Lead Psychologist

NHS; Widnes; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider is seeking an experienced Lead Psychologist for the Gateway Recovery Centre in Widnes, Cheshire. Your role will encompass leading the psychological provision and delivering specialized care for individuals with complex mental health needs. You will oversee a team and implement innovative clinical initiatives. The position offers a competitive salary of up to £75,000 and various employee benefits including flexible working opportunities and supportive career development.

Benefits

Annual salary of up to £75,000

33 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays)

Free meals and parking

Wellbeing support and activities

Career development and training opportunities

Pension contribution

Qualifications

• Proficiency in psychological assessments and formulation skills.
• Ability to identify and proactively resolve problems in the service.
• Experience implementing a range of highly specialist psychological assessments and therapies.

Responsibilities

• Deliver highly specialist psychological care to service users with complex mental health conditions.
• Lead the psychology department and provide various therapeutic approaches.
• Support in the development and implementation of policies enhancing staff safety.

Skills

Proficiency in assessing, formulating, and working therapeutically with service users

Experience in supervising others

Knowledge and expertise in working with trauma

Education

Doctorate level qualification in applied psychology

Registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist

Job description

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Psychologist to take on the role of Lead Psychologist at the Gateway Recovery Centre in Widnes, Cheshire. You will be responsible for the psychological provision of the hospital, including individual and group interventions, diagnostic and cognitive assessments, MDT working, and risk assessments. You will lead a team of Psychologists, therapists, Assistant Psychologists, and Trainee Psychologists, providing guidance, support, and supervision.

Main duties of the job

As the Lead Psychologist, you will be responsible for the delivery of highly specialist psychological care to service users with complex and contentious mental health conditions, in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. You will work collaboratively with the team to ensure that the service users' engagement in their care pathway and support the clinical team in developing new initiatives and ways of working. You will also be responsible for leading the recruitment of psychology staff and attending and contributing to Clinical Leads and Hospital Governance Meetings.

About us

Elysium Healthcare is an established, stable, and agile company with over 8,000 employees and a unique approach to the delivery of care. With a network of over 90 services across England and Wales covering Mental Health, Neurological, Learning Disabilities & Autism, Children & Education, there is an opportunity for you to grow and move within the organization.

Details Date posted

31 July 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£70,000 to £75,000 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

1352513674

Job locations

Elysium Healthcare

Widnes

WA8 0GT

Job description Job responsibilities

Are you an experienced Senior Psychologist looking for a new challenge in a rewarding environment, where you can make a real difference? If so, then join the team at Gateway RecoveryCentre in Widnes, Cheshireas a Lead Psychologist and enjoy support from a regional network of Psychologists as you flourish in your career.

With experience from the NHS or the private sector as a Senior or Lead Psychologist, you will carry a caseload that includes assessing service users with complex needs and designing and delivering specialist psychological treatment withinmental health careservices.

What you will be doing:

You will work 37.5 hours a week as the Lead Psychologist for a service for men and women with complex mental health needs.

As a Lead Psychologist, you will be responsible for the psychological provision of the hospital, including individual and group interventions, diagnostic and cognitive assessments, MDT working, and risk assessments.You'll lead the psychology department in providing a variety of therapeutic approaches to service users, including CBT and third-wave therapies, EMDR, and DBT, and will provide guidance, support and supervision to your team of Psychologists, therapists, Assistant Psychologists, and Trainee Psychologists, including responsibility for mentoring and their training (with support from the Learning & Development Team).You will also work as part of MDTs, supporting the clinical teams in the care provision of service users across the hospital.

There is a strong emphasis on teamwork, supervision and CPD, with support from a regional network of Psychologists.

As a Lead Psychologist you will be:

• Responsible for the delivery of highly specialist psychological care to service users with complex and contentious mental health conditions, in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
• Working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team and ensure that the service users’ engagement in their care pathway.
• Supporting clinical team working, including both direct and indirect interventions, such as, delivery of staff training programmes.
• Supporting the clinical team and area of service in developing new initiatives and ways of working.
• Taking a key role in psychology service developments, providing an evidence-based approach to new clinical initiatives.
• Undertaking risk assessment and risk management for individual service users and providing highly specialist advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment/management.
• Maximising current opportunities to make improvements to the service area.
• Leading the recruitment of psychology staff.
• Attending and contributing to Clinical Leads and Hospital Governance Meetings
• Supporting in the development and implementation of policies that enhance staff safety and risk management.
• Working with internal and external agencies in order to enhance treatment pathways for service users.

