Candidate Manager -

Job Type

Permanent

Location

Tallaght, County Dublin, Ireland

Job Title: Principal Psychology Manager
Reference No: 11.007 (2026)
Department / Directorate: Clinical Psychology Department / COO Directorate
Reports to: HSCP Manager or Deputy

Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) is a model 4, voluntary, academic teaching hospital partnered with Trinity College and situated in south west Dublin. With a staff of over 4,000 people from 63 different countries, it provides both acute and tertiary care to an increasing population of circa 800,000 people and is a provider of local, regional and national specialties. It is also a National Urology Centre, the second largest provider of dialysis services in the country, Pelvic and Acetabulum National Centre and a designated Trauma Unit.

The Hospital is part of the newly established HSE Dublin & Midlands Region, which serves a population of over 1.2 million across seven counties, and operates under the governance of an independent Board of Directors who give their time on a voluntary basis. TUH is also supported by the Adelaide Health Foundation, the Meath Foundation and Tallaght University Hospital Foundation.

TUH recognises the role it plays in our community both as an employer and provider of healthcare and is committed to building a sustainable future for our region both now and into the future with a focus on patient outcomes.

The Hospital is ambitious, recognising that healthcare delivery is undergoing seismic change and will be different now and into the future, largely due to digital and technological advances along with research continuing to discover and test new treatment options. TUH wants to be a leader in determining that future. It is a “Hospital without Walls” always looking to optimise care both within and beyond in line with the Sláintecare vision of providing the right care, in the right place, at the right time whilst empowering our patients and staff.

TUH Vision and Values
The vision of the Hospital is “People Caring for People to Live Better Lives” through excellent health outcomes supported by evidenced based practice, positive patient and staff experience in an empowering and caring environment. A culture of innovation and quality improvement in everything we do.

Our TUH CARE values – for patients, their families, our community and staff are:

Collaborate – together and with our academic and care partners
Achieve – our goals, positive outcomes and wellbeing
Respect – for patients, each other and our environment
Equity – for patients and staff

At TUH we view our staff as our most valuable asset and every member of the Team is valued equally. We recognise that a skilled, satisfied and motivated workforce is a prerequisite to high quality care.

A full overview of TUH is available on https://www.tuh.ie/about-us/

Purpose of the role:
The Principal Psychology Manager will be responsible for leading and managing the Psychology Department in Tallaght University Hospital (TUH). The psychology department provides specialist services across medical areas in the acute hospital. The core remit for the Principal Manager Post will be the management of the psychology department for adult patients attending the hospital as an in-patient and outpatient and in addition they will carry a clinical caseload of minimum 0.2 whole time equivalent. This encompasses the provision of an agreed specialist clinical service to adult patients with a long-term chronic illness. The Principal Psychology Manager will also provide supervision and line-management for the relevant Psychology staff in the department. The organisational, operational, and service delivery model for psychology is well established and appropriate systems are in place to support same. The psychology department encourages innovative practice and research and is affiliated with Trinity College Dublin. We provide clinical and counselling trainee placements for some postgraduate courses. There are positive and supportive professional working relationships with other Heads of Service in the acute hospital sector and with the Principal Psychology Managers across Ireland. This has facilitated a strategic approach to service development and enhanced the capacity to address policy and service-based issues at both national and local level. The post holder will report to the Head of Health & Social Care Professions & Integrated Care Manager in the office of COO. The overall purpose of the post is to provide strategic development, clinical governance, and operational management of the department with a clinical remit.

