Clinical Lead - Head of Psychology
About this role
Clinical Lead - Head of Psychology
Location: HMP Dovegate, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, United Kingdom (ST14 8XR)
Job ID: 309135
Employment Type: Full-Time, Regular
Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week
Salary: £68,750 – £75,870 per annum, dependent on experience + excellent benefits
About Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency
At Supportive Bridge, we connect exceptional clinical and healthcare leaders with high-impact public-sector environments. Partnering with leading justice and custodial service providers, we specialize in placing professionals into influential roles where clinical expertise shapes rehabilitative cultures, drives psychological safety, and transforms lives.
Role Overview
As the Clinical Lead and Head of Psychology within our Therapeutic Community at HMP Dovegate, you will hold a pivotal senior management position shaping and sustaining psychologically safe, high-performing Therapeutic Communities.
This is a rare opportunity to influence practice at both strategic and clinical levels for individuals with complex, high-risk needs. Operating as a Principal Psychologist, you will provide senior clinical leadership across all Therapeutic Communities with overarching responsibility for psychological governance, quality, and assurance, while directly leading and developing two Assessment TCs.
Key Responsibilities:
Clinical & Strategic Leadership: Lead and govern psychology delivery and research across the TCs, ensuring full compliance with British Psychological Society (BPS) and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards.
Assessment TC Direction: Clinically lead the two Assessment Therapeutic Communities, establishing the benchmark for trauma-informed, values-led, and evidence-based practice.
Model Integrity: Ensure accredited Therapeutic Community models are seamlessly delivered, embedded, and maintained 24/7.
Governance & Oversight: Oversee complex assessment activity, formulation, report writing, and parole-related psychological inputs to rigorous standards.
Quality Assurance & Representation: Drive audit readiness and continuous improvement aligned with regulatory frameworks, representing the Therapeutic Community at regional and national forums.
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for an accomplished, values-driven psychologist who combines clinical rigor with strategic vision and a passion for rehabilitative change.
Requirements:
Professional Registration: Chartered status with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and registration as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC.
Experience: Substantial post-qualification experience working in forensic or custodial settings, including therapeutic environments.
Leadership & Governance: Proven history of leading and developing multidisciplinary clinical teams, alongside advanced expertise in psychological assessment, formulation, risk assessment, and governance.
Stakeholder Influence: High-level confidence operating at a senior strategic level, balancing clinical integrity with operational delivery.
Vetting Readiness: Ability to pass an Enhanced DBS check and complete an occupational health assessment.
What We Offer You
Financial Rewards: Competitive salary between £68,750 and £75,870 per annum, a performance-based bonus scheme, a company car, and private medical insurance.
Leave & Pension: Holiday entitlement starting at 23 days plus bank holidays (increasing to 25 with service) and up to a 6% matched contributory pension scheme.
Training & Progression: Access to over 1,100 internal courses, qualification and apprenticeship funding, dedicated mentoring, and clear career progression.
Health & Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, a virtual 24/7 GP service, wellbeing app, and 30% off at managed leisure centres.
Perks & Community: Around 1,000 retail discounts, a paid volunteering day, payroll-giving charitable schemes, and active employee inclusion networks (LGBTQIA+, disability, veterans, and multicultural networks).
Our Recruitment Process & Equal Opportunities
Inclusive Hiring: We are a proud Disability Confident Leader and Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder. We offer a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants, veterans, and individuals with convictions who meet the minimum criteria.
Ban the Box: We support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions (subject to security clearance requirements). Reasonable adjustments are supported from interview through employment.