Band 7/8a Psychologist: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

We are seeking a Clinical, Counselling or Forensic Psychologist (Band 8a) to join the Norfolk and Suffolk Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Service for 22.5 hours per week. Applications are also welcomed from experienced Band 7 Psychologists wishing to progress through a supported preceptorship pathway into the full Band 8a role.

This varied post spans two complementary services: the Core OPD Service and IIRMS (see descriptions below). The role combines consultation, training, reflective practice, formulation-led intervention and multi-agency collaboration. You will support professionals and services to develop psychologically informed approaches to risk, relationships and behaviour, while contributing to work with individuals presenting with complex emotional and interpersonal difficulties.

Whilst there is some opportunity for direct face-to-face work within the IIRMS service, much of the role involves influencing outcomes indirectly through consultation, formulation and support to professionals, teams and multi-agency systems.

The NSFT team base is at Northside House, Norwich. Attendance is typically required every other week, including Wednesdays when the team comes together for meetings, reflective practice and service development. The role also requires regular travel to probation, NHS and partner agency sites across Norfolk and Suffolk. Hybrid working can be supported where service needs allow.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work across two services:

Core OPD Service

The Core OPD Service works across Norfolk and Suffolk to enhance the knowledge, confidence and skills of probation practitioners and partner agencies when working with individuals who present with personality difficulties, complex trauma and significant offending-related risks. The service delivers consultation, training, reflective practice and formulation-informed support to help staff and systems respond effectively to complexity.

Intensive Intervention and Risk Management Service (IIRMS)

The Intensive Intervention and Risk Management Service (IIRMS) is a specialist, formulation-driven service supporting a small caseload of approximately 15 service users at any one time. The service works with individuals presenting with high levels of complexity, need and risk and provides intensive support through a “through the gate” approach, supporting people as they transition from custody into the community for up to two years. The service aims to improve engagement, wellbeing, stability and risk management through psychologically informed interventions and close multi-agency working.

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

• Registered Psychologist with the HCPC
• Demonstrates positive attitudes towards our client-group, namely people with personality difficulties and people with violent or sexual convictions.
• Demonstrates personal resilience and able to support colleagues to do the same.

Desirable

• Able to apply formulation skills to violent and sexual offending and the development of personality difficulties.
• Demonstrates skills needed for liaising with other health, justice and social care services.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of supervising other professionals or supporting colleagues to deliver psychologically informed intervention.
• Experience of working with service users with complex needs and/or in setting with additional challenges.

Desirable

• Experience of working with people on probation, people in prison, and/ or people subject to forensic mental health services.
• Experience of training professionals or providing consultations.

Closing Date: 29 November 2026