To be successful as a Lead Psychologist, you'll have:

• To be registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist.
• Successful completion of a Doctorate level qualification in applied psychology either through the British Psychological Society or a recognised training body, enabling registration with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist.
• Proficiency in assessing, formulating, and working therapeutically with service users.
• Ability to identify and proactively resolve problems and challenges within the service.
• Experience in supervising others, including junior and sernior members of the psychology team.
• High level knowledge and expertise in working with trauma
• Experience in working with people with complex mental health and social needs that are relevant to the population in the service area.
• Proficiency in psychological assessments and formulation skills and an aptitude for learning new assessment methods
• Competency in cognitive functioning/management tools and formulation
• Experience implementing a range of highly specialist psychological assessments and therapies.
• Experience in risk assessments, including violence and sexual risk assessments, such as HCR-20 or RSVP assessments.

Where you will be working:

Location:Bennett’s Lane,Widnes, Warrington,WA8 0GT

The service is commutable from Preston, Blackburn, Rochdale, Bolton, Manchester, Stockport, Warrington, Cheshire, Liverpool

You will be working at the Gateway Recovery Centre, a state-of-the-art facility which provides care for men and women with complex mental health requirements.The hospital is split intofourdistinct areas:

• Male Autism Service for the challenging and complex needs of adults with Autism and Asperger’s syndrome
• Assessment and rehabilitation for women with complex mental health needs and personality difficulties
• Specialist inpatient service for older men with complex mental health and physical health needs.
• Low secure care setting for men with a mental illness with or without personality disorder/mild LD

You will be working alongside the team with the aim to improve the mental health and wellbeing of service users and to help them develop and maintain healthy relationships with others. Gateway Recovery Centre will work to reduce risk behaviours associated with mental health conditions so that our patients can ultimately live successful and fulfilling lives within the community.

What you will get:

• Annual salary of up to £70,000 to £75,000
• The equivalent of 33 days annual leave (inc Bank Holidays) – plus your birthday off!
• Flexible working opportunities considered
• Free meals and parking
• Wellbeing support and activities to help you maintain a great work-life balance.
• Career development and training with access to regular clinical supervision, continuous training opportunities, shape and lead service development
• Pension contribution to secure your future.
• Life Assurance for added peace of mind.
• Enhanced Maternity Package so you can truly enjoy this special time.

There is also a range of other benefits including retail discounts, special offers and much more.

About your next employer:

You will be working for an established, stable and agile company with over 8,000 employees and a unique approach to the delivery of care. With a network of over 90 services across England and Wales covering Mental Health, Neurological, Learning Disabilities & Autism, Children & Education, there is opportunity for you to grow and move.

Elysium Healthcare is part of Ramsay Health Care with a global network that extends across 10 countries and employs over 86,000 people globally.

Elysium Healthcare follows safer recruitment of staff for all appointments and is a Disability Confident employer, committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment. It is a requirement that all staff understand it is each person’s individual responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of service users. All candidates will be subject to a DBS disclosure.

Job description Job responsibilities

Are you an experienced Senior Psychologist looking for a new challenge in a rewarding environment, where you can make a real difference? If so, then join the team at Gateway RecoveryCentre in Widnes, Cheshireas a Lead Psychologist and enjoy support from a regional network of Psychologists as you flourish in your career.

With experience from the NHS or the private sector as a Senior or Lead Psychologist, you will carry a caseload that includes assessing service users with complex needs and designing and delivering specialist psychological treatment withinmental health careservices.

What you will be doing:

You will work 37.5 hours a week as the Lead Psychologist for a service for men and women with complex mental health needs.

As a Lead Psychologist, you will be responsible for the psychological provision of the hospital, including individual and group interventions, diagnostic and cognitive assessments, MDT working, and risk assessments.You'll lead the psychology department in providing a variety of therapeutic approaches to service users, including CBT and third-wave therapies, EMDR, and DBT, and will provide guidance, support and supervision to your team of Psychologists, therapists, Assistant Psychologists, and Trainee Psychologists, including responsibility for mentoring and their training (with support from the Learning & Development Team).You will also work as part of MDTs, supporting the clinical teams in the care provision of service users across the hospital.

There is a strong emphasis on teamwork, supervision and CPD, with support from a regional network of Psychologists.

