Band 7/8a Specialist Clinical Psychologist – Secure Services: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

0.6 WTE – Health & Justice Vulnerability service – primary Mental Health Treatment Requirement

Band 7 candidates are also encouraged to apply for a preceptorship post

Due to service expansion, our psychology-led primary care MHTR team is seeking a creative and dedicated practitioner psychologist to join us as we continue to offer community-based alternatives to short term sentences that make a significant impact on peoples’ lives.

The successful candidate will join a partnership that truly values the impact of psychological work with clients and in systems; Focussing on delivering evidence-based short term interventions for common mental health difficulties, our interventions are bespoke with the client at the centre of all we do, supporting them to move towards the things that matter in their lives which In turn reduces re-offending risk.

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 and acknowledged that working within offender health can be challenging. Therefore, access to a range of support offers, reflective practice and supervision is available.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will have a community base in Erdington, B24 9SA however will be required to work from partner bases such as women’s centres, probation premises and court all of which are served by excellent public transport links should the applicant choose not to drive.

Duties will include undertaking brief assessments for pMHTR suitability, collaborative formulation and delivering interventions. Evaluating our pathway and clinical effectiveness is ongoing and you will lead on this, supported by the clinical lead. There are Supervision and management opportunities as well as leadership in the wider HJVS service which includes working with staff with lived experience. 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 within the criminal justice system with clients with psychological difficulties, neurodiversity and trauma 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: 13 August 2026