Senior Forensic Psychologist—Professional Lead

Sussex Partnership Nhs Foundation Trust; Waldron; On-site; GBP 77,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust invites an experienced senior psychological professional to lead the Psychological Professions within Forensic Health Services. This strategic role shapes pathways, culture and system-wide practice, partnering with colleagues to advance psychologically informed care for forensic populations.

As a core member of the leadership team, you will provide professional direction, workforce planning, supervision and governance across inpatient, community and

Qualifications

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology, including psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more therapies and lifespan development.
• Post-doctoral training in additional specialised areas of psychological practice relevant to the Care Group/Service.
• HCPC Registered as a practitioner Psychologist.
• Pre-qualification training/qualifications in research methodology, staff training or other applied psychology fields.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and professional leadership for psychological professions across Forensic Health Services and contribute to the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Provider Collaborative.
• Work with divisional leadership to support safe, effective services and bring a strong psychological voice to planning and transformation.
• Lead systems for governance, supervision, CPD, recruitment, and professional standards across forensic pathways.
• Offer expert professional advice on governance and standards as required.
• Support supervision, reflective practice and psychologically safe systems for service users and staff.
• Shape policy and service developments to strengthen psychologically informed forensic care across pathways.
• Lead inclusive recruitment and workforce planning aligned to transformation programmes.
• Champion inclusive, culturally sensitive practice with equality, diversity and inclusion embedded.
• Foster wellbeing through supervision, CPD, and communities of practice for psychological professionals.
• Provide consultation on complex forensic care, formulation, risk and service design.
• Lead audit, research, teaching and routine outcome measurement for continuous improvement.
• Maintain specialist clinical caseload and high clinical credibility within area of practice.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Clinical credibility

Education

Post-graduate doctoral training in applied psychology

Post doctoral training in specialised areas of psychological practice

HCPC registration as a practitioner psychologist

Pre-qualification training in research methodology

Job description

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust invites an experienced senior psychological professional to lead the Psychological Professions within Forensic Health Services. This strategic role shapes pathways, culture and system-wide practice, partnering with colleagues to advance psychologically informed care for forensic populations.

As a core member of the leadership team, you will provide professional direction, workforce planning, supervision and governance across inpatient, community and