Lead Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologist

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare organization in London seeks an experienced Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologist to lead its Drug and Alcohol Service. The role involves overseeing the multidisciplinary team and providing leadership on substance use treatment. Candidates should possess a doctorate in psychology and extensive experience in forensic settings with a focus on dual diagnosis and substance misuse. The position offers a competitive salary and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Substantial post-qualification experience in a forensic service.
• Experience in dual diagnosis especially regarding substance misuse.
• Experience of providing specialist psychological assessments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Drug and Alcohol Service multidisciplinary team.
• Provide clinical supervision and line management.
• Develop relationships with external substance use services.

Skills

Complex psychological assessment and intervention

Effective communicator

Skills in CBT and specialized therapies

Risk assessment and management

Research methodology knowledge

Ability to work in multicultural settings

Education

Postgraduate doctorate in Clinical, Counselling or Forensic Psychology

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologist to lead the forensic directorate’s Drug and Alcohol Service, which is a small, specialist multidisciplinary team. The directorate provides multidisciplinary treatment for service users who are resident in East and North East London who require secure mental health services. We offer a comprehensive range of services including men’s medium secure, women’s medium secure, high dependency, men’s low secure, learning disabilities, autism spectrum conditions, and a large community forensic service. The Drug and Alcohol Service covers the entire directorate, affording a remarkable breadth of practice and experience to the successful candidate.

The post holder will lead the team, and be involved in and oversee all aspects of its work. They will provide leadership across the service on substance use and its treatment. The post holder will also be a senior member of the psychology department, holding associated leadership and management responsibilities there too.

Responsibilities

• Clinical supervision, line management and leadership of the Drug and Alcohol Service multidisciplinary team
• Clinical supervision and line management of staff within the wider Psychology Department
• Developing close working relationships and liaison with external bodies, including statutory and non‑statutory substance use/addiction services in the community, National Probation Service, prisons and numerous other community partners
• Providing direct clinical assessment and intervention on an individual and group basis as well as consultation and training to staff within the Forensic Directorate
• Providing visible leadership and presence within the Forensic Directorate in relation to substance use
• Leading on Quality Improvement initiatives within the Forensic Directorate, involving other agencies, to improve outcomes for service users involved in substance use
• Contributing to the strategic development of therapies in the Forensic Directorate, by maintaining close operational links to the psychology department and other AHP leads.

Training & Qualifications

• Postgraduate doctorate in Clinical, Counselling or Forensic Psychology, or equivalent qualification accredited by the BPS such as Statement of Equivalence, leading to eligibility for Chartered status, or depending on training needs, may hold a professional qualification in psychology and be undertaking further training to complete requirements for Statement of Equivalence.
• Evidence of CPD in accordance with BPS recommendations
• Formal training in supervision of trainees
• Breakaway training
• Post‑qualification training in the area of substance misuse (desirable)

Experience

• Substantial post‑qualification experience, including experience in a forensic service and experience of specialising in dual diagnosis (substance misuse)
• Experience of working with a wide variety of patient groups presenting with the full range of clinical severity in a range of settings including outpatient, community and inpatient settings
• Experience of service development and evaluation (desirable)
• Experience of supervising and line‑managing more junior psychologist(es) (desirable)
• Experience of project management
• Experience of providing specialist psychological assessments and treatment interventions to patients with complex problems, including severe mental illness, personality disorder, substance misuse, offending behaviour and/or dual diagnosis.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision.
• Experience of working in a multicultural setting including working with interpreters.
• Significant experience of leading on Improvement work
• Experience of recruitment and selection

Knowledge and Skills

• Highly developed skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management, including the use of theoretical models to analyse information and to develop formulations upon which to base choice of treatment.
• Highly developed skills in the effective communication of complex and/or clinically sensitive information to a wide range of recipients in a range of settings within and outside the NHS, including the ability to produce letters, reports and associated documentation appropriate to its readership and to overcome barriers to understanding and acceptance.
• Skills in planning and delivering psychological interventions in individual and group formats, adapted to meet the needs of the individual or group.
• Skills in the practice of CBT and one other specialised psychological therapy appropriate to the treatment of patients with dual diagnosis and other complex needs.
• Skills in providing advice and consultation to other professionals and carers.
• Ability to plan, organise and prioritise own work.
• Knowledge of the legal framework in which forensic services operate and of other agencies and systems involved in the treatment/management and care of mentally disordered offenders.
• Ability to identify risk relevant to forensic work and skills in risk assessment and risk management.
• Postgraduate level knowledge of research methodology including research design and complex statistical analysis and audit skills.
• Ability to plan and deliver teaching and training sessions.
• High level presentation skills.
• Awareness of diversity, and ability to provide a service that is appropriate to a diverse range of people.
• Knowledge of team and organisational dynamics.
• Well‑developed skills in one or more areas of specialist clinical or research interest, including dual diagnosis.
• Knowledge of local and national developments in dual diagnosis, psychology and the NHS.
• Competence in advanced IT packages and ability to use multimedia presentation materials.

Other

• Ability to produce high quality professional results to specified deadlines and other time constraints.
• Ability to effectively manage verbal aggression and the risk of physical aggression from patients or carers.
• Ability to effectively manage frequent exposure to highly distressing/emotional circumstances.
• Ability to concentrate and remain in constrained positions for substantial periods during patient contact, teaching/supervision, meetings, preparation of written work etc.
• Ability to recognise, contain and work with organisational personal stress.
• Ability to work creatively, cooperatively, reliably and consistently both as an independent practitioner and in multidisciplinary and team settings.
• Respectful approach to patients, carers, colleagues and others.
• Willingness to negotiate and ability to handle confrontation effectively and professionally.
• Ability to initiate and see through to completion, new projects and service development.
• Ability to establish and develop successful partnerships with partner agencies.

Details

• Posted: 04 November 2025
• Pay Scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 8b
• Salary: £72,921 to £83,362 per annum (Inc HCAs)
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full‑time
• Reference number: 363‑FOR7542151
• Job location: John Howard Centre, 12 Kenworthy Road, London, E9 5TD

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and is therefore subject to a disclosure check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

East London NHS Foundation Trust – John Howard Centre, 12 Kenworthy Road, London, E9 5TD

Employer's website

https://www.elft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)