Bank Consultant Psychologist & Joint Lead Psychologist of the NHSHSW

Job overview

This is a one-year part-time post to cover maternity leave commencing in December 2024. The successful applicant would join the Psychology Bank, with opportunities for flexible and remote working. The successful applicant would work alongside another colleague in leading the Psychology service in the National High Secure Healthcare Service for Women (NHSHSW) at Rampton Hospital.

The post holder would be involved at a strategic level in the development, implementation and leading of the psychological service in the National High Secure Healthcare Service for Women (NHSHSW) within Rampton Hospital.

They would ensure the provision of a high-quality specialist psychology service to patients within the NHSHSW, working autonomously within professional guidelines and exercising responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the team. They would ensure that systems are in place, and working effectively, for the clinical and professional supervision and support of all other psychologists, assistant psychologists, trainee psychologists and Clinical Nurse Practitioners (CNP’s) within the service for which the post holder has designated professional responsibility, including clear systems for effective recruitment, professional appraisal, and the identification of CPD needs across the service.

Main duties of the job

This role requires a HCPC registered, and preferably chartered psychologist, with extensive clinical knowledge and experience of working with female patients in forensic/secure hospital settings. The post holder would be required to have the ability to manage, lead and motivate teams and to take a lead role in developing psychological therapeutic strategies within the NHSHSW.  The successful applicant will have extensive experience, and recognised expertise, in a number of related specialist areas required for working with women and leading a psychology team in secure care.  A key element to the role is to develop and maintain the provision of high-quality evidence, psychological assessments and psychological treatments in the NHSHSW. The post-holder will also be expected to take a lead role in anticipating changes over time, which will impact on the NHSHSW and developing solutions to protect and improve the NHSHSW’s ability to meet the emerging needs of its patients.  They will offer teaching, training, consultancy, support and supervision to psychologists and other disciplines throughout the hospital, and nationally including through links with training establishments. Through their sharing and dissemination of practice, and the publication of service evaluation and research there will be impact locally, nationally, and internationally.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To be involved at a strategic level in the development and implementation of a psychological service to the National High Secure Healthcare Service for Women (NHSHSW) within Rampton Hospital. To ensure the systematic provision of a high-quality specialist psychology service to patients within the NHSHSW. To work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the team. To ensure that systems are in place, and working effectively, for the clinical and professional supervision and support of all other psychologists, assistant psychologists, trainee psychologists and Clinical Nurse Practitioners (CNP’s) within the service for which the post holder has designated professional responsibility, including clear systems for effective recruitment, professional appraisal, and the identification of CPD needs across the service. To be responsible, as required, by the Head of Psychology to liaise with designated senior managers within and outside the Trust and to represent psychological services on committees within and outside the hospital as required. A key element to the role will be to develop and maintain the provision of high-quality evidence based psychological assessments and treatments in the NHSHSW. They will also be expected to take a lead role in anticipating changes over time, which will impact on the NHSHSW and developing solutions to protect and improve the NHSHSW’s ability to meet the needs of its patients. Research, service evaluation and development activity is a major responsibility. The individual will lead in the strategic development and evaluation of psychological services within the NHSHSW, a high secure forensic setting. In liaison with the Head of Psychology, they will carry out audit, policy, and service development and research activities and/or programmes. They will also propose and implement policy and service development changes within the NHSHSW to further develop the delivery of quality services. They will offer teaching, training, support and supervision to psychologists and other disciplines throughout the hospital, and to psychologists nationally through links with training establishments. Through sharing and dissemination of practice and the publication of service evaluation and research there will be impact locally, nationally and internationally.