Consultant Applied Psychologist(UK Visa Sponsorship)

Job Description

Role Overview

We are pleased to offer a unique and influential opportunity for an experienced Applied Psychologist to take on the role of Consultant Applied Psychologist – Clinical Lead within the North East–wide Enhanced Reconnect Service.

This psychologically led service supports people leaving prison who face multiple and complex health needs that create barriers to accessing care following release. The role combines strategic leadership, advanced clinical practice, and service development, working across prison and community environments to support individuals during the final stages of custody and for up to 12 months post-release.

The Enhanced Reconnect Service is grounded in trauma-informed, neurodiverse and psychologically informed practice, offering structured interventions, advocacy, and coordinated engagement with community health and support services.

About the Enhanced Reconnect Service

The Enhanced Reconnect Service is one of four national pilot programmes, designed to support prison leavers assessed as presenting a high risk of harm with complex health and social needs linked to their offending.

The service focuses on individuals who fall into one of three priority categories:

• Those managed by the National Security Division
• Individuals identified as at risk of extremism
• People assessed by the Regional Probation Service as very high or high risk with complex needs
• A key objective of the pilot is to address unmet health needs that, if left unresolved, could increase vulnerability to extremist behaviours.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical & Strategic Leadership

• Provide overall clinical leadership for the Enhanced Reconnect Service, ensuring a consistent psychological and trauma-informed model of care
• Lead the development and delivery of the enhanced care pathway in line with national service specifications
• Provide assurance to senior leaders and commissioners regarding the quality, safety, and effectiveness of the service
• Support system-level planning through close working with Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) and Provider Collaboratives

Advanced Clinical Practice

• Deliver specialist psychological assessments and interventions for individuals within the criminal justice system who present with complex mental health needs
• Provide expert input into risk assessment, formulation, and risk management
• Lead and support complex case coordination involving multiple agencies, including health, probation, prisons, local authorities, substance misuse services, employment services, and voluntary sector partners
• Deliver the majority of clinical work within approved premises and community settings

Partnership & Multi-Agency Working

• Work closely with prison healthcare teams and probation colleagues to support effective and realistic release planning
• Build strong working relationships across prison establishments and community services to ensure continuity of care
• Oversee referral pathways that allow appropriate stepping up to, and down from, the Enhanced Reconnect Service

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and support a multidisciplinary team, working collaboratively with healthcare navigators and peer support workers from Rethink Mental Illness and Humankind
• Provide professional supervision, consultation, and leadership to psychology and non-psychology staff
• Promote reflective practice, learning, and psychologically informed approaches across the team

About the Organisation

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) is the Mental Health and Learning Disability Trust serving County Durham, Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

We work alongside people, families, carers, and partner organisations to deliver compassionate, inclusive, and recovery-focused care. Our services span prevention, early intervention, crisis response, and specialist care, with a strong commitment to listening, collaboration, and innovation.

Essential Qualifications

• Doctoral-level qualification in Clinical, Counselling or Forensic Psychology (or equivalent prior to 1996), accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)
• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Practitioner Psychologist
• Post-doctoral training in one or more specialist areas of psychological practice
• Training in clinical supervision, including supervision of doctoral trainees
• Training in care coordination
• Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Desirable:

• Chartered membership or registration with the BPS

Essential Experience

• Substantial post-qualification experience working as an applied psychologist across diverse client groups and care settings
• Full clinical responsibility for complex psychological care, including leadership of multidisciplinary teams
• Experience of multi-agency and partnership working across statutory, voluntary, and independent sectors
• Teaching, training, and supervision experience, including research supervision
• Experience of service development, quality improvement, and project management
• Demonstrated professional and clinical leadership within complex service models

Knowledge & Expertise

• Doctoral-level knowledge of evidence-based psychological practice
• Advanced understanding of risk assessment and management
• Strong knowledge of clinical governance frameworks
• In-depth understanding of relevant legislation and its application in practice, including the Mental Health Act
• Knowledge of audit, research methodology, and social inclusion principles

Expertise in working with complex and hard-to-engage groups, including individuals with dual diagnosis, neurodiversity, and severe behavioural challenges

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Current UK professional registration
• Right to work in the UK (Skilled Worker sponsorship available where applicable)