Relational Lead - Band 8A

East London Nhs Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 66,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

East London NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Relational Therapies Lead to oversee the relational high-intensity therapies pathway within Tower Hamlets Talking Therapies. You will combine clinical, professional and operational leadership to develop and deliver brief psychodynamic and systemic therapies in a high-performing NHS Talking Therapies service.

The post holder joins a multidisciplinary team offering Brief Psychodynamic Therapy, Systemic and Couple Therapy, EMDR, CBT, Counselling,

Qualifications

• HCPC registration with Counselling or Clinical Psychology background.
• Masters level Psychodynamic or Systemic Psychotherapist with UKCP registration/ accreditation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the relational high-intensity therapies pathway, including waitlist management and pathway development.
• Provide clinical supervision in at least one relational therapy modality to therapists of varying experience.
• Provide line and case management supervision to High Intensity Therapists, Counsellors and PWPs to support performance targets.
• Support the service leadership team in achieving performance indicators and objectives.
• Contribute to service developments and interface with other providers including psychology in secondary services.
• Maintain a small clinical caseload delivering high-intensity interventions to appropriate clients.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical supervision

Line management

Governance

Performance management

Education

HCPC registered Counselling or Clinical Psychologist

Masters level Psychodynamic or Systemic Psychotherapist (UKCP)

Job description

Job summary

Tower Hamlets Talking Therapies is seeking an experienced relational therapist with leadership experience to lead our established relational therapies pathway. This role combines clinical, professional and operational leadership, with responsibility for overseeing and developing the delivery of high-quality brief psychodynamic and systemic therapies within a high-performing NHS Talking Therapies service. The successful candidate will build on the strengths of our established provision and help shape its future development.

The post holder will join a dynamic multidisciplinary service comprising clinicians trained in a broad range of therapeutic approaches, including Brief Psychodynamic Therapy (including DIT), Systemic and Couple Therapy, EMDR, CBT, Counselling, Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Guided Self-Help.

The Relational Therapies Lead will be a member of the service leadership team, working closely with fellow pathway leads and senior managers to support day-to-day service delivery, workforce development, quality improvement and strategic planning. The post holder will provide leadership and oversight of the relational therapies pathway, including clinical supervision, duty management, recruitment, governance, service improvement and performance management, while contributing to the wider development of the service.

Main duties of the job

Tower Hamlets offers the opportunity to work with one of London's most diverse and vibrant communities, with a wide range of presenting difficulties.

We are committed to delivering accessible, inclusive and culturally responsive care and are looking for a leader who can support high-quality relational therapy provision that meets the needs of our local population.

We are looking for an experienced Clinical Psychologist, Counselling Psychologist, Psychodynamic Psychotherapist or Systemic Psychotherapist who can demonstrate leadership experience beyond direct clinical work and is ready to contribute to the ongoing development, management and strategic direction of the relational therapies pathway. This role would suit someone with a combination of strong clinical skills and emerging or established leadership experience.

This is a permanent full-time position. In line with service requirements, all clinical staff are expected to work one late evening per week (11:00am-7:00pm).

About us

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Details

Date posted: 23 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £66,274 to £73,496 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 363-SS8369694
Job locations: Tower Hamlets Talking Therapies, 71 Johnson Street, London, E1 0AQ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the delivery and ongoing development of relational high intensity therapies pathway including brief psychodynamic therapy, DIT (Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy), Integrative therapy, IPT (Interpersonal Therapy), Systemic therapy and Couples Therapy. This will include waitlist management, pathway oversight and the development of appropriate care pathways in collaboration with the service pathways.
• Provide clinical supervision in at least one relational therapeutic modality (e.g. DIT, Brief Psychodynamic Therapy, IPT, Integrative Therapy or Systemic Therapy) in individual and group formats to therapists with varying degrees of experience.
• Provide line and case management supervision to a team of High Intensity Therapists, Counsellors and Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) to support them in delivering the performance and recovery targets.
• Support the service leadership team in achieving key performance indicators and operational objectives.
• Contribute to service developments and support the interface with other providers including psychology in secondary mental health services.
• Maintain a small clinical caseload, delivering high-intensity interventions to Step 3 and other appropriate clients.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training (Essential)

• HCPC registered Counselling or Clinical Psychologist OR Masters Level qualified Psychodynamic or Systemic Psychotherapist with relevant registration and accreditation status with UKCP

Experience (Essential)

• Experience of working in an primary care or NHS Talking Therapies (previously IAPT) setting delivering evidence based psychological interventions
• Advanced skills in at least one other Psychological Therapy modality (e.g. Brief Psychodynamic, Integrative, Systemic therapy, CfD (Counselling for Depression), IPT (Interpersonal Therapy).
• Experience of providing brief psychotherapy
• Experience of managing waiting lists.
• Experience of line management of staff
• Experience of contributing to or overseeing delivery against service performance and recovery targets

Knowledge and Skills (Essential)

• Able to demonstrate expertise in one or more therapeutic orientations, or with one or more areas of clinical presentation.
• Able to arrive at appropriate formulations. Able to compare and select from a range of treatment options, based on formulation.
• Ability to work autonomously and to manage conflicting demands between Service Users, the health care system and broader contexts Skills to undertake appropriate clinical audits
• Excellent reporting and presentation skills.
• Able to provide & receive complex, sensitive or contentious information in a highly emotive and sometimes hostile atmosphere, in a range of relationships and settings.
• Able to use highly specialist skills of empathy to overcome barriers to understanding and acceptance.

Supervision, teaching, training (Essential)

• Understanding of, and commitment to the supervision process.
• Significant experience of providing clinical supervision to qualified/ trainee clinicians
• Able to organise and deliver teaching and training.
• Able to contribute a Psychological perspective in work with other professional groups.

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.

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 the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact: Deputy Clinical Lead, Leanne Walker, [e-mail], 02077027641