About this role
Job summary
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse providers of integrated mental health, community and social care services in the UK. Our People Strategy places staff wellbeing, inclusion and compassionate leadership at its heart, recognising that outstanding care begins with supporting and valuing our people.
We are committed to creating psychologically informed, trauma-responsive workplaces where senior clinical leaders are empowered to lead with compassion and where professional voices shape service design.
As Head of Psychological Services for Older Adult's Mental Health with Frailty, you will join a Trust that:
Puts people first, valuing lived experience and professional expertise Actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion across our diverse communities Encourages senior leaders to drive change through collective leadership and continuous improvement Recognises the central role of psychology in delivering compassionate care across the Frailty pathway This role offers a rare opportunity to provide senior Trust-wide leadership across Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow. The postholder will shape evidence-based psychological care, ensure strong professional governance, and drive consistent outcome measurement across older adult and frailty services. The post requires substantial senior leadership experience and the ability to operate confidently within complex systems at borough, Trust and integrated care system levels
Main duties of the job
Leadership, Governance and Management
Provide senior leadership and governance for psychology across Older Adult's Mental Health with Frailty services in Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow, including staff in CIDS, SOAMHS, CHILS, MCI and inpatient wards. Lead workforce planning, service development and transformation across older adult mental health and frailty services. Work in close partnership with the Older Adults' Care Quality Network, Clinical Leads and Service Managers to support integrated, person-centred care. Professional Leadership and Accountability
Be professionally accountable to the Director of Psychological Professions, ensuring effective monitoring of professional standards across older adult services. Ensure systematic, high-quality supervision, leadership development and CPD for psychological professions staff. Provide expert professional advice on psychological practice, governance, risk and quality. Quality, Outcomes and Service Improvement
Ensure systematic measurement of clinical outcomes for service users across older adult and frailty services. Oversee outcomes data to inform improvement and commissioning. Ensure metrics are routinely analysed and reported at borough and Trust governance forums. Strategic Contribution
Contribute to Trust-wide psychological strategy and transformation. Represent psychology in borough, Trust and NW London ICS forums. Champion equality, diversity, inclusion and trauma-informed approaches across services.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications Essential
Post-graduate doctoral-level training in clinical/counselling psychology (or its equivalent) as recognised by the HCPC. Professional registration with the HCPC as a full member and evidence of CPD as required by the HCPC. Additional training beyond entry-level qualification in more than one specialised area of psychological practice relevant to local services, through formal post-qualification training such as CBT, DBT, MBT, SFT.
Desirable
Additional post-qualification training and experience, or further qualifications, in one or more specialised areas of psychological practice in the Older Adults' Care Quality Network. Accredited practitioner in a specific psychological therapy. Supervision training. Leadership/management training.
Experience Essential
Experience of working within older adults' services or their equivalent. Substantial experience of specialist complex psychological assessment and treatment of patients in a range of settings. Experience of policy and multi-professional service development. Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for treatment, both as a professionally qualified care coordinator and within the context of a multidisciplinary care plan. Experience of delivering teaching, training and reflective practice groups to staff teams. Experience in the management of staff, including appraisal, performance management and budget holding, commensurate with a leadership role. Experience of applying psychology and psychological therapies in different cultural contexts. Experience of line management. Experience of multi-agency co-operation, liaison and risk management.
Desirable
Experience of significant service development, design and implementation.
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Knowledge of older adults' mental health needs and frailty in relation to current legislation, government policy and other national initiatives, as well as relevant psychological theory and research. Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS. Skills and expertise in providing psychological consultation and advice to other professional and non-professional groups. Doctoral-level knowledge of research methodology, research design and data analysis as practised within the clinical fields of psychology.
Desirable
Knowledge of the theory and practice of highly specialised psychological therapies and assessment methodologies. Post-doctoral research, audit or service evaluation.
Others Essential
Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and severely challenging behaviours. Ability to identify and employ, as appropriate, clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour. Ability to develop and use complex multi-media materials for presentations in public, professional and academic settings.
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 West London NHS Trust
Address Armstrong Way
Southall
UB2 4SD
Employer's website https://www.westlondon.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)