Academic Director

Academic Director

Job Number

Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk. However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 383865.

Closing date for applications: 21 June, 2026.

Informal enquiries can be made by contacting: Professor Michaela Swales, NWCPP Director, email m.swales@bangor.ac.uk; telephone: 01248 382552.

Committed to Equal Opportunities.

Overview

The three-year doctoral programme is a collaborative venture between BCUHB and Bangor University. Successful candidates obtain a DClinPsy, which confers eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC, www.hcpc-uk.org/) and eligibility for chartered status with the British Psychological Society. The North Wales programme was the first in the UK to establish the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, leading the way for other programmes. BCUHB clinical psychologists have close working links with the Bangor University School of Psychology. There are at present about 110 qualified clinical psychologists working in North Wales, in adult mental health, older adults, intellectual disabilities, child and adolescent mental health, forensic psychology, neuropsychology and clinical health psychology. Nearly all are involved in the programme through teaching, supervision (clinical/research), assessing academic work, trainee mentoring, selection and representation on committees. The Heads of Services and Specialities in North Wales show an unstinting commitment to the training of clinical psychologists locally, and the Programme. The Programme was commended by the BPS following its Accreditation through Partnership visit in January 2019. More information about the North Wales Clinical Psychology Programme can be found here:  https://www.bangor.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-taught/north-wales-clinical-psychology-doctoral-programme-dclinpsy

Purpose of the Job

The main purpose of the job is to have overall responsibility for the organisation, development, quality and delivery of the academic curriculum for post-graduate Trainee Clinical Psychologists.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To develop the academic curriculum of the DClinPsy Programme in consultation and liaison with key stakeholders to ensure that it meets the current BPS ‘Standards for the Accreditation of Doctoral Programmes in Clinical Psychology’ and continues to meet HCPC standards of education and training.
• To develop a leadership role within the Programme and to lead the Academic Team within NWCPP, managing and overseeing the work of the Academic Tutor (s), year co-ordinators and teachers taking overall responsibility for the quality and delivery of the curriculum.
• To Chair the NWCPP Curriculum Committee and report to the NWCPP Training Committee regarding the academic component of the Programme.
• Within the confines of the BPS and HCPC standards of accreditation to foster creativity and innovation in the academic training of clinical psychologists.
• Work with academic tutors, year co-ordinators, and local clinical psychologists who lecture on the Programme in the on-going development and evaluation of the curriculum.
• Responsibility for the work of the Curriculum Sub-Committee of the NWCPP Training Committee and reporting regularly to Training Committee regarding the development and evaluation of the academic curriculum.
• Work with the Chair of the NWCPP People Panel, members of the people panel, service users and local clinicians to ensure the on-going contribution of service users to the curriculum and to ensure that service users are adequately supported in doing so.
• Maintain a broad overview of key areas of clinical psychology theory and practice to inform the development of the curriculum and ensure it is in line with developments within the profession of clinical psychology.
• Be responsible for monitoring individual trainees to ensure that competence development is achieved.
• To act as examiner in the evaluation and assessment of trainee competence development, including clinical competence, academic achievement, research skills and professional behaviour for the Training Programme and where appropriate, for other Training Programmes.
• To provide consultation to supervisors/services where expert opinion and advice on issues pertaining to training and/or clinical practice is required.
• To teach at postgraduate level on the DClinPsy programme including supervision of research projects.
• To provide pastoral and academic support to DClinPsy trainees.
• To implement developments in clinical training practice in accordance with overall training programme objectives. This will involve liaising with local postgraduate qualified clinicians and national trainers, and offering training in the new developments as appropriate, where this may involve communication of highly complex theoretical and practical knowledge.
• Contribute to the clinical training in the UK by representing the Training Programme at national meetings.
• Contribute to the refining, amending and implementing of Programme Team procedures for monitoring/ managing trainees and monitoring the quality of doctoral level academic teaching.
• Provide expert advice, personal and professional support to any trainee that is demonstrating need beyond that normally given within the existing support systems to facilitate reflection on learning, practice and development. This may include dealing with highly sensitive, emotive or complex situations involving trainees in distress.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Exercise delegated responsibility for day-to-day management of designated trainees including appraisal/ PADR and informal grievance. This may include managing situations which are highly sensitive and complex, and where there may be differences of opinion, which must be managed in a professional but sensitive manner.
• Represent, deputise and assist the Programme Director as required in the efficient day-to-day management of the Training Programme.
• Contribute to the CPD of Supervisors in relation to the provision of clinical placement supervision for trainees. This will involve researching and studying new developments in supervision and passing these skills on through lectures and workshops to experienced clinical psychologists qualified to doctoral level.
• Provide consultation to qualified clinical psychology supervisors/ services where expert opinion and advice on issues pertaining to training and/ or teaching is required.
• Act as examiner in the evaluation and assessment of clinical psychology doctorate trainee competence development, including clinical competence, academic achievement, research skills and professional behaviour for the Training Programme and where appropriate, for other Training Programmes.
• Be a member of the Examining Board for the NWCPP.
• Supervise Trainee Clinical Psychologists’ doctoral research and audit projects.
• Support and provide specialist consultation on clinical issues to research supervisors at Doctoral level for clinical psychology trainees where appropriate.
• Plan, prepare and deliver teaching, workshops and tutorials, responding effectively to DClinPsy trainees.
• Motivate DClinPsy trainees to proactively engage in learning, and provide meaningful and constructive feedback on the quality of their work.
• Act as Training Co-ordinator to a number of DClinPsy trainees.
• Participate and plan the development of new teaching and learning materials and assessment procedures.
• Manage one’s own or collaborative research projects, with an emphasis on research output of a quality and quantity to contribute positively to the esteem and resources generated by Research Assessments.
• Disseminate and publish in peer-reviewed journals of international standard or other appropriate output.
• Contribute to research groups / networks internally and externally to the School.
• Contribute towards the School’s capability to attract external research funding.
• Engage in scholarly and other relevant professional activities.
• Participate in the DClinPsy recruitment and selection.
• Contribute to the promotion and external profile of the Programme and the School.
• Participate in performance review and developmental activities.
• Comply with the University equal opportunities policies, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Policy and the Welsh Language Standards.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Experience

