Job description

The Academic Director is a key leadership role on the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN). The post-holder will provide leadership and day-to-day oversight of the DClinPsy curriculum and assessment processes. The post-holder will work closely with other senior members of the programme team to ensure that the programme maintains its current excellent standards of governance, teaching, research and clinical training. They will make a key contribution to the quality assurance and accreditation processes for the programme. They will report to the DClinPsy Programme Director and manage the academic tutors.

The IoPPN s clinical psychology training programme is the oldest in the UK. The programme takes cognitive-behavioural therapy as its main therapeutic modality, accredited by the BABCP, and family therapy/systemic practice as the second key modality, with accreditation by AFT. An important strength is the very comprehensive range of both local and national specialist placement opportunities, across three world-renowned NHS Trusts: South London and Maudsley, King s College Hospital and Guy s & St Thomas known collectively as King s Health Partners. The programme, in partnership with King s Health Partners NHS Trusts, aims to train clinical psychologists who embody the scientist-practitioner ideal and who can go on to become effective NHS leaders. Another strength is the vibrant and diverse communities within South East London, and the programme values and positively promotes diversity and inclusion.

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 programme descriptions:

https://www.clearing-house.org.uk/courses/courses-z/ioppn-kings-college-london/about-programme http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn/index.aspx

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

Link to programme webpage https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/areas/doctorate-in-clinical-psychology-dclinpsy

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract

This is a part-time post - 60% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

• Leadership and oversight of the DClinPsy taught curriculum and assessment strategy and processes.
• Develop and communicate a clear vision of the programme s strategic direction in relation to the curriculum and assessments.
• Ensure the provision of high-quality academic training that is appropriate and flexibly responsive to the needs and emerging priorities in healthcare.
• Ensure that training promotes the development of the reflective scientist-practitioner competencies and equips trainees in CBT and other relevant competencies.
• Oversee the assessment of learning, including through the qualifying examinations, and case reports/presentations.
• Develop and promote the use of innovative methods of teaching and assessment.
• Lead the development of new and creative approaches in responding to teaching and learning challenges.
• Management and appraisal responsibility for the academic tutors and DClinPsy BABCP Lead.
• Undertake direct teaching on the DClinPsy.
• Ensure that the DClinPsy curriculum and assessments/exams meet regulatory and other standards including: 1) BPS and HCPC accreditation criteria; 2) QAA and NHS England Benchmark criteria; 3) KCL standards and regulations for Specialist Doctorates and Postgraduate Taught programmes; 4) Criteria specified by secondary accrediting bodies such as the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) and Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice (AFT).
• Assist the Programme Director and make key contributions to all quality assurance processes, including the BPS, HCPC, Health Education England, KCL programme reviews, BABCP and AFT accreditation.
• Contribute to relevant DClinPsy committee meetings, senior management meetings and core team meetings.
• Chair the Curriculum Sub-Committee and ensure appropriate curriculum team representations at other relevant KCL, DClinPsy and external committees, subcommittees and other meetings.
• Oversee and manage the DClinPsy working relationships with the teaching stream co-ordinator stakeholders.
• Ensure that procedures for evaluation and monitoring of quality standards are in place across the taught components of the programme.
• Ensure that the course content and delivery is continuously enhanced through evaluation in partnership with service providers and incorporates service user and student feedback.
• Support the programme in advancing the embedding of Culture, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (CEDI) work and overseeing CEDI work in the taught curriculum and assessments.
• Ensure that the training takes into account the cultural and ethnic diversity of the local population.
• Ensure effective involvement of service users.
• Initiate new and original solutions to problems.
• Responsible for the initial resolution of student issues relating to the curriculum and assessments.
• Supervise student research projects and dissertations.
• Contribute to general DClinPsy team duties, e.g. assisting with formative and summative assessments and contributing to selection and trainee appraisal as required.
• Represent the programme at the School Education Committee and other relevant committees.
• Contribute to UK clinical psychology training, for example by participating in the activities of the clinical training community, presentations at conferences and attendance at appropriate professional committees/meetings.
• Represent the programme at external meetings in relation to the taught curriculum or the overall programme if the Programme Director is not available.
• Maintain knowledge and skills in all aspects of the role (and the post-holder s separate clinical role) through continuing professional development and training.
• Maintaining a thorough understanding of institutional management systems and the wider higher education environment, including equal opportunities issues.

The above list of responsibilities reflects the core activities of the role and may not be exhaustive. 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. As the College and the post-holder develop there will inevitably be changes in the emphasis of duties. It is expected that the post-holder will recognise this and adopt a flexible approach to work and be willing to participate in training.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria

1. Doctoral level professional qualification in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy or equivalent)
2. Registered (or eligible to register) as Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
3. Experience of teaching on a DClinPsy programme in the UK
4. Experience of supervising clinical psychology trainees on clinical placements.
5. Undertaking and publishing research relevant to clinical psychology, in peer-reviewed journals.
6. Significant clinical experience working as a clinical psychologist in the NHS in the UK and providing empirically grounded psychological treatments.
7. Accreditation as a cognitive behaviour therapist with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) or eligibility and willingness to apply for such accreditation,
8. Strong commitment to supporting equality, diversity and inclusion.
9. Skills and experience in project management and strategy development/ implementation.

Desirable criteria

1. PhD in Psychology
2. Experience of working on a DClinPsy or other psychological professional training programme.
3. Experience of curriculum development
4. Experience of supervising a DClinPsy or PhD to completion, or due to have done so by Sept 2024.

Further information

In order to maintain their professional accreditation, it is expected that the appointee will undertake clinical activities in time outside of this role.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.