Professional Head of Psychology and Psychotherapy

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 97,000 - 112,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS mental health service provider is seeking a Head of Psychology and Psychotherapy to oversee forensic services. The ideal candidate will have extensive leadership experience in psychological services, manage a specialized team, and drive clinical excellence in a complex environment. The role offers a competitive salary and the chance to influence significant change in mental health care.

Qualifications

• Recognized qualification in a core mental health profession.
• Demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field in the NHS.
• Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Operational Managers to ensure access to psychological services.
• Provide forensic leadership and develop psychology protocols.
• Lead and manage the psychological service delivery.
• Conduct research and maintain professional development.

Skills

Leadership

Advanced knowledge of psychological practices

Ability to provide clinical input

Experience in psychological therapy

Staff management

Education

Professional Doctorate in Psychology

Masters Degree in relevant mental health field

Job description

Go back South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Professional Head of Psychology and Psychotherapy

Closing date is 01 December 2025

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 will 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 will 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

• Collaborate 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 part of their pathway to recovery.
• Provide forensic psychology and psychotherapy leadership, including workforce development; professional regulation and development; implementation and development of psychology and psychotherapy guidance and policy; creation of psychology and psychotherapy protocols specific to Forensic Services, the Trust, and professional regulation (HCPC).
• Contribute to strategic developments of the Forensic Services.
• Lead, manage, and plan the delivery of a highly specialist psychology and psychotherapy service to Forensic Services and personally provide expert clinical input.
• 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 maintain effective 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.

About us

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provides 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. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care & treatment, science & research, and training.

SLaM employs around 5,000 staff and serves a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services, including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, we 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 joining 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 and 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.

Job responsibilities

The role covers Medium Secure, Low Secure and 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 is growing with ongoing service developments. The team works together to deliver individualized, recovery‑oriented care in individual therapies and group interventions. The service has recently benefitted from the inclusion of peer support work, and service development continues to expand in this area. The implementation of the Patient & Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) has been a priority of the Directorate in its aspiration to contribute to the Trust’s Anti‑Racism Action Plan.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Undertaken a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions (e.g. psychiatric nursing, clinical psychology, medicine, social work, occupational therapy) OR have equivalent relevant experience and demonstrable competence to work in the mental health field in the NHS.
• 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) accepted by the HCPC for 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 accredited by UKCP. (A/I)
• For Psychotherapists: Entry‑level qualification in Psychotherapy accepted by the APC/BPC/UKCP/BACP/BABCP for 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).

Experience

• Extensive experience in professional leadership of psychologists and psychotherapists such as in a directorate‑type structure. (A/I/E)
• Experience of leading and managing a psychology and/or psychotherapy service in Forensic Services. (A/I/E)
• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for the psychological care and treatment with clients with complex needs. (A/I/E)
• Experience of providing teaching and training to psychologists and/or other professional groups. (A/I/E)
• Extensive experience in psychological therapy.

Knowledge / Skills

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of management and leadership. (A/I/R)
• Advanced theoretical knowledge of psychopathology and the evidence base for relevant treatment (specify for the post if necessary). (A/I/R)
• Advanced knowledge of the theory of psychological practice/processes and their therapeutic application.
• Knowledge of assessment and clinical psychometrics. (A/I/R)
• Knowledge of legislation relating to the client group and mental health issues, child and adult protection, and equalities. (A/I/R)
• Ability to select and administer specialist psychological assessments, interpret and integrate complex data requiring analysis and comparison, drawn from several sources across the discipline. (A/I/R)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

£97,283 to £111,278 a year inclusive of HCAs