Overview of role:
Key Duties and Responsibilities

Ensure the compliance of psychology services with professional bodies’ standards and guidance, current and future legislation, policies and procedures, guidelines and protocols
Work in, and promote, an ethical and professional manner at all times
Promote a culture that values equality, diversity and respect in the workplace
Provide and govern a service that is anchored in respect and kindness
Assist in effectively managing staff resources in order to optimise the availability and delivery of good quality and equitable psychology services to patients
Participate in service meetings and committees as required to support the development and operational delivery of holistic and integrated services patients
Communicate effectively and work in co-operation with professional colleagues and others to ensure integrated service provision for patients
Participate in the local planning of National Programmes and ensure appropriate psychology service involvement in their development and implementation
Demonstrate an appreciation of service user expertise through experience, including the promotion of the role of service user in service development
Represent and advocate for the psychological needs of patients
Provide psychology services, including assessment, consultation, and the provision of psychological interventions to adults within a specialist service area for patients with long term chronic illness.
Provide as required, in relation to his/her designated area of responsibility, the hospital senior management with such information and professional advice and guidance it may require in the preparation, monitoring and evaluation of services
Support and guide psychology staff in using evidence-based practice and tailoring interventions (individual and group) to offer choice to patients’ and their families
Provide clinical supervision to psychology staff within the service to ensure high standards of clinical practice and governance and the meeting of CORU registration (when established for professional psychology services)
Provide, as required, reports and relevant statistics regarding the service to the relevant management teams, supporting and contributing to the planning and development of services
Provide psychology services, including assessment, consultation, and the provision of psychological interventions to adults within the acute hospital
Attend meetings, case conferences, professionals’ meetings and reviews within the designated service and provide information to these meetings as required
Work within limits of professional competence in line with principles of best practice, professional conduct and excellence in clinical governance
Participate in the selection process for staff for Psychology Services, and other services as required
Foster positive working relationships with psychology and professional colleagues across health care divisions to ensure clear care pathways and efficient access to psychological services
Exercise professional responsibility for the active management of waiting lists for Psychology services.
Develop and maintain close liaison with key stakeholders, including patient service users and service user representative groups
Contribute to the development of structures and processes to improve co-ordinated interdisciplinary service delivery
Ensure anti-discriminatory practice and cultural competence at individual and service levels
Represent a professional view point in relation to nationally accepted good practice in order to ensure a high level of ethical standards and professional conduct
Utilise evidence-based literature, research and best practice guidelines to support effective practice and good quality equitable services
Encourage and initiate psychological research and, where appropriate, initiate and/or participate in multi-disciplinary research programmes
Evaluate psychology service provision and staff resources in order to optimise the availability and clinical impacts of psychology services for service users
Undertake evaluation of clinical activity within the service for the purpose of service monitoring, evaluation and improvement
Undertake audit and service evaluation with colleagues within the service in order to enhance service provision
Manage and respond to patient service user complaints within TUH guidelines and policies
Lead and contribute to service developments and their evaluation
Be informed of advances in professional knowledge and practice
Be informed of developments in national policies, strategies and legislation and their impact on practice
Take responsibility for overseeing the continuous professional development of hospital psychologists in ensuring compliance with requirements of their role and statutory registration requirements
Receive regular professional and role supervision
Attend training events as informed by service requirements
Ensure that psychologists in the care group area receive appropriate levels of clinical supervision, as required under professional registration standards
Provide and deliver training and supervision to professional postgraduates (including Trainee Clinical Psychologists) and to Assistant Psychologists
Provide psychological training, advice and consultation to staff from health and other agencies in areas relevant to direct clinical work and to psychology service provision
Attend mandatory training programmes and ensure primary care psychologists attend mandatory training programmes as required
Be responsible for the induction processes for new staff
Adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards and carry responsibility for ensuring psychology staff compliance with same
Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role, for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections etc. Comply with associated TUH protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role
Contribute to the development and review of multi-disciplinary and discipline specific policies, procedures and safe professional practice
Compile, manage and review psychology specific Risk Registers and contribute to the active maintenance of multi-disciplinary Risk Registers
Actively manage identified work place risks as appropriate to the post’s level of responsibility
Participate in Quality and Patient Safety initiatives and committees as appropriate
To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service
Ensure the compliance of psychology services with regulatory standards and frameworks, current and future legislation, policies and procedures, guidelines and protocols
Ensure the psychology service is compliant with local, regional and national reporting requirements, including KPIs, outcome measures and other metrics as may be requested by hospital management
Drive service improvements and ensure service accountability and transparency
Ensure the maintenance of appropriate service user records and statistics in accordance with TUH and regulatory requirements and local guidelines, for example, Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Acts and other relevant legislation
Provide service reports / audit data / KPIs as required by the TUH and contribute to the development and implementation of information sharing protocols, audit systems, referral pathways and integrated care plans
Assign duties and responsibilities to other psychologists as appropriate to ensure effective and efficient service delivery
Actively participate in the development and continuing improvement initiatives of psychology services
Provide and support the management of clinical supervision provision to assigned staff
Contribute to policy development, performance monitoring, business / service planning processes and budgetary control
Implement relevant HR policies and procedures
Engage in recruitment processes and other HR functions as required
Remain informed and ensure compliance with organisational developments within the Hospital and the Irish Health Service
Any other duties relevant to the post that may be assigned from time to time

Qualifications & Experience required
Must Have:

