Band 8A Specialist Clinical/Forensic Psychologist – Cameo

Job summary

1.0 WTE permanent Band 8a CAMEO service at HMP Foston Hall

Band 7 candidates also welcome to apply for a preceptorship post

“The CAMEO service saved me and I am so honoured that I was able to do it… I honestly do not believe I would have made it through my time here [in prison] without CAMEO. Thanks to you, I actually have a future now.” (Feedback from CAMEO Service User)

CAMEO is an intervention service for women based at HMP Foston Hall in Derby offering a range of interventions related to trauma, emotional regulation and well-being with a view to reducing risk to self and others.

The successful candidate will be joining a large and diverse psychological therapies team within the SCOH division, consisting of clinical, forensic and counselling psychologists, arts therapists, specialist psychological practitioners and assistant psychologists. The division is committed to investing in staff and you will have opportunities for training, supervision, mentoring and career development. We are keen that work is a positive experience for our staff, however, it is acknowledged that working within secure services can be challenging. Therefore, access to a range of support offers, reflective practice and supervision to maintain well-being is available.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will work across the relevant bases across the West Midlands thus the ability to travel is essential. Duties may include undertaking clinical assessments and interventions as required and developing case formulations and support plans, in conjunction with other professionals and the wider prison and/or other stakeholder services. The successful candidate will need exceptional communication skills as well as an empathic and non-judgemental attitude towards service users and the criminal justice system. You will also need to be resilient and be able to work and make decisions in both an independent and collaborative manner. Experience of working with adults with personality disorder and challenging behaviour and/or those involved in the criminal justice system, in addition to those with other psychological difficulties, neurodiversity and complex needs and risks will be highly beneficial.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Satisfactory completion of a British Psychological Society accredited Doctoral Level postgraduate professional training course in clinical/forensic psychology completion of which includes the study of models of psychopathology, psychometric and neuropsychological assessment, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
• Eligibility for entry onto the Register of Chartered Psychologists

Experience

Essential

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and individual and group based treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including primary and secondary/ specialist care and inpatient/residential, outpatient and community team settings.
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, including forensic contexts with clients of all ages across the lifespan and of wide-ranging presenting problems that reflect the full spectrum of clinical complexity and severity.

Desirable

• At least 2 years post qualification experience, and formal training in supervision, enabling the post holder to independently supervise psychology trainees in accordance with relevant criteria adopted by local University Psychology Training Courses criteria.

Knowledge

Essential

• Well developed theoretical and practical knowledge of the field of clinical psychology, consistent with doctoral level professional training and further post qualification study, training and supervised experience during a minimum of 18 to 24 months as a Specialist Clinical/Forensic Psychologist.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) including the ability to empathically, sensitively and effectively communicate clinical and condition related information to clients, their families, carers and professional colleagues (within and outside the NHS) that is extremely complicated or technical; extremely sensitive and potentially distressing to the recipient; or that is extremely contentious or challenging.
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment commensurate with doctoral level training, including specialist clinical interviewing, behavioural observation, complex psychometric testing and specialist neuropsychological testing.
• Skills in providing consultation and advice from a psychological perspective to members of other professional and non-professional groups
• Awareness and understanding of the differential needs of people from black and minority ethnic groups and of the service issues arising within a multicultural urban area.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific ‘difficult to treat’ groups (e.g. personality disorder, challenging behaviour, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and DoH policy and implementation guidelines in relation to mental health in general and the client group with which this post is concerned.

Personal

Essential

• Ability to interact and to build and sustain relationships with people with mental health problems and associated disabilities
• Is a ‘team player’ and has demonstrated ability to work and deliver to team and organisational objectives
• Ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.

Other

Essential

• Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
• Awareness and understanding of the purpose and mechanisms of clinical governance and an ability to employ such mechanisms to maintain and improve standards of clinical practice

Closing Date: 28 July 2026