Principal Psychologist, Service LeadNHS

Job summary

North London Forensic Collaborative is the largest forensic Provider Collaborative in England and is a partnership between forensic services within five NHS Trusts including: North London NHS Trust - Lead Provider; Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust; East London NHS Trust; North East London NHS Trust; West London NHS Trust.

This post is hosted by Central North West London NHS Trust and will work alongside clinical leads working East London NHS Trust, North East London NHS Trust and Oxleas NHS Trust.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the newly commissioned pan-London Men's Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) service to reduce custodial sentences and improve the wellbeing of men in the criminal justice system with mental health needs.

Mental Health Treatment Requirements (MHTRs) were introduced by the Criminal Justice Act in 2003, recognising that for many individuals who offend, mental health and substance misuse issues underpin their offending behaviour. Treatment requirements offer courts an alternative to short custodial sentences and aim to prevent reoffending by addressing underlying vulnerabilities and improving quality of life. This service aims to increase the use of primary care treatment requirements as part of a community sentence, offering psychologically informed interventions and advice. The MHTR Service will also provide the courts with information and confidence to sentence to robust and effective treatment requirements.

Main duties of the job

To clinically lead, supervise and mange this new service. The role operates as a job share (two staff each working 0.6 wte) and will be responsible for operational service delivery across North West and North Central London. There are equivalent posts in North East London (NELFT and ELFT) and South London (Oxleas) and the clinical leads and services work closely together, to ensure that courts across London are covered throughout the year.

The successful candidates will hold a small complex clinical caseload and be responsible for supervision of the clinical team. We hope to recruit a staff team reflective of the population we serve and welcome applications from those with protected characteristics, including minoritised ethnic groups.

'We are seeking someone available to start with us May/June 2027, ideally able to work a pattern of Wednesday to Friday'

Job description

To lead on the development and implementation of the Mens MHTR service and hold management oversight and clinical supervision of the team

To oversee and be responsible for quality and performance, including quarterly reporting to commissioners.

To work as a jobshare with other service lead and work alongside partners to deliver the service across London.

To have oversight and sign off of court directions, including covering sign of court directions for NLFC colleagues during periods of leave.

To liaise and ensure working relationships with key stakeholders

About us

By joining CNWL's Health & Justice Directorate you will be joining a large department of psychologists and psychological therapists that provide an array of mental health and OPD services across London, Surrey, Kent and Bucks. Our staff are dynamic and welcoming and the networking and CPD opportunities are central to our services ethos. We have active research forums and promote our services and work through academic and clinical forums. All staff receive regular supervision and are supported with career aspirations and progression.

Click here to find out more Psychology at CNWL

What we can offer you:

CNWL is recognised locally, nationally & internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ in line with our values, our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy & policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

With us, you will get -

• A Trust committed to staff personal development, with a trust wide culture change and leadership programme that has staff wellbeing at its core.
• An opportunity to work for one of the top 10 NHS employers
• Flexible working
• Variety of work
• Access to a variety of CPD opportunities

We encourage staff input and ideas in relation to moving services forward, improving care pathways and meeting the client group's needs.