A recognised University degree or diploma obtained with first or second class honours in which psychology was taken as a major subject and honours obtained in that subject
A recognised postgraduate professional psychological qualification in clinical or counselling psychology. Candidates who have completed their postgraduate training outside of Ireland must ensure that their qualification is validated by the Department of Health and Children
Have at least eight years satisfactory post graduate experience in the area of psychology across the lifespan inclusive of any time spent in pursuing a course leading to the postgraduate qualification and including at least three years satisfactory experience in a senior capacity
Postgraduate clinical experience of working in an acute hospital setting
Utilise evidence-based literature, research and best practice guidelines to support effective clinical practice and good quality equitable services
Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and management ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office
Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character

Desirable Criteria:

Demonstrated competence in planning, development, delivery of quality psychological services and evaluation of quality psychological services in an acute hospital setting
Relevant publications in the specialty area of long term chronic illness and dissemination of same
Experience of formal supervision of trainee/ basic grade psychologists/ senior psychologists
Training in leadership and /or management skills

Reward & Recognition

Remuneration is in accordance with the Department of Health Consolidated Salary Scales, grade code 3727. These particulars are subject to change in line with overall public pay policy. Point on scale allocated is based on relevant HSE Circulars.
The appointment is fulltime, permanent and pensionable.
The annual leave entitlement is 30 working days per year. The leave year runs from 1st April to the 31st of March each year.
Normal working hours are 35 worked over 5 days. Your contracted hours of work are liable to change between the hours of 8 am to 8 pm over 7 days to meet the requirements for extended day services in accordance with the terms of the Framework Agreement.

Application process
Applications can be submitted ‘on-line’ at www.tuh.ie/careers by completing the application form and attaching your CV. Candidates should be aware that, when applying for a post through the 'On-Line' Application System (Candidate Manager) they will receive an automated replying acknowledging receipt of their application. Should you for any reason, not receive this automated acknowledgement, you should notify the Human Resources Department, before the closing date, otherwise your application will not be considered.

All candidates should note that, in order to maintain a timely process, the closing date and time for receipt of applications will be strictly adhered to.

TUH is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to promoting an environment free from discrimination in accordance with the Employment Equality Acts 1998 and 2004. The Hospital values diversity and recognises the benefits of having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We are committed to equality of access to positions within the Hospital. All recruitment activity and documentation will encourage applications from all potential candidates without discrimination.

Informal Enquiries to: Gillian O’Loughlin, Head of HSCPs & Integrated Care Manager
Tel: (01) 4144296 /087 3977206 or email: Gillian.oloughlin@tuh.ie
Closing Date: Before close of business on: Wednesday 18th November

TUH Core Competencies:

Core Area	Competency	Level
Managing the service	Quality & Safety of Service	4
Managing the service	Delivery of Results	4
Managing Change	Problem Solving & Decision Making	4
Managing Change	Communications & Influencing	4
Managing Yourself	Team player	4
Managing Yourself	Planning and Organising	4
Managing People	People Management	4
Managing People	Leadership	4

Please go to www.tuh/careers for details of the core competencies
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Age Restrictions In Relation To Applications
Age restriction shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new entrant
(Within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004).
A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age on the first day
of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed applications for the office occurs.

Health
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Garda Vetting
Garda vetting is sought for all employees and prospective employees of Tallaght University Hospital. Given the specialised nature of the services provided, your appointment will be subject to satisfactory Garda vetting and re-vetting in circumstances where the Hospital deems it appropriate. The Hospital will then process the necessary documentation to endeavour to obtain the satisfactory Garda clearance for you. You are obliged to disclose previous and any criminal convictions acquitted during the course of your employment. Should the Hospital obtain information from the Garda vetting unit to indicate that your Garda clearance report is not satisfactory and / or if you have supplied the Hospital with false or misleading information in relation to your Garda clearance status, the Hospital reserves the right to withdraw or terminate the contract in accordance with Tallaght University Hospital Garda vetting policy.

Point on Salary Scale
New appointees to any grade start at the minimum point of the scale. Incremental credit will be applied for recognised relevant service in Ireland and abroad (Department of Health Circular 2/2011). Incremental credit is normally granted on appointment, in respect of previous experience in the Civil Service, local authorities, health service and other public service bodies and statutory agencies.

Probation
The probationary period may be extended at the Hospital’s discretion but will not in any case exceed 9 months. Confirmation of your appointment as a permanent member of staff is subject to the successful completion of the probation period. Termination of this agreement within the probationary period shall be at the discretion of the Hospital, in accordance with the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act, 1973 - 2001.

Termination of Employment
The employment may be terminated at any time by 3 months’ notice on either side except where circumstances are dictated by the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973/91. The Management’s right under this paragraph shall not be exercised save in circumstances where the Management is of the opinion that the holder of the office has failed to perform satisfactorily the duties of the post or has misconducted himself/herself in relation to the post or is otherwise unfit to hold the appointment.