Essential

• DClinPsy (or equivalent) in Clinical Psychology.
• Registered with the Health Care Professions Council as a clinical (practitioner) psychologist.
• Eligible for Chartered Clinical Psychologist status with the BPS.
• Extensive experience of clinical supervision and training.
• Significant teaching experience in a clinically relevant area.
• PGCertHE teaching qualification or equivalent, together with HEA Fellowship recognition (or minimum of 3 years substantial teaching experience for conversion to HEA Fellowship). Candidates who do not hold the above qualification(s) but who have demonstrable teaching experience would be required to complete the PGCertHE qualification within 3 years of appointment.

Desirable

• PhD in a relevant subject area.

Teaching

Essential

• Considerable experience of teaching at higher education level with evidence of successful student learning outcomes.
• Evidence of innovative teaching methodologies.
• Experience of innovative approaches to course design, module development, learning and teaching and assessment practice.
• Evidence of leadership of quality courses and teaching and departmental initiatives that improve teaching.

Desirable

• Evidence of innovative teaching methodologies that influence pedagogic practice.

Research

Essential

• Capability to develop and manage research projects and to disseminate results through presentation at relevant conferences and publication in relevant journals.

Desirable

• Active researcher supported by evidence of a growing research profile in peer-reviewed journals of international standard or other appropriate output.
• Evidence of contribution to research groups / networks.
• Evidence of attracting and securing significant external funding for research.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate innovative and exciting approaches to teaching and research.
• Ability to prioritise workload and work to deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and on own initiative.
• Excellent verbal and written skills.
• Demonstrable IT Skills as required (e.g. VLE techniques and other forms of learning technologies).
• Some administrative and organisational or management experience, related to academic development or equivalent.

Desirable

• Evidence of successful external networking and profile-raising.
• Ability and flexibility work effectively with colleagues including programme staff, NHS and BU personnel and with external stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including sensitivity, diplomacy and appropriate assertiveness.
• A demonstrated commitment to personal and professional development.

Desirable

• Awareness of research in the context of NHS Wales.

Other

Essential

• An understanding of the bilingual nature of the area and institution.

Desirable

• The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post.

General

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally.

We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us. When you apply for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful. If you do not have the right to work freely in any position in the UK already, any offer of employment we will make to you will be subject to you obtaining a right to work visa. The following link provides information on the various visa routes into employment and the eligibility requirements (including switching visa status where permissible) https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas. If you are successful in your application we will discuss visa options with you at the time of making the offer of employment.

Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University's Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.