About this role
Job summary
We are excited to be able to advertise this Director level clinical professional leadership post within the Trust , with responsibility for the professional development and standards for all Psychological Professional staff working alongside operational services.
The Director of Psychological Professions will report to the Director of Nursing/Deputy Chief Nurse and will join the Chief Nurse corporate Directorate and as a senior team member. The role will include responsibility for the trust wide Staff Support (Connect) Service which includes the expansion of psychological consultancy and team reflective practice.
The post holder will be responsible for innovative service development to improve patient / service user outcomes and contribute to delivery of the overall Trust strategic objectives. In addition, the post holder will lead on a specific Psychological professional strategy linked to a new Trust strategy due in Autumn 2026.
Main duties of the job
Main duties ( and expanded in job description ) are:
Being the most senior Psychological Professional lead for the Trust and taking strategic leadership and oversight for the professional development , supervision and standards for all staff who are in a role notated as being in a Psychological professional group. Developing a new Trust strategy for Psychological professions aligned to the launch of a new overarching Trust strategy, enabling a clear focus and purpose for future development and service development. Acting as a senior leader in the organisation and contributing to the overall business of the Trust, helping to steer how the Trust develops in relation to clinical practice. Taking the lead in all areas related to education and training for Psychological professions, ensuring effective clinical supervision is in place, competencies for practise, and an on-going review of education and training requirements to ensure standards are maintained. Represent the Trust at a corporate, local , regional and national level where required to ensure Psychological professions are included in key areas and promote value of the Professions within health care settings. Provide strong clinical leadership on complex and high-profile improvement work, including collaboration and knowledge- sharing across divisions, with reference to initiatives relating to mental health and the integration of physical and mental health.
About us
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.
Why work for us?o Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeingo Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussexo Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retiremento Excellent training, development, and research opportunitieso Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staffo Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brightono Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networkso Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
Our values--Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence--guide everything we do.
We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.
This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.
Job description Job responsibilities
The main responsibilities of this role are found in the job description which we refer any candidate to for reference.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Educated to clinical doctorate level or equivalent qualification or significant equivalent level of knowledge acquired through experience
Professional registration Essential
Registered/accredited as a Psychological Profession with a body recognised by the Professional Standards Authority.
Qualifications Essential
Formal post core qualification training/or equivalent in an area of specialised practice or specialised psychological practice and/or specialised psychotherapy accreditation such as the BABCP or other professional body
Qualifications Essential
Evidence of formal leadership training or equivalent development
Experience Essential
Qualification and/or equivalent experience in providing clinical supervision and training in the context of the delivery of the psychological professions in clinical practice
Experience Essential
Evidence of formal leadership training or equivalent development
Experience Essential
Significant post qualification experience delivering psychological therapy across a range of NHS mental health settings, with knowledge of at least 2 therapeutic approaches
ex Essential
Significant experience of delivery of psychological therapy across a range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care and physical health oriented settings
Experience Essential
Significant quality and clinical governance experience in the context of the psychological professions and mental health
Desirable
Significant quality and clinical governance experience in the context of the psychological professions and mental health
Experience Essential
Broad and significant clinical and/or professional leadership experience relevant to the seniority of the post across adults and children and young people mental health/psychological therapy services including paediatric and adult neuropsychology services
Desirable
Broad and significant clinical and/or professional leadership experience relevant to the seniority of the post across adults and children and young people mental health/psychological therapy services including paediatric and adult neuropsychology services
Skills Essential
Sound political judgement, gravitas and astuteness in understanding and working with complex policy and diverse interest 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 (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Address Brighton General Hospital
Elm Grove
Brighton
BN2 3EW
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/ (Opens in a new tab)