As a Lead Psychologist you will be:

• Responsible for the delivery of highly specialist psychological care to service users with complex and contentious mental health conditions, in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
• Working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team and ensure that the service users’ engagement in their care pathway.
• Supporting clinical team working, including both direct and indirect interventions, such as, delivery of staff training programmes.
• Supporting the clinical team and area of service in developing new initiatives and ways of working.
• Taking a key role in psychology service developments, providing an evidence-based approach to new clinical initiatives.
• Undertaking risk assessment and risk management for individual service users and providing highly specialist advice to other professionals on psychological aspects of risk assessment/management.
• Maximising current opportunities to make improvements to the service area.
• Leading the recruitment of psychology staff.
• Attending and contributing to Clinical Leads and Hospital Governance Meetings
• Supporting in the development and implementation of policies that enhance staff safety and risk management.
• Working with internal and external agencies in order to enhance treatment pathways for service users.

To be successful as a Lead Psychologist, you'll have:

• To be registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist.
• Successful completion of a Doctorate level qualification in applied psychology either through the British Psychological Society or a recognised training body, enabling registration with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist.
• Proficiency in assessing, formulating, and working therapeutically with service users.
• Ability to identify and proactively resolve problems and challenges within the service.
• Experience in supervising others, including junior and sernior members of the psychology team.
• High level knowledge and expertise in working with trauma
• Experience in working with people with complex mental health and social needs that are relevant to the population in the service area.
• Proficiency in psychological assessments and formulation skills and an aptitude for learning new assessment methods
• Competency in cognitive functioning/management tools and formulation
• Experience implementing a range of highly specialist psychological assessments and therapies.
• Experience in risk assessments, including violence and sexual risk assessments, such as HCR-20 or RSVP assessments.

Where you will be working:

Location:Bennett’s Lane,Widnes, Warrington,WA8 0GT

The service is commutable from Preston, Blackburn, Rochdale, Bolton, Manchester, Stockport, Warrington, Cheshire, Liverpool

You will be working at the Gateway Recovery Centre, a state-of-the-art facility which provides care for men and women with complex mental health requirements.The hospital is split intofourdistinct areas:

• Male Autism Service for the challenging and complex needs of adults with Autism and Asperger’s syndrome
• Assessment and rehabilitation for women with complex mental health needs and personality difficulties
• Specialist inpatient service for older men with complex mental health and physical health needs.
• Low secure care setting for men with a mental illness with or without personality disorder/mild LD

You will be working alongside the team with the aim to improve the mental health and wellbeing of service users and to help them develop and maintain healthy relationships with others. Gateway Recovery Centre will work to reduce risk behaviours associated with mental health conditions so that our patients can ultimately live successful and fulfilling lives within the community.

What you will get:

• Annual salary of up to £70,000 to £75,000
• The equivalent of 33 days annual leave (inc Bank Holidays) – plus your birthday off!
• Flexible working opportunities considered
• Free meals and parking
• Wellbeing support and activities to help you maintain a great work-life balance.
• Career development and training with access to regular clinical supervision, continuous training opportunities, shape and lead service development
• Pension contribution to secure your future.
• Life Assurance for added peace of mind.
• Enhanced Maternity Package so you can truly enjoy this special time.

There is also a range of other benefits including retail discounts, special offers and much more.

About your next employer:

You will be working for an established, stable and agile company with over 8,000 employees and a unique approach to the delivery of care. With a network of over 90 services across England and Wales covering Mental Health, Neurological, Learning Disabilities & Autism, Children & Education, there is opportunity for you to grow and move.

Elysium Healthcare is part of Ramsay Health Care with a global network that extends across 10 countries and employs over 86,000 people globally.

Elysium Healthcare follows safer recruitment of staff for all appointments and is a Disability Confident employer, committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment. It is a requirement that all staff understand it is each person’s individual responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of service users. All candidates will be subject to a DBS disclosure.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• To be successful as a Lead Psychologist, you'll need to be registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist, with a successful completion of a Doctorate level qualification in applied psychology. You should also have proficiency in assessing, formulating, and working therapeutically with service users, as well as experience in supervising others, including junior and senior members of the psychology team. Additionally, you should have high-level knowledge and expertise in working with trauma and experience in working with people with complex mental health and social needs.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• To be successful as a Lead Psychologist, you'll need to be registered with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist, with a successful completion of a Doctorate level qualification in applied psychology. You should also have proficiency in assessing, formulating, and working therapeutically with service users, as well as experience in supervising others, including junior and senior members of the psychology team. Additionally, you should have high-level knowledge and expertise in working with trauma and experience in working with people with complex mental health and social needs.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

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

Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

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

Employer details Employer name

Elysium Healthcare

Address

Elysium Healthcare

Widnes

WA8 0GT

Employer's website

https://www.elysiumhealthcare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Elysium Healthcare

Address

Elysium Healthcare

Widnes

WA8 0GT

Employer's website

https://www.elysiumhealthcare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)