Job description

This Lectureship is an exciting opportunity for an academic clinical psychologist with strong research and clinical experience to join the Department of Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London (IoPPN-KCL).  It is a full-time position based at the Denmark Hill Campus.   

The IoPPN is a Faculty of King's College London and the largest academic community in Europe devoted to the study and prevention of mental illness and brain disease.  The IoPPN's greatest strength is the interdisciplinary nature of both its research strategy and educational activities, providing unique opportunities for students and staff. Link to IoPPN webpage: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/index.aspx   

Since the Department of Psychology was founded in 1950, it has carried on a distinguished programme of research, teaching, and clinical practice, with a long-standing link with South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM). In 2004, the psychology sections of Guy’s, King’s & St Thomas’ School of Medicine merged with the Department, creating one of the world’s largest groupings of clinical and health psychologists.  

In this role, you will build a research programme in an area of psychology that complements the vibrant interdisciplinary research in the Psychology Department. If successful, you will attract external funding as principal investigator, as well as collaborating with other research groups. Staff in the Psychology Department have a wide range of research interests, including anxiety disorders, autism, psychosis, disorders in childhood and adolescence, long term physical health conditions,  neuropsychology, health inequalities, LGBTQ+ mental health, early intervention,  low intensity interventions and digital therapies including virtual reality. For further information please see link to Department of Psychology webpage: 

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/mental-health-and-psychological-sciences/about/departments/psychology   

Education and training are priorities at the Department of Psychology. The post-holder will be part of the DClinPsy programme team. A key component of their DClinPsy role will involve supporting the team with, and where appropriate leading on, some aspects of quality assurance processes, such as with the British Psychological Society, Health and Care Professions Council, British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists, Association of Family Therapy and Systemic Practice and KCL internal quality assurance processes. They will also be expected to support the programme team with commissioning processes and associated quality assurance responsibilities. They will undertake supervision of DClinPsy research dissertations and contribute to the general work of the programme team such as selection, teaching and assessment. Link to DClinPsy programme webpage; https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study-legacy/postgraduate/research-courses/doctorate-in-clinical-psychology-dclinpsy  

The post-holder will also be expected to contribute to other programmes in the Faculty, including undergraduate project supervision.   

This post is a five year fixed term contract, to cover the move of an existing post holder onto a five year fellowship. Where possible, the post-holder will be supported to achieve ongoing employment in the Department beyond their five year term, including the opportunity to apply for fellowships. 

It is expected that the appointee will hold an honorary contract with one of the King’s Health Partner NHS Trusts (e.g. South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust) and undertake funded clinical or clinical-related activities for at least 0.2 WTE part of their time (i.e. as a recharge from the NHS Trust).  These will need to be negotiated to ensure that they meet a service need and are appropriate for your clinical and research interests/expertise and other duties. The services in King’s Health Partners are renowned nationally and internationally. 

At King’s we are deeply committed to embedding good equality and diversity practice into all our activities so that the university is an inclusive, welcoming, and inspiring place to work and study. We welcome applications from applicants who are disabled, LGBTQ+ and/or from a racial/ethnic minority background as they are under-represented within the University and local NHS Trusts at these levels. 

This post will be offered on a fixed-term five-year contract.  

This is a full-time post.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and sustain and high-quality research activity through a portfolio of independent and collaborative research projects, publications and presentations
• Acquire grant funding for research through project grants, fellowships, studentship funding and other sources
• Contribute to the DClinPsy programme, including quality assurance and commissioning processes. The nature of the DClinPsy responsibilities will depend on programme delivery needs and may change over time.
• Undertake supervision of doctoral students (both PhD and DClinPsy students), and support studentship applications.
• Contribute, where relevant, to other teaching programmes offered by the Psychology department and Faculty.
• Supervise staff and ensure their effective development
• Contribute to the dynamic and collegiate research environment in the Psychology Department
• Sit on appropriate departmental and IoPPN committees, as required, and contribute to the academic community
• Actively participate in creating a culture of diversity and inclusion within the DClinPsy programme, Psychology Department, IoPPN, King’s and NHS Trust.
• To provide consultation and direct clinical care within a specified service area in the NHS
• To undertake mandatory training as required by KCL and NHS Trust.
• To provide clinical supervision and leadership where appropriate
• To ensure the development, maintenance and dissemination of the highest professional standards of practice through active participation in internal and external CPD training and development programmes
• Undertake any other reasonable duties that may be requested by the Line Manager and/or Head of Department.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria

1.       Professional qualification in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy or equivalent)

2.       Registration as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC

3.       PhD in topic relevant to Clinical Psychology

4.       Ability to develop and write competitive funding applications to a range of research organisations

5.       Ability to produce nationally and internationally excellent scientific outputs

6.       Strong research record, with evidence of potential to attract research funding.

7.       Peer reviewed publications as a key contributor

8.       Commitment to improving equality, diversity and inclusion

9.       Post qualification clinical experience, working under supervision

10.    Experience of delivering excellent quality teaching to undergraduate and/or postgraduate students.

Desirable criteria

11.   Experience of supervising DClinPsy research dissertations and/or PhD students to completion.

12.   Experience of contributing to the training of clinical psychologists

Further information

Staff with clinical responsibilities have formal lines of accountability to both King’s College London and the NHS Trust(s) with which they hold an honorary contract. This is reflected in both the substantive and honorary contracts issued to staff on and it should be noted that the honorary NHS contract is essential for the proper performance of the duties of employment with King’s College London as is registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC). If the honorary contract or registration is revoked or suspended, continuation of employment with King’s College London will be reviewed and may be terminated.

The related nature of the substantive and honorary NHS contracts requires that information concerning both academic and clinical duties and regarding individuals is shared between the College and related Trust(s). Such information will include matters of performance, conduct and health. Clinical staff are required to be appraised jointly by King’s College London and NHS managers and also to comply with the policies and procedures of the College and NHS necessary to proper performance of duties

Responsible to Head of Department (KCL)

Responsible to DClinPsy Programme Director (KCL) for DClinPsy responsibilities.

Responsible for Research Team & students (KCL)

Responsible to Head of Psychology in NHS Trust associated with the honorary contract.

Responsible for: supervision of more junior staff or trainees as appropriate (KCL & NHS)