Band 8a/b Psychologist - Prison

PsyDin; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible part-time schedule

Job summary

Pulse Healthcare is seeking an experienced Principal or Senior Practitioner Psychologist to provide high-quality clinical support across two adult male secure environments in the North West. The role offers specialist input within established mental health teams, supporting staff and service users with complex needs.

The post requires HCPC registration, leadership and supervision experience, and the ability to deliver trauma-informed care.

Qualifications

• HCPC registration as Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical, Counselling or Forensic).
• Experience with adults with complex mental health or behavioural needs.
• Confidence with trauma-related presentations or challenging behaviour.
• Experience supervising junior colleagues or leading clinical teams.
• Forensic or secure-setting experience is desirable but not required.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for adults.
• Support staff in understanding and managing trauma, risk and challenging behaviour.
• Deliver reflective practice groups and staff wellbeing sessions.
• Offer clinical leadership and contribute to service development.
• Supervise and guide junior psychology team members.
• Collaborate with MDT to ensure psychologically informed care across two sites.
• Balance responsibilities across two secure environments while maintaining clinical excellence.

Skills

Clinical psychology

Trauma-informed care

Leadership

Supervision

Forensic/secure setting experience

Education

HCPC registration

Job description

Ghulam Qadir

Lancashire, United Kingdom contract Remote

Forensic Psychologist

Employer: Pulse Healthcare

Location: Lancashire, United Kingdom (across two male secure environments)

Reference: 34619

Contact: Psychology North | 01992305604

Job Title: Principal / Senior Practitioner Psychologist (Band 8a–8b)

Banding: Band 8b (Band 8a considered with strong experience)

Working Hours: Part-time – 2/3 days per week

Contract: Temporary/Locum

Salary: Highly competitive

Pulse is seeking an experienced Principal or Senior Practitioner Psychologist to provide high-quality clinical support across two adult male secure environments in the North West region. This role offers a rare opportunity to deliver specialist psychological input within well-established mental health teams, supporting both staff and service users who present with complex mental health needs, trauma and challenging behaviour.

Your primary base will be one main site, with periodic visits to a second location (typically once per fortnight). You will contribute to reflective practice groups, trauma-informed approaches and provide clinical leadership within a supportive multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist psychological assessments, formulations and interventions for adults with complex presentations
• Support staff teams in understanding and managing challenging behaviour, trauma and risk
• Deliver reflective practice groups and staff wellbeing sessions
• Offer clinical leadership and contribute to evidence-based service development
• Supervise and guide junior psychology team members
• Work closely with multidisciplinary colleagues to ensure psychologically informed care across both sites
• Prioritise clinical excellence while balancing responsibilities across two secure settings

Benefits

• Significant autonomy and influence within a psychologically led service
• Opportunities to deliver reflective practice and staff support
• A supportive and experienced MDT environment
• Flexible part-time schedule (minimum 2 days per week)
• Competitive pay aligned with Band 8a–8b experienceDevelopment opportunities within a specialist forensic setting

Qualifications And Experience

• HCPC registration as a Practitioner Psychologist (Clinical, Counselling or Forensic)
• Experience supporting adults with complex mental health or behavioural needs
• Confidence working with trauma-related presentations or challenging behaviour
• Experience supervising junior colleagues or contributing to clinical leadership
• Forensic or secure-setting experience is desirable but not essential
• Applicants who meet most—but not all—criteria are still encouraged to apply. Band 8a candidates with strong experience will be considered.

Why Work With Pulse

Pulse offers industry-leading support for psychology practitioners, including access to exclusive roles, a dedicated consultant, streamlined compliance, weekly payroll and flexible working opportunities.