North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust

Clinical Lead (Forensic Liaison and Partnership Team)

The closing date is 17 September 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Clinical or Forensic Psychologist, Band 8B, to join a new innovative Forensic Liaison Partnership team within NSCHT Mental Health Rehabilitation pathway.

This post provides an exciting opportunity to make a significant contribution to the delivery of Psychological Services for a specialist community liaison and partnership service, for those who have previously been in forensic services. Most patients currently on a secure care pathway have been treated in secondary care mental health services in the past, and very few require specialist forensic community care in the long term. Efficient transition between forensic and non-forensic mental health services is a necessary part of the overall patient pathway. Secondary care services require the capacity, capability and confidence to provide care for this group of patients. Currently, there is variability in organisation and provision of services at this interface across the region and long delays in transition of care are common. The overall aim of this funding is to reduce unwarranted variation and develop existing services at these interfaces, in order to enhance the efficiency of transitions of care and improve patient flow through the whole pathway.

Post is a 2 Year Fixed Term.

Main duties of the job

To provide a high quality service embedded within the rehab pathway to the delivery of Psychological Services for a specialist community liaison and partnership service, for those who have previously been in forensic services. Most patients currently on a secure care pathway have been treated in secondary care mental health services in the past, and very few require specialist forensic community care in the long term. Efficient transition between forensic and non-forensic mental health services is a necessary part of the overall patient pathway. Secondary care services require the capacity, capability and confidence to provide care for this group of patients. Currently, there is variability in organisation and provision of services at this interface across the region and long delays in transition of care are common. The overall aim of this post is to reduce unwarranted variation and develop existing services at these interfaces, in order to enhance the efficiency of transitions of care and improve patient flow through the whole pathway.

About us

As a Trust we remain bold and ambitious with plans for both service and system collaborative transformation over the coming years to improve the health and wellbeing of our local people through high quality care.

We pride ourselves onensuring our team has their wellbeing put first and as such provide a range of wellness opportunities including flexible working.

We are committed to the Greener NHS national ambition to becoming the world's first 'carbon net zero' national health system by 2045 (Greener NHS (england.nhs.uk). As part of this, sustainability is embedded in our strategy as one of our four key enablers. In order to deliver on this commitment, we recognise that we need a workforce that is as passionate as we are about achieving these goals, for the benefit of our service users, workforce, local communities and the planet alike. For 2024/2025, we have launched our "Proud to be Green" engagement campaign which is aligned to the targets set out in our Green Plan. As a Trust, you can be assured that we will commit to supporting you in working towards our net zero ambitions, set out in our Green Plan, through our sustainability programme".

The Trust is committed to ensuring that a diverse workforce is representative and inclusive at all levels. We would very much welcome applications from all under-represented groups including women, people with disabilities, people from global majority backgrounds, and those from the lesbian, gay, bi and trans communities.

Details

Date posted

03 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£64,455 to £74,896 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

232-SPL-7418569

Job locations

Harplands Hospital

Stoke-on-Trent

ST4 6TH


Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To work autonomously in undertaking highly specialised single case assessments, formulations and consultations with the service user and/or treating teams to develop an understanding of the persons presentation, symptoms and related management difficulties within a psychological framework. The post holder will be required to provide consultation, supervision and support to transitioning teams in the community to enable services to feel confident and able to provide mental health support to this client group.

2. To utilise highly specialist psychological skills to develop case formulations that provide detailed psychological understanding of the persons presentation, symptoms and related management issues taking into account different theoretical models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that will inform safe and effective future care and management.

3. To make highly skilled decisions in advising colleagues and partners, in the development of evidence-based management plans for service users and to sensitively monitor the efficacy of the management plans through regular consultations with staff, adjusting and refining psychological formulations and maintaining a number of different provisional hypotheses during transition from secure to non-secure care.

4. To utilise highly specialist psychological skills to contribute to risk assessment and management to support transitions from inpatient to community settings.

5. To maintain a high level of professionalism despite regular exposure to highly emotive, distressing and disturbing material.

6. To develop excellent working relationships with secure service and community colleagues and partners that will underpin effective liaison, communication and learning.

7. To communicate in a manner that is accessible and meaningful to colleagues, this will include complex information concerning client formulation and management/treatment plans.

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To work autonomously in undertaking highly specialised single case assessments, formulations and consultations with the service user and/or treating teams to develop an understanding of the persons presentation, symptoms and related management difficulties within a psychological framework. The post holder will be required to provide consultation, supervision and support to transitioning teams in the community to enable services to feel confident and able to provide mental health support to this client group.

2. To utilise highly specialist psychological skills to develop case formulations that provide detailed psychological understanding of the persons presentation, symptoms and related management issues taking into account different theoretical models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that will inform safe and effective future care and management.

3. To make highly skilled decisions in advising colleagues and partners, in the development of evidence-based management plans for service users and to sensitively monitor the efficacy of the management plans through regular consultations with staff, adjusting and refining psychological formulations and maintaining a number of different provisional hypotheses during transition from secure to non-secure care.

4. To utilise highly specialist psychological skills to contribute to risk assessment and management to support transitions from inpatient to community settings.

5. To maintain a high level of professionalism despite regular exposure to highly emotive, distressing and disturbing material.

6. To develop excellent working relationships with secure service and community colleagues and partners that will underpin effective liaison, communication and learning.

7. To communicate in a manner that is accessible and meaningful to colleagues, this will include complex information concerning client formulation and management/treatment plans.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • An honours degree and membership of the British Psychological Society

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience as a Clinical or Forensic psychologist with experience at senior psychologist level
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • An honours degree and membership of the British Psychological Society

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience as a Clinical or Forensic psychologist with experience at senior psychologist level

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.

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.

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

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust

Address

Harplands Hospital

Stoke-on-Trent

ST4 6TH


Employer's website

https://www.combined.nhs.uk/working-together/join-our-team/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust

Address

Harplands Hospital

Stoke-on-Trent

ST4 6TH


Employer's website

https://www.combined.nhs.uk/working-together/join-our-team/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Principal Clinical Psychologist

Kate Devlin

kate.devlin@combined.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

03 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£64,455 to £74,896 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

232-SPL-7418569

Job locations

Harplands Hospital

Stoke-on-Trent

ST4 6TH


Supporting documents

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