Clinical or Counselling Psychologist - Forensic Services

ESSEX PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST; Billericay; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A public healthcare organization in Billericay seeks a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to join its forensic multidisciplinary team. Candidates should be HCPC registered and possess doctoral-level training in psychology. The role involves providing psychological assessments and therapies, while also contributing to family interventions and research. Flexible working is an option, alongside a competitive salary of £47,810 to £54,710 annually, plus benefits and a relocation package.

Benefits

27 days holiday, plus bank holidays

Excellent pension

Staff discounts including NHS discounts

£8K relocation package

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Doctoral-level training in applied psychology accredited by the BPS.
• HCPC Registered.
• Knowledge of legislation related to the client group and mental health specialty.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist psychological assessment and therapy.
• Ensure family therapy or interventions are available as needed.
• Work autonomously within professional guidelines and team policies.

Skills

CBT

DBT

Behavioural Family Therapy

Specialist Risk Assessment

Education

Doctoral level training in applied psychology

HCPC Registration

Job description

Go back Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical or Counselling Psychologist - Forensic Services

The closing date is 21 December 2025

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a HCPC Registered Clinical, Counselling or Forensic Practitioner Psychologist to join the Essex Specialist Community Forensic multidisciplinary team based at Heath Close, Billericay. This is a multi-disciplinary team consisting of highly experienced professionals with a diverse background of working within mental healthcare. The team offers expertise in working with service users within forensic services and specific skills such as CBT, DBT, Behavioural Family Therapy and specialist risk assessment (eg HCR 20).

The team are an Essex wide service which was set up as part of the NHS New Care Models initiative aiming to transform services for forensic service users across the county. Our aim is to facilitate and support discharge and repatriation of service users from low and medium secure care back into the community across Essex and to reduce the length of stay in secure settings. Through this we are working to improve outcomes for this group of individuals through intensive support.

Our model of care is recovery based with a focus on empowerment of individuals to foster their wellbeing, self-esteem and to realise their full potential on the road to independence.

The role sits within the wider Forensic Psychological Services Department which comprises clinical, counselling and forensic psychologists, trainee psychologists, assistant psychologists and psychology undergraduate placement students.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide specialist psychological assessment and therapy to those referred to the team. Where appropriate, the post holder will also take a lead in ensuring that family therapy or family interventions are available to those seen within the service.

The post holder will be required to:

• Work across locality and interagency boundaries to meet the needs of a highly complex client group.
• Work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team's policies and procedures.
• Utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the area served by the team/service.
• Offer advice and consultation on clients' psychological care to non-psychologist/psychotherapist colleagues and to other, non-professional carers.
• Use appropriate evidence based psychological therapies.

About us

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
• Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest‑free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full list of responsibilities for this role.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

• Doctoral level training in applied psychology, as accredited by the BPS
• HCPC Registered

Knowledge

• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology and research design.
• Evidence of continued professional development as recommended by the relevant professional or registering body
• Formal training in supervision of other psychologists/ Psychotherapists as appropriate to their training and qualifications
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, eating disorders etc).
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health speciality.

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.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum pro rata plus 5% Fringe High Cost Allowance