</li><li>HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical Psychologist).<br><br></li></ul>Desirable criteria<br><br><ul><li>Additional recognised training/qualification relevant to clinical health psychology/behavioural medicine (e.g., long-term conditions, trauma-informed care, adherence).</li><li>Leadership/management qualification or formal programme (e.g., NHS leadership, QI, coaching)</li><li>Chartered Psychologist / full membership of relevant BPS division (where applicable)<br><br></li></ul>Previous Experience<br><br>Essential criteria<br><br><ul><li>Substantial postqualification experience as a senior/consultant clinical psychologist in physical health/acute hospital settings</li><li>Experience of clinical leadership for complex presentations (multimorbidity, adjustment, trauma, non-engagement, adherence and distressed relationships with healthcare)</li><li>Demonstrable professional leadership for psychologists/psychological practitioners including supervision governance, capability development, recruitment/retention and psychologically safe culture.</li><li>Experience of service development / transformation, pathway redesign and/or quality improvement within NHS physical healthcare.</li><li>Experience of MDT consultation, training (e.g., communication skills, trauma-informed care, behavioural distress) and staff support/reflective practice.<br><br></li></ul>Desirable criteria<br><br><ul><li>Experience leading or managing service level agreements (SLAs), contract monitoring and/or business planning.</li><li>Experience of leading multi-site or cross-division services (Medicine/Surgery/Specialist Services)</li><li>Experience of budget management and financial planning within delegated authority.</li><li>Experience working across organisational boundaries (hosted/matrix leadership) and system partnerships (ICB, academic partners).<br><br></li></ul>Knowledge and Skills<br><br>Essential criteria<br><br><ul><li>Advanced knowledge of evidence-based psychological assessment, formulation and intervention relevant to physical health settings; ability to adapt approaches to complexity and culture.</li><li>High-level communication and influencing skills; able to advise senior leaders and work constructively with challenging dynamics and conflict.</li><li>Strong understanding of clinical governance, risk, safeguarding, consent/confidentiality and capacity-related dilemmas in acute settings.</li><li>Demonstrable commitment to inclusion, culturally competent and trauma-informed care; ability to address health inequalities in service design and delivery</li><li>Ability to lead workforce planning, supervision systems, appraisal and development; supports psychological safety and wellbeing</li><li>Able to operate effectively in a job-share at senior level: structured handover, shared priorities, joint decisionmaking and stakeholder communication<br><br></li></ul>Research, Audit, Teaching and Innovation<br><br>Essential criteria<br><br><ul><li>Evidence of using research/evaluation/audit to improve services and outcomes; able to develop and embed outcomes measurement and evaluation</li><li>Experience of teaching/training and supervision (including doctoral placements) in NHS settings.<br><br></li></ul>Desirable criteria<br><br><ul><li>Publications, grant activity, or significant contribution to research/innovation with academic partners (e.g., Imperial College London/NIHR)</li><li>Recognised supervisor status/training (e.g., clinical supervision qualification) and experience supervising research/doctoral projects</li></ul>

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