Consultant Clinical / Applied Psychologist Workforce Development Lead

Job Overview

CNWL is seeking to appoint an innovative and highly skilled clinical or applied psychologist with a strong interest in working at an organisational and strategic level to continue to support the development of the Psychological Professions Workforce.

We are seeking an experienced psychologist to work alongside the Chief Psychologist, Director of Therapies and other senior colleagues to continue to lead and shape this exciting and important programme of work, at a time of rapid change and development across the wider health and care system.

We value equality, diversity and inclusion, and strongly encourage applications from candidates from minoritised backgrounds. The Psychological Professions Workforce Team is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive working environment and welcomes applications from all candidates who share our values and ambition for the future of psychological professions within the NHS.

This role will suit a psychologist with:

• Strong leadership and influencing skills
• Experience or interest in workforce development, organisational psychology or system-level change
• A collaborative and values‑driven approach
• A commitment to inclusivity, innovation and excellence in psychological practice
  
  

Main duties of the job

To lead, plan and manage the delivery of Workforce Development strategic objectives for the Psychological Professions at CNWL including:

• Psychological Professions Workforce Development
  
  

– Engagement and identity

– Professional and career development

– Clinical practice and leadership development

– Recruitment and retention strategies

• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (workforce and practice)
• Innovation, digital and AI
• Links with training programmes
• NHSE trainee data validation
• NHSE training funding streams
  
  

The postholder will provide leadership to ensure that CNWL’s psychological professions workforce is supported, valued and enabled to deliver excellent services, and that the contribution of psychological professions is well recognised and respected across the organisation.

Working for our organisation

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) is a Top Employer Award winner, working in partnership to deliver responsive, high‑quality primary care, mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services to the diverse and culturally rich communities we serve.

This post sits within the Psychological Professions Workforce Team, which has grown significantly over the past five years and has delivered major, positive changes in workforce culture across the psychological professions. The team works collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders to develop and embed innovative and sustainable workforce strategies, with inclusivity and equity as core values.

By joining CNWL’s Psychological Professions Workforce Development Team, you will become part of a vibrant, innovative team of psychological professionals.

Our psychological professions workforce is dynamic, welcoming and highly collaborative. Networking, supervision and continuing professional development (CPD) are central to our ethos, with strong links with operational and clinical partners. Staff receive regular, supervision and are actively supported in relation to career aspirations, progression and leadership development.

Click here to find out more about working within the psychological professions at CNWL

Please See The Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To regularly report on the progress of these plans, and any associated risks, to the Trust Chief Psychologist and relevant stakeholders, including through formal programme board meetings.

To incorporate Trust, regional and national priorities into the team’s objectives, along with relevant developments from professional bodies and other organisations.

To disseminate and use workforce and other relevant data to inform planning and evaluation.

To act as Course Lead for the 21st Century Leadership Programme for Psychological Professions.

To manage the day‑to‑day operation of the Psychological Professions Workforce Team.

To contribute to creating a psychologically safe and anti‑discriminatory environment in which staff, service users and carers from diverse backgrounds can flourish.

To line manage and supervise the Deputy Workforce Development Lead and Assistant Psychologist.

To provide a placement and supervision for trainee clinical psychologists.

To maintain a strong focus on collaboration and co‑production across workstreams, ensuring all projects understand and reflect the needs and views of service users and staff.

To develop partnership links and relationships with key external organisations.

To be accountable to the Trust Chief Psychologist for the development, monitoring and implementation of new ways of working and professional standards within the Psychological Professions.

To ensure the delivery of research, service evaluation and audits relevant to the workforce projects undertaken in this role.

To take a lead in developing and evaluating psychological workforce development plans across the Trust.

To communicate as required with staff within the organisation and with external partners, such as local universities, other education providers, professional groups, partner NHS and other services, and colleagues across the Trust, including Education, People Services and Allied Health Professionals’ Heads of Profession.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Entry-level qualification in Applied Psychology

HCPC Registration

Post qualification clinical CPD & / or longer training (incl supervision training)

Post qualification leadership CPD & / or longer training

Desirable criteria

• Doctoral level qualification - relevant to post
• Qualification in Leadership / Research or other relevant area of practice
• Chartered registration with British Psychological Society and membership of BPS networks Membership / registration / accreditation with other relevant professional bodies
  
  

Experience

Essential criteria

• Substantial experience working as applied psychologist in health care under supervision; incl supervision of others
• Undertaken leadership roles; leading change
• Post-qualification experience that supports working with, taking action to address issues of equity, diversity & discrimination within organisations and service delivery
• Research, QI and service evaluation experience
• Teaching and training experience
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Record of research / professional publications and dissemination
• Lived experience of mental & physical health challenges
• Connection to communities and organisations in the areas the Trust provides services to
• Experience of working on a Psychological Professions Training Course
  
  

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of management and leadership
• Advanced knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies for workforce development
  
  

Desirable criteria

• An understanding of the use and application of IT, digital and AI technology
  
  

Skills

Essential criteria

• To lead, develop and manage programmes of work involving multiple stakeholders
• Well-developed consultation skills to work with the multi-professional team or other professional groups

Well-developed IT skills including entry and analysis of research data and for teaching purposes

Desirable criteria

• Ability to communicate in languages additional to English relevant to the work of the team and Trust
  
  

Abilities

Essential criteria

• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to effective team functioning and holding team roles
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of quality / clinical / operational governance as appropriate