Job summary
A rare fixed term one year Consultant post is available for a psychologist, psychotherapist or psychological therapist with strong leadership skills.

The successful applicant will lead the Psychology and Psychotherapy (P&P) mental health pathway for adults within the Psychological Medicine, Older Adults and Neurodevelopmental Services Directorate (PMOANDS) in the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust. The post would particularly suit someone with adult or older adult mental health experience who wishes to embed a stepped care model within community services, but all those meeting the person specification are welcome and encouraged to apply.

The successful applicant will act as professional lead for the range of psychological professions in the mental health pathway and will play a key role in supporting P&P staff in these services to maintain excellent standards of care and evidence-based service delivery. As a highly valued senior member of the older adult services the post holder will work closely with other clinical, professional and operational colleagues to meet the needs of services users and their carers.

Main duties of the job
The person appointed to this post will provide professional leadership in relation to workforce development, professional development, implementation and development of local and national guidance and protocols, and professional regulation (including HCPC) for the service that they post oversees and will be well supported by the Head of P&P for Older Adults in these tasks.

In 0.5wte this post will professionally lead and oversee the P&P provision within the mental health for older adults CMHTs, two mental health inpatient wards (AL1 and Hayworth wards) and the Older Adult Home Treatment Teams. Alongside this there would be 0.5wte clinical input within the community. Applicants will be able to demonstrate appropriate consultant level clinical expertise. They would be well supported by the Head of P&P for Older Adults as well as an 8b lead for the CMHTs.

About us
Benefits
We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family. We want you to feel like you are part of a close knit team at SLaM. It's important to us that you valued and appreciated and that are why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer.

Some of our benefits are highlighted here:

• Generous pay, pensions and leave, we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
• Work life balance, flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing.
• Career development, there are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes.
• Car lease, our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars.
• Accommodation, our staff benefits from keyworker housing available which is available on selected sites.
• NHS discounts, with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.
• Other benefits include: counselling services, wellbeing events, long service awards, cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan, childcare vouchers, staff restaurants.

Details
Date posted: 20 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8c
Salary: £88,250 to £100,355 a year per annum incl. of HCAs pro rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
Reference number: 334-CLI-8324314
Job locations: Maudsley Hospital, 113 Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AB, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
We are looking for excellent emerging or consolidating leadership and communication skills. You will have experience inspiring and supporting psychologists and psychotherapists (including trainees and pre-qualified staff) to work effectively, compassionately and collaboratively. You will be able to deal with multiple competing demands and you will be able to maintain your governance role whilst simultaneously having the drive and enthusiasm to support a range of colleagues undertaking older adult service and Directorate-wide projects, service delivery and performance responsibilities.

This post also offers opportunities for research and continuing professional development.

This role will have responsibilities within the MHOA service which is within the PMOA Directorate. There are opportunities for liaison with the Kings Health Partners Older Adult Clinical Academic Group (CAG) and the Trusts Corporate Professional Leadership. The Consultant Lead postholder will support the Deputy Director for MHOA and work alongside other professional leads including the two MHOA Medical Directors and the Head of P&P for Older Adults to:

• Implement and develop strategy for the services that they oversee as well as ensure operational targets and activities appropriately reflect clinical priorities and are in line with best practice within the resources available.
• Provide visible clinical leadership to P&P staff amongst others working within the mental health pathway services for older people, ensuring that there are appropriate managerial structures in place to address the professional and developmental needs of staff.
• Ensure appropriate robust clinical governance structures for P&P provision within the services that the postholder oversees to support a safe and effective service which provides access and good experience to all in the local community.

Person Specification
Qualifications (Essential)

• Doctoral level qualification in clinical or counselling psychology or equivalent professional qualification in psychotherapy or psychological therapy (eg systemic psychotherapy, arts psychotherapy).
• Post doctoral training in an additional specialised area of psychological or psychotherapy practice directly relevant to MHOA services in field of secondary care (serious) mental health care.
• Appropriate professional and/or statutory registration eg with the HCPC as Practitioner Psychologist, or with UKCP as a Psychotherapist.
• Evidence of continuing training in a specialised area of psychological practice through formal post-doctoral training (diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses, OR an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical practice, assessed by an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a postgraduate diploma.

Experience (Essential)

• Experience in professional leadership of psychologists and/or psychotherapists such as in a directorate type structure.
• Experience of leading and managing a psychology and/or psychotherapy staff in equivalent services.
• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for the psychological care and treatment with clients with complex needs.
• Experience of providing consultation, teaching and training to psychological professions and/or other professional groups.

Knowledge/skills (Essential)

• Skills in negotiating with management on strategic policies and implementing these.
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills including communicating complex, highly technical and sensitive information to colleagues, clients and families.
• Ability to establish and communicate courses of action and targets to ensure achievement of objectives.
• Advanced knowledge of psychological assessment and, where relevant, clinical psychometrics.
• Advanced level knowledge of legislation and its implications for both clinical practice and professional management in relation to the client group, mental health issues and child protection.

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.

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.

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

Employer details
Employer name: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Maudsley Hospital, 113 Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AB, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.slam.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Head of P and P for Older Adults, Alice Mills, alice.mills@slam.nhs.uk, 02032284948

Privacy notice: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice.