Clinical or Forensic Psychologist

NHS; Coventry; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Coventry is seeking a Band 7 Clinical or Forensic Psychologist on a 20-month fixed-term contract. The position involves providing specialized psychological assessments and interventions within a community mental health team. Ideal candidates will have a Doctorate in Clinical or Forensic Psychology and HCPC registration, alongside experience in managing complex mental health cases and forensic settings. The role includes delivering targeted psychological care and contributes to the development of community-based services.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement

Excellent learning and development opportunities

Salary sacrifice schