Head of Psychology

Stockton Hall Hospital is a 112 bedded, medium secure hospital in the beautiful City of York. We are an independent sector hospital. We exclusively treat NHS patients and work closely with our NHS colleagues to achieve the best outcomes for our patients. We work in partnership with the Humber and North Yorkshire Provider Collaborate as part of the local Integrated Care Board.

At Stockton Hall Hospital, we pride ourselves on valuing the contributions of every team member and in working in partnership with our patients. The genuine team spirit and support for one another makes Stockton Hall Hospital a fantastic place to work. Consultant colleagues at Stockton Hall have a collective experience of working here of about 45 years, and it has been traditionally a place of longer stay and positive well-being experience.

The Head of Psychology will work closely with the Hospital Director/Director of Services/Medical Director. It will be the responsibility of the Head of Psychology to ensure both the professional psychological practice and quality of the psychology department, to ensure excellence in patient experience and outcomes. You will be a confident leader who is keen to help develop others. You will understand the dynamics of working in both hospital and other healthcare environments and be able to help offer containment and support to those who need it within a culture of compassion. You will provide leadership to the MDT and contribute to the development of services.

You will work with a dynamic multi-professional team leading development of individual formulations and psychological assessment. With the support of other members of the psychology team, you will support the development and delivery of behavioural and other psychological interventions for patients and service users and provide appropriately developed psychologically informed guidance to reduce risks, aid recovery and independence.

Key Responsibilities:

1. You will be working with clients with complex needs that are relevant to the population in the service area.
2. You will develop and deliver formulation led care and be competent in a range of therapeutic delivery.
3. You will be responsible for the delivery of/oversight of supervision and running reflective practice groups and do so with an understanding of the model underpinning your service.
4. You will have effective consultancy skills and be able to manage clinical/organisational projects; and have competence in line management responsibilities and service-related standards including clinical governance.
5. To ensure you are strategic in your leadership and relationships with senior managers and senior clinicians across your site.
6. You will manage the resources of the Psychology Team across Stockton Hall and monitor the workload of and referrals to the Psychology Team.
7. To support the Senior Management Team in managing the Psychology provision within established resources.
8. To receive regular clinical, professional and managerial supervision in line with good practice guidelines and engage in the appraisal Process with the Hospital Director.
9. To exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice within the team, including good record keeping and outcomes monitoring.
10. To be involved in recruitment, both in the short-listing process and as a member of interview panels for relevant management, Psychology and other multidisciplinary posts where needed.
11. To assess the training and development needs of staff in the Psychology team and across the hospital and recommend appropriate action.
12. To establish systems for audit/review of services.
13. To be familiar and compliant with the policies and procedures of the organisation and to ensure the same for Psychology Team members.
14. To be responsible for ensuring own clinical supervision in accordance with the British Psychological Society’s good practice guidelines, and to keep an up-to-date record of supervision received.
15. To meet regularly with Line Manager to discuss service issues.
16. To be responsible for ensuring own continuing professional development is kept up-to-date in line with recommendations from the Health Care Professions Council and the British Psychological Society and the policies of the Psychology department.
17. To meet the requirement to complete an annual appraisal.
18. To keep up-to-date with current developments in psychology practice, professional issues, service developments, and developments in strategic thinking via own study and through attending short courses and lengthier training programmes as identified in the appraisal process.
19. To disseminate knowledge acquired through study and attendance at courses to colleagues within the service.
20. All staff are reminded of their duties and responsibilities as employees under the General Data Protection Regulations to ensure that personal data are not negligently nor unlawfully handled nor disclosed to unauthorised persons.
21. Every two years you must be suitable to, and formally re-register as a practitioner psychologist with HCPC at the date set by HCPC.

What we offer you:

1. Salary competitive based on skills and experience
2. Bonus based on Outcomes
3. Support and opportunities for continuing professional development
4. Option and support to progress through The Priory Network
5. Contributory pension scheme
6. Paid sick leave (after qualifying period)
7. Generous annual leave entitlement + Your birthday off
8. Enhanced maternity pay
9. Private Healthcare
10. Free parking

You can also take advantage of clear career pathways and support around training and personal development.

If you are successful, you will be expected to complete a full two weeks induction upon starting with us at Priory and these occur on the first two weeks of every month. If you have to work a notice with your current employer, we recommend you do not hand your notice in until we are able to provide a start date to ensure a smooth transition between companies.