Sick Leave

There is provision for sick pay at the Hospitals discretion, subject to the regulations and details found in the Staff Handbook/ Personnel Policy Manual, as per the Hospitals sick leave policy.
In the event of absence from work, you are required to contact your Manager/Supervisor within one hour of starting time on the first day of absence, while a Medical Certificate is required for any illness lasting in excess of two days. Failure to comply with the sick leave policy may result in a loss of pay for the period of absence and may also incur disciplinary action.

Information Technology & data

Make the most effective and efficient use of developments in information technology for both patient care and administrative support in a manner which integrates well with systems throughout the organisation.
Collect, interpret and present data and information on the Department’s activities, staffing and expenditure, as required.

Pension Arrangements and Retirement age
There are three superannuation schemes currently in operation for staff in Tallaght University Hospital:
(a) Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme (Non-New Entrant)
(b) Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme (New Entrant)
(c) Single Public Service Pension Scheme

Please read carefully the summary of the criteria for the three superannuation schemes below. This will assist you in identifying which scheme membership is applicable to your employment circumstances.
(a) If you have been continually employed in the public service prior to the 1st April 2004 and you have not had a break in service of more than 26 weeks, you will be included in the Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme (Non-New Entrant) with a Minimum Retirement Age of 60 and a Maximum Retirement Age of 65.
(b) If you have been continually employed in the public service post the 1st April 2004 and you have not had a break in service of more than 26 weeks, you will be included in the Voluntary Hospital Superannuation Scheme (New Entrant) with a Minimum Retirement Age of 65. There is no Maximum Retirement Age.
(c) If you have commenced employment in the public service as a new entrant or you are a former public servant, returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks, you will be included in the Single Public Service Pension Scheme effective from the 1st January 2013 with a minimum retirement age of 66 (rising to 67 and 68 in line with state pension changes). The maximum retirement age under this scheme will be age 70.

Health & Safety

All employees must comply with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005.
Comply with relevant Health and Safety responsibilities as outlined in Hospital Polices, Protocols and Procedures relevant to your area.
Take reasonable care to protect your own safety, health and welfare and that of any other person who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work.

Hygiene / Infection prevention and control

All employees have responsibility for Hygiene awareness. Hygiene is defined as “The practice that serves to keep people and environments clean and prevent infection.”
All employees also have a responsibility under their terms of employment to prevent transmission of infection and to follow the hospital infection control policies and guidelines as outlined in the Infection Control Manual.
All employees must be aware that they work in an area where there is potential for transmission of infection.
All employees have a responsibility to follow hand hygiene guidelines as this is the single most important intervention to prevent the transmission of infection.

Quality, safety and risk management

Support the delivery of the Quality, Safety and Risk Management Programme, including the appropriate identification and management of risks and incidents throughout the hospital.

Data Management

Ensure compliance with the obligations required by the Data Protection Act 2018.

Confidentiality
You will be aware of the confidential nature of Hospital work and in particular, the right of patients to confidentiality. To this end, you will not discuss workings of the Hospital or its patients or disclose any information of a confidential nature except as required to do so in the course of your work. No records, documents or property of the Hospital may be removed from the premises of the Hospital without prior authorisation. You must return to the Hospital upon request and, in any event, upon the termination of your employment, all documents or other property of the Hospital which are in your possession or under your control.

Mandated and Designated Persons under Children First Act 2015
Schedule 2 of the Children First Act 2015 specifies the classes of persons defined as Mandated Persons for the purposes of the Act. This includes a range of disciplines that are employed by the hospital including all medical practitioners, registered nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers and others. This includes staff working in adult services. All mandated persons have two main legal obligations under the Children First Act 2015. Mandated persons, under the legislation are required to report any knowledge, belief or reasonable suspicion that a child has been harmed, is being harmed, or is at risk of being harmed. The Act defines harm as assault, ill-treatment, neglect or sexual abuse, and covers single and multiple instances. Mandated persons are also required to assist Tusla, if requested, in assessing a concern which has been the subject of a mandated report. Designated Officer are required to receive reports of suspected child abuse or neglect from any person who is of the opinion that (a) a child has been or is being assaulted, ill-treated, neglected or sexually abused, or (b) a child’s health, development or welfare has been or is being avoidably impaired or neglected. Full detailed list of mandated and designated staff together with details of their roles and responsibilities can be found on https://www.tusla.ie/children-first. It is the responsibility of all staff employed by TUH to be aware of their roles and responsibilities under the legislation and to complete mandatory Children First Training.

Principal Psychology Manager (11.007 (2026))

Job Details