NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Deputy Director of Psychological Professions

The closing date is 19 November 2025

Job summary

NELFT's senior Psychological Professionals' leadership team is excited to advertise a Deputy Director role within Kent CAMHS. The successful candidate will be part of the most senior team of Psychological Professionals within NELFT led by the Director of Psychological Professions and will have peers covering Redbridge, Havering, Waltham Forest, Barking and Dagenham, Talking Therapies and our Acute and Rehabilitation Directorate. The role will include oversight of all psychological provision for Children and Young Peoples Mental Health and Neuro Development Services within Kent. The post holder will become a core member of the directorate's multidisciplinary senior leadership team and will lead a group of Psychological

Now is an important time to be joining NELFT. We are a patient and clinically led organisation which is operationally enabled. NELFT's cohort of Psychological Professions hold a vision which centres on coproduction, trauma informed care, building a community of psychological professionals and delivery of inclusion and parity of access to all residents in the areas we serve. We strive to provide inclusive, accessible and individualised offers of care in a timely manner; to reduce health inequalities; and to recognise the harm caused by social injustice in the communities we serve. We are committed to working with integrity, authenticity and courage to deliver the best possible psychological care to those using our services.

Main duties of the job

In recent years, there has been major investment into Psychological Professions and clinical leadership within NELFT. This has resulted in a vastly expanded senior Psychological Professional leadership team and a major transformation. This work is within the implementation phase and looks at several areas, including the creation of parity between bandings of Psychological Professionals in different areas of NELFT; ensuring that the care delivery is trauma informed for both people who use services and staff; and the integration of siloed psychological offers of care into multidisciplinary secondary care adult mental health provision. The transformation also included the coproduction of an accountability framework in which clinical and operational colleagues work collaboratively and in partnership in order to deliver the best care for people who use services, their carers, family members and supporters. This offer is in line with NELFT's commitment to being patient and clinically led, whilst being operationally enabled.

About us

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

On-call payment

This post will be required to participate in the Trust on-call rota and attracts payment of 0.75% of the basic salary.

Details

Date posted

05 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£91,342 to £105,337 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

395-CC340-25

Job locations

Kent & Medway Adolescent Hospital

Cranbrook Road

Gillingham

ME8 0PZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Now is an important time to be joining NELFT. We are a patient and clinically led organisation which is operationally enabled. NELFTs cohort of Psychological Professions hold a vision which centres on coproduction, trauma informed care, building a community of psychological professionals and delivery of inclusion and parity of access to all residents in the areas we serve. We strive to provide inclusive, accessible and individualised offers of care in a timely manner; to reduce health inequalities; and to recognise the harm caused by social injustice in the communities we serve. We are committed to working with integrity, authenticity and courage to deliver the best possible psychological care to those using our services.

Use of AI

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role, can be discussed at the interview stage.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Now is an important time to be joining NELFT. We are a patient and clinically led organisation which is operationally enabled. NELFTs cohort of Psychological Professions hold a vision which centres on coproduction, trauma informed care, building a community of psychological professionals and delivery of inclusion and parity of access to all residents in the areas we serve. We strive to provide inclusive, accessible and individualised offers of care in a timely manner; to reduce health inequalities; and to recognise the harm caused by social injustice in the communities we serve. We are committed to working with integrity, authenticity and courage to deliver the best possible psychological care to those using our services.

Use of AI

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role, can be discussed at the interview stage.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology
  • Post-graduate qualification in psychology or a psychological therapy (e.g. clinical or counselling psychology, psychotherapy)
  • BABCP accredited or meeting eligibility criteria for BABCP accreditation
  • Post Graduate training in psychodynamic psychotherapy as accredited by UKPC or BPC.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Detailed and advanced knowledge of a range of evidence based therapeutic interventions and their practical application in a range of mental health therapeutic settings
  • A robust and broad understanding of national health and social care strategy and policy, in relation to developing services for secondary care

Desirable

  • Knowledge of strategic planning process
  • Comprehensive knowledge of mental health policy

Skills

Essential

  • Evidence of leading groups of psychological professionals working in NHS services
  • Open, participative, dynamic and supportive leadership and management style
  • Ability to build alliances and secure ownership of proposals across organisational boundaries
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, featuring: breadth of outlook and political skill necessary to establish effective working relationships with staff at all levels within and outside the organisation
  • Ability to identify, define, promote, communicate and achieve clear organisational values and goals, effective management processes and rational and timely decision making
  • Ability to work in partnership with other key professionals within and outside the organisation and a partnership approach to work across agencies
  • Ability to analyse complex issues, to think and plan to achieve both tactical and strategic objectives and to exercise sound judgement in the face of conflicting pressures
  • Effective in conflict resolution and management
  • Ability to present complex information to a diverse audience

Desirable

  • positive outcomes of service
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Doctorate in Clinical or Counselling Psychology
  • Post-graduate qualification in psychology or a psychological therapy (e.g. clinical or counselling psychology, psychotherapy)
  • BABCP accredited or meeting eligibility criteria for BABCP accreditation
  • Post Graduate training in psychodynamic psychotherapy as accredited by UKPC or BPC.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Detailed and advanced knowledge of a range of evidence based therapeutic interventions and their practical application in a range of mental health therapeutic settings
  • A robust and broad understanding of national health and social care strategy and policy, in relation to developing services for secondary care

Desirable

  • Knowledge of strategic planning process
  • Comprehensive knowledge of mental health policy

Skills

Essential

  • Evidence of leading groups of psychological professionals working in NHS services
  • Open, participative, dynamic and supportive leadership and management style
  • Ability to build alliances and secure ownership of proposals across organisational boundaries
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, featuring: breadth of outlook and political skill necessary to establish effective working relationships with staff at all levels within and outside the organisation
  • Ability to identify, define, promote, communicate and achieve clear organisational values and goals, effective management processes and rational and timely decision making
  • Ability to work in partnership with other key professionals within and outside the organisation and a partnership approach to work across agencies
  • Ability to analyse complex issues, to think and plan to achieve both tactical and strategic objectives and to exercise sound judgement in the face of conflicting pressures
  • Effective in conflict resolution and management
  • Ability to present complex information to a diverse audience

Desirable

  • positive outcomes of service

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).

Additional information

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

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

Kent & Medway Adolescent Hospital

Cranbrook Road

Gillingham

ME8 0PZ


Employer's website

https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

Kent & Medway Adolescent Hospital

Cranbrook Road

Gillingham

ME8 0PZ


Employer's website

https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Interim Director of Psychological Professions

Rachel Hussey

rachel.hussey@nelft.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

05 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£91,342 to £105,337 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

395-CC340-25

Job locations

Kent & Medway Adolescent Hospital

Cranbrook Road

Gillingham

ME8 0PZ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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