Director of Psychology Secure Acute and Crisis Division


Company:	NHS Jobs
Salary:	£94,356 to £108,814 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Southampton, SO40 2RZ
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	23 Oct 2026
Closing date:	8 Nov 2026

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Summary

Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible. We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. To provide highly developed specialist psychological assessments of patients referred to the service, based upon the appropriate use, interpretation, and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the patients care. To be responsible for the delivery of high specialist assessment, formulation and stabilisation work, (direct and indirect) and where appropriate implement a range of highly specialised psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses. To act as Lead Professional, where appropriate, ensuring the provision of a care package appropriate for the patients needs, co-ordinating the work of others involved with care, arranging patients care reviews as required and communicating effectively with the patient, his/her family and all others involved in care; and to monitor progress during the course of multi-disciplinary interventions. To facilitate timely, safe discharge planning and execution where required. To communicate in a highly skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of patients and families under their care and to monitor and evaluate progress during the course of both uni- and multi-disciplinary care. Provides and receives complex, sensitive information to patients/relatives and colleagues and with empathy, persuasion and reassurance and ensure information is clearly understood, where there maybe barriers to understanding Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to formulate and agree on the purpose and structure of therapeutic admissions ensuring decisions are grounded in clinical evidence compassionate practise and a culture of relational care. To ensure that all members of the clinical teams have access to a psychologically based framework for the understanding and care of patients of the Service, through the provision of advice and consultation and the dissemination of psychological knowledge, research and theory. Continue to develop and implement a coherent model of psychological informed care across the Division that is aligned with the Divisions & Trust's clinical strategy and the Trust-wide psychological professions strategy as directed by the Chief Psychological Professions Officer. To be responsible for the development of the service on behalf of the Division. To ensure the provision of high quality and responsive psychological service to the Division. Ensure that psychology is embedded within the Division's clinical operating model and contributes directly to divisional priorities. Ensure an effective and mutually respectful relationship between psychological professionals and wider MDT across the Division. Ensure psychological services contribute measurable value to the wider Division/system rather than operating as a standalone specialist service. Provide expert psychological advice to the Divisional leadership team and all relevant agencies with the Division as required and including themes around: risk and formulation, trauma-informed care, restrictive practice, inpatient flow; rehabilitation; admission avoidance, discharge and transition, staff wellbeing, service transformation. To contribute to the design of Trust frameworks that define therapeutic admissions, embedding the principles of a positive culture of care equity and person centeredness into strategic planning and service delivery. Identify opportunities to shift psychological intervention upstream and support earlier intervention, admission avoidance, shorter inpatient stays and successful transition into community services. Help raise profile of psychologically informed care across the Division. To be responsible for responding to agreed Trust, local and national initiatives, and developments as appropriate and as delegated by the Chief Psychological Professions Officer. Responsible for the development and implementation of Service policies and clinical model in line with Trust and National Policies including NICE guidelines. Represent the Division and psychological services in relevant meetings as required by the Division leadership and/or CPPO. To ensure that systems are in place and working effectively for the clinical and professional supervision and support of all applied psychologists and other disciplines within the service including clear systems for effective recruitment, professional appraisal and the identification of CPD needs. Responsible for audit, policy and service development and research activities within the Division. Advise the Managing Director and Chief Psychological Professions Officer with regard to the psychology budget. Responsible for managing the psychological resources available to the division both, of psychological staff and psychological materials employed in the assessment and the treatment of patients and their families. Responsible for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the service, including maintaining systematic records of appraisals, clinical record keeping standards and the transcribing of minutes and records of appropriate professional meetings. Manage complaints and disciplinary actions as required. To alert the Chief Psychological Professions Officer of any concerns in relation to psychological practice or matters that need addressing. Lead the psychological professional workforce development across the Division, developing strategy for effective recruitment, retention, development and wellbeing. Support succession planning, advanced practice, leadership career development, preceptorship and early career development. To ensure the provision of placements and clinical supervision to trainee clinical psychologist and to evaluate trainees performance in line with University and HCPC regulations. Responsible for the induction of new staff as appropriate. To oversee specialist clinical placements for trainee psychologists, ensuring that they acquire the necessary clinical and research skills to doctoral level where appropriate, and competencies and experience to contribute effectively to good psychological practice, and contributing to the assessment and evaluation of those competencies. To ensure that members of the psychology teams have access to appropriate estate space to ensure uninterrupted or uncompromised delivery of patient care. To take the psychological lead, in planning and implementing systems for the evaluation, monitoring and development of the service, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit and ensuring incorporation of psychological frameworks for understanding and providing high-quality care. To ensure the development, maintenance and dissemination of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes. Contribute with other consultant psychologists through the Psychology Professionals Leadership group the development and articulation of best practice in psychology across the Trust. To be an integral part of the Trust Divisional Directors of Psychological Professionals and take a lead on area of Trust wide portfolio. Take a lead in psychology-related transformation programmes redesigning pathways around patient need rather than professional boundaries Ensure service users and carers are actively involved in the development, evaluation and improvement of psychological services. In common with all psychologists, receive clinical supervision in accordance with good practice.

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