Clinical / Forensic Psychologist

NHS; Pontypridd; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health services organization is seeking a Clinical or Forensic Psychologist for their facility in Pontypridd. The role involves providing specialized assessments and therapies for patients with complex needs. Applicants should have experience in evidence-based interventions, particularly for personality disorders. The organization offers career development paths and a supportive team environment.

Qualifications

• Must have UK professional registration.
• Experience working with service users with complex mental health needs.
• Ability to communicate effectively in sensitive situations.

Responsibilities

• Exercise professional responsibility and accountability for practice.
• Provide specialized psychological assessments and interventions.
• Communicate complex information effectively to clients and care teams.

Skills

Experience with complex needs and risk behaviours

Delivery of evidence-based interventions

DBT training

Education

Clinical or Forensic Psychologist

Job description

Job summary

Is having the support and freedom to fast-track your career goals in psychology important to you? Are you looking for an organisation which will offer you flexible development pathways which are not constrained by a rigid, prescribed progression structure?

At Iris Care Group we really appreciate the work our registered psychologists do and the results they achieve for our service users.

Having listened to feedback on the support they felt would benefit them to develop their careers, we created a specific skills escalator and compendium of internal training and professional development resources within our exciting new virtual learning suite, Kallidus. We are also dedicated to enriching progression through regular appraisals. Opportunities for additional external post-qualification training can be tailored to align with our clinicians growth and the needs of the service. We believe that supporting our psychologists, particularly early in their career, to develop additional competencies not only benefits their career development and pathway to consultant grade but also ensures our service users benefit from the latest developments in psychological practice.

Main duties of the job

We currently have an opportunity for a Clinical or Forensic Psychologist at our forensic mental health hospital, Heatherwood Court. Comprising of a Locked Rehabilitation Service (1 female ward) and a Low Secure Service (1 male and 2 female wards), Heatherwood Court treats patients with complex needs, including severe and enduring mental illness, complex trauma, and difficulties consistent with a diagnosis of personality disorder.

We are looking for applicants with experience of working with service users with complex needs and risk behaviours along with those who have an interest and prior experience of delivering evidenced-based interventions for people with personality disorder and/or complex mental health problems. We are particularly interested in candidates who have received DBT training, but would offer training to suitable candidates on appointment.

This post will join an established, dynamic team of psychologists including a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Forensic Psychologist and Assistant Psychologists, working as part of a specialist multi-disciplinary team. The team are also supported by Positive Practice Workers, graduate psychologists in blended role combining both support worker shifts and clinical days with the teams. There are also regular opportunities to network with the wider Iris Care Group qualified psychologists within Departmental Meetings and Psychology away days.

About us

Based in a rural setting on the outskirts of Pontypridd, Heatherwood Court focuses on developing and maintaining a culture of care that promotes recovery, gender sensitivity and relational security. We believe in empowering our service users, promoting the development of hope, strength and resilience to support people to work towards lasting recovery within the least restrictive environment.

Heatherwood Court is part of the wider Iris Care Group which employs 1200+ staff in complex mental health services across South East Wales and Bristol. In addition to specialist hospitals and a SEN college, the organisation also has community step down homes. Clinicians from across these services meet regularly to share best practice and provide peer review opportunities.

All our services offer opportunities for audit and research and have established links with local universities and networks, including the Offender Health Research Network Cymru. Networking and academic interests are also encouraged, and clinicians are regularly asked to present at conferences and contribute to articles in both the academic and mainstream press.

Details Date posted

05 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,809 to £55,689 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

E0148-25-0039

Job locations

Heatherwood Court

Llantrisant Road

Pontypridd

Mid Glamorgan

CF37 1PL

Job description - responsibilities

• To exercise autonomous professional responsibility and be legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of professional practice
• To provide specialised psychological assessments using a wide variety of methods, including psychometric assessments, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the clients care
• To analyse, interpret and integrate complex assessment information where the data are often contradictory
• To formulate plans for formal psychological therapy, based on a number of provisional hypotheses derived from psychological theory and evidence-based practice
• To be responsible for implementing a range of specialised psychological interventions, for individuals, carers, families and groups
• To adjust and refine psychological formulations and therapy options based on continual re-assessment of clients during therapy, monitoring and evaluating progress during the course of bout uni- and multi-disciplinary care, in order to maximise the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions
• To be available to multi-disciplinary team colleagues for the provision of psychological advice on clinical practice
• To communicate effectively with the client, his/her family and all others involved in the network of care, including professionals from other agencies
• In highly sensitive clinical situations, to communicate, in a skilled and persuasive manner, complicated information about assessment, formulation and therapy plans with clients who may be confrontational or have major communication difficulties or be difficult to engage and maintain in therapy
• To attend clinical supervision with appointed supervisor and to work under the managerial direction of the Head of Department

Person Specification - Qualifications Essential

• Clinical or Forensic Psychologist

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Iris Care Group

Heatherwood Court

Llantrisant Road

Pontypridd

Mid Glamorgan

CF37 1PL

Employer's website

https://www.iriscaregroup.co.uk/