Job summary
Applications are welcomed from suitably qualified and experienced candidates for a Clinical Lead post in the Mental Health Treatment Requirements team within Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion, working in partnership with the Courts, Probation and Substance Misuse providers. The service provides primary care mental health therapy within the context of community orders to individuals assessed as suitable by the team.

The post holder will work in the Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) team. A MHTR is designed to meet a gap in provision for adults with less severe mental health difficulties and dual diagnosis issues in the community who have been charged with the type of offence that is eligible for a community or suspended sentence. The aim of the MHTR programme is to provide an effective alternative to custodial sentences for vulnerable individuals. The service is commissioned by NHS England.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will be the Clinical Lead for the team providing opportunities to develop leadership skills, pathway development work, supervisory skills as well as their own therapeutic skills.

As the Clinical Lead, the post holder will provide clinical oversight and supervision of a team of assistant and qualified psychologists whose role is to provide psychological interventions for individuals referred through the court who have been identified as suitable to benefit from a therapeutic intervention as part of their community sentence. The post holder will be supported by supervision from a Consultant Psychologist as well as joining a team of friendly, motivated and experienced psychology and MDT colleagues, a specialist team leader and admin support. This post offers a real opportunity to make a difference for individuals and develop professionally by gaining experience of leadership, consultation, supervision and pathway development alongside further developing therapeutic skills with a small caseload.

As this team is based on partnership working, an important part of the post holder's role will be to engage with and maintain relationships with relevant partner agencies. The Clinical Lead will also provide treatment for more complex cases.

We are looking to recruit a practitioner with experience of delivering psychological interventions to cover the North East court footprints in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and would welcome discussions with interested applicants.

About us
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

Details
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 263-SCG26-132-AB
Closing date: 12 November 2026

Essential Education and Qualification

• An Honours Degree in Psychology recognised for graduate membership of the British Psychological Society, or RMN, or equivalent degree level qualification in mental health and Post-graduate qualifications in psychological assessment and psychological therapy (e.g. Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, Post-graduate diploma in CBT, IAPT High Intensity CBT diploma). OR HCPC registered practitioner psychologist or equivalent e.g. BABCP registered CBT practitioner
• Member of an appropriate professional body with evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable Education and Qualification

• Qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.

Essential Knowledge and Experience

• Demonstrate further specialist training and experience through having received a minimum of 50 hours clinical supervision of working as a Psychologist/psychological therapist over a minimum of 18 months or an alternative agreed by the Psychological Services Professional Lead.
• Substantial post qualification experience of specialist model specific psychological assessment, formulation and treatment of clients across a wide range of care settings.
• Substantial post qualification experience of delivering evidence based psychological therapy training to a range of professional groups.
• Substantial experience of providing clinical supervision to other professional and non-professional groups

Desirable Knowledge and Experience

• Experience of the application of psychological therapies in different cultural contexts.
• Experience of professional management.
• Experience of working within the Criminal Justice System

Essential Knowledge and Skills

• Specialist skills and competency in at least two evidence based psychological therapies relevant to the pathway.
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups relevant to the community pathway, e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnosis, people with additional disabilities.
• Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinical sensitive information to clients, their family, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.

Desirable Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
• Trained in delivering clinical supervision.
• Skills in managing emotional impact of dealing with highly emotive and distressing situations through self management and use of the clinical supervision process.

Essential Other

• Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi media materials for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
• Able to meet the travel demands of the post.

Desirable Other

• Experience of working within a multicultural framework

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
Address: St Nicholas Hospital, Jubilee Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3XT, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Contact for questions about the job
Specialist Clinical Lead, Michael Blakey, michael.blakey@cntw.nhs.uk, 01912467275