Clinical/Forensic/Counselling Psychologist

NHS; Bolton; Remote; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health organization is seeking a Clinical, Forensic, or Counselling Psychologist to join their Intensive Personalised Support service. The role involves providing clinical leadership, supervision, and oversight to ensure effective, person-centred support for clients with complex needs. This position offers the opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary team, focusing on innovative, evidence-based interventions.

Qualifications

• HCPC-registered Clinical, Counselling or Forensic Psychologist.
• Experience supervising assistant psychologists and/or PBS practitioners.
• Experience working with children, young people, or adults with complex needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership and oversight across all IPS operations.
• Review incoming referrals and assess suitability and risk factors.
• Supervise development of assessment and intervention plans.

Skills

Positive Behaviour Support strategies

Multi-agency work

Trauma-informed approaches

Education

Doctorate in Clinical/Forensic/Counselling Psychology

Registered with HCPC

Job description

Clinical/Forensic/Counselling Psychologist

This is a predominantly remote role, with occasional travel required for in-person meetings, training, or client-related visits, depending on service need.

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Clinical, Forensic, or Counselling Psychologist to join our Intensive Personalised Support (IPS) service within ABL Health. This is a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, multidisciplinary team delivering high-impact, person-centred support to individuals with complex needs. Working in a consultancy capacity, you will provide clinical leadership, supervision, and oversight across the service, helping to shape and deliver psychologically informed interventions that drive meaningful, long-term change.

We work intensively with clients and their families in their homes and communities to create meaningful change, reducing the need for hospitalisation, social care escalation, or criminal justice involvement.

Main duties of the job

As a key member of the IPS leadership team, the Clinical/Forensic/Counselling Psychologist provides strategic clinical oversight across all aspects of the service, ensuring safe, person-centred, and effective support for clients. This includes reviewing referrals, supervising clinicians, shaping assessments and interventions, and leading on outcome measurement and risk management. The role involves chairing MDTs, delivering clinical supervision and training, and supporting innovation in service delivery. You will collaborate with internal and external professionals, maintain safeguarding and consent practices, and contribute to developing clinical models, policies, and procedures. While primarily working in a consultancy capacity, you may also undertake direct client work in complex cases, with a focus on improving outcomes and embedding a psychologically informed approach throughout IPS.

About us

ABL is an exciting, fast-paced, growing community health organisation. As an experienced, CQC-registered provider of community health services, we are passionate about delivering evidence-based, innovative, effective, and relevant healthcare services in partnership with individuals, communities, and stakeholders.

Job responsibilities

Rooted in ABL's innovative, person-centred model, IPS combines clinical insight with relational practice, supporting children, young people, families, and in some cases, adults at risk of placement breakdown, care escalation, or social exclusion.

We provide intensive, high-impact support typically delivered over several months, with multiple sessions per week lasting around 3-4 hours each. These sessions are facilitated by a team of support workers, assistant psychologists, and PBS practitioners, all working under the guidance of our clinical team. Each support package is tailored to build trusting relationships, address individual goals, and promote sustainable change. Qualified psychologists or members of our leadership team provide additional input for complex assessments or interventions. Safeguarding is fundamental, supported by access to designated senior safeguarding officers.

Our model follows four key stages: Assessment & Relationship Building, Active Intervention, Maintenance, and Positive Endings & Transitions, each designed to ensure effective and compassionate support tailored to individual needs.

Although initially centered around autism and learning disabilities, our service now addresses a broader range of needs, including mental health, trauma, family dysfunction, risky behaviors, and disengagement from services. Interventions are designed around each person's unique circumstances, with flexible session formats as needed.

About the Role

As a Clinical, Counselling, or Forensic Psychologist, you will provide clinical leadership and oversight across all IPS operations, working with a supportive management team to shape a transformative service.

This role is suited for someone who thrives in complex environments, enjoys developing others, and seeks to work beyond traditional clinical settings.

Job Purpose:

You will play a pivotal role in shaping and guiding the clinical integrity of the IPS service, providing strategic oversight, supervision, and consultation from referral to case closure. The psychologist will oversee clinical staff, support high-quality care, and contribute to service development initiatives, ensuring evidence-based, personalized support that achieves measurable outcomes.

While primarily operating within a consultancy model, the role involves supervising assistant psychologists and PBS practitioners, supporting front-line staff, and engaging in complex assessments or interventions when necessary. There are also opportunities for multi-agency collaboration and service-wide development.

The role emphasizes holistic wellbeing, supporting clients and families with diverse psychological challenges, including mental health, trauma, and neurodivergence. The psychologist is also encouraged to foster team wellbeing and resilience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Referral Oversight: Review incoming referrals with the IPS Service Lead, assessing suitability and risk factors.
• Clinical Leadership: Assign cases, supervise clinical staff, and ensure safe, person-centred interventions.
• Clinical Reporting: Oversee clinical reports, ensuring clarity and quality.
• Assessment & Intervention Planning: Supervise development of assessment and intervention plans; conduct complex assessments when needed.
• Clinical Supervision: Provide supervision to assistant psychologists and PBS practitioners.
• Training & Development: Identify training needs and deliver clinical training.
• MDT Leadership: Chair MDT meetings and support collaborative working.
• Clinician Development: Promote CPD and skills growth among supervisees.
• Integrated Working: Coordinate assessments with stakeholders, ensuring ethical communication.
• Consent & Capacity: Support high standards in consent and capacity practices.
• Outcome Measurement: Oversee collection and analysis of outcome data.
• Risk Management: Contribute to clinical risk assessments.
• Formulation & PBS Planning: Lead or support formulation and PBS plans.
• Complex Case Guidance: Provide expert input on complex cases.
• Innovation & Service Improvement: Keep abreast of emerging models and champion their integration.
• Effective Communication: Maintain clear communication with clients and partners.
• Service Evaluation: Lead service improvement initiatives.
• Dissemination & CPD Contribution: Share expertise through learning opportunities.
• Therapeutic Competence: Deliver appropriate psychological interventions.
• Legislative Knowledge: Maintain understanding of relevant legislation.
• Clinical Record Keeping: Ensure high standards of documentation.
• Professional Development: Engage in supervision, appraisal, and CPD.
• Governance Engagement: Contribute to clinical governance forums.
• Model Development: Support evolution of clinical models and practices.

Requirements

• HCPC-registered Clinical, Counselling or Forensic Psychologist
• Experience supervising assistant psychologists and/or PBS practitioners
• Experience working with children, young people, or adults with complex needs
• Understanding of PBS, formulation-led practice, and trauma-informed approaches
• Skilled in multi-agency work with families, education, social care, and health
• Ability to contribute to organizational development and service improvement

Person Specification

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of and expertise in Positive Behaviour Support strategies
• Experience working with clients with complex needs
• Up-to-date knowledge of legislation and its implications
• Familiarity with current guidelines and debates around diagnoses

Experience

• Able to assess, formulate, and deliver interventions for behavioral change
• Experience supporting individuals with concerning or challenging behavior
• Evidence of ongoing professional development
• Experience working with children and young people with learning disabilities, autism, or social exclusion
• Experience working cross-organizationally to achieve outcomes

Qualifications

• Doctorate in Clinical/Forensic/Counselling Psychology or equivalent
• Registered with HCPC
• Experience supervising others
• Family Therapist qualification
• Mental Health qualification
• Trauma-informed parenting and communication strategies qualifications

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to a DBS check, in accordance with legal requirements.

Full-time, part-time, home, or remote working options available.