Applied Practitioner Psychologist

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Stafford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in Stafford is seeking an Applied Practitioner Psychologist to join their Forensic Directorate. The role focuses on providing psychological services for individuals with complex mental health needs. Candidates are encouraged from Clinical, Counselling, and Forensic backgrounds. A commitment to patient care and teamwork is essential, with training offered to build specific forensic skills. A 10% welcome incentive is provided.

Benefits

10% welcome incentive

Relocation support may be available

Qualifications

• Experience of face-to-face work with people with severe mental illness.
• Experience of working in a secure setting is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead provision of a specialist psychological service in medium secure care.
• Support service users in their recovery relating to mental health and risk needs.
• Provide supervision and support to other psychology team members.

Skills

High level communication skills (written and verbal)

Education

Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology

Registered with HCPC

Job description

Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Applied Practitioner Psychologist

The closing date is 22 December 2025

We are offering an exciting opportunity for an Applied Psychologist to join our Forensic Directorate Psychological Service, within the medium secure inpatient service at The Hatherton Centre, in Stafford.

We strive to provide a high quality, psychological service for men with complex, long term mental health problems, often rooted in traumatic life experiences. Working in a forensic inpatient setting requires confidence in engaging with service users responsible for offences that have caused violent or sexual harm.

We welcome applications from Clinical, Counselling and Forensic Psychologists at Band 7 or 8a, depending on experience (we have an established 7-8a preceptorship for newly qualified psychologists). Experience of working in forensic services is not essential as relevant training will be provided, but it is desirable. Of primary importance is an interest and commitment to working with individuals with complex mental health and risk-related needs. You will also benefit from the support of the wider psychology team across MPFT.

You will be committed to contributing to improving the quality of life of people with complex mental health problems who present a risk of harm to others and will have an interest in compassion focused, trauma informed approaches and will be keen to contribute to the development of psychological services within the Forensic Directorate.

We offer a '10% welcome incentive' for this role. See below for further details.

Option to work from home 2-3 days per week.

Main duties of the job

The Senior Applied Psychologist will lead provision of a specialist psychological service on a forensic inpatient ward, within medium secure care and support service users in their recovery in relation to both their mental health and risk related needs.

Strong emphasis is placed on supporting the wider workforce, enhancing their understanding of and support for psychologically informed ways of working through formulation-based meetings, while also supporting them in their roles through provision of reflective practice, critical incident support and training.

As part of this role, you will be expected to:

• Provide supervision and support will be offered by and to other members of the wider psychology team.
• Provide a wide and flexible range of therapeutic models and types of psychological interventions, both individually and in groups where appropriate.
• Offer established skills in the use of highly complex methods of psychological assessment and intervention.
• Initiative risk assessments, engaging hard to reach service users, inpatient working and coproduction are desirable.
• Support service users and other professionals in community settings, including local hospitals, mental health resource centres, Social Services and Probation Offices as required.
• Work with service users who have been perpetrators and/or victims of offences that cause serious harm and/or who show behaviour that is severely challenging services. This includes behaviour that may be violent and or cause sexual harm.

About us

Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.

We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.

We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for the roles.

We are pleased to offer a Welcome Incentive to candidates joining our Forensic Psychology team at MPFT. This includes:

5% of annual salary paid upon appointment.

A further 5% of annual salary awarded on the 12-month work anniversary.

Relocation support is also available and can be negotiated based on individual circumstances.

We are committed to attracting high-calibre professionals who share our dedication to delivering outstanding Forensic Services.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology (or its equivalent), as accredited by the BPS
• Post qualification training for role of clinical supervisor.
• Registered with HCPC.
• Post-doctoral training in one or more additional specialised areas of psychological practice.

EXPERIENCE

• Prior experience of face-to-face work with people with severe and enduring mental illness or learning disability and a history of behaviour that presents a risk of harm to others
• Prior experience of work in a secure setting or co-facilitating therapeutic group interventions

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES

• High level communication skills (written and verbal)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Address

Radford House at The Hatherton Centre, St George’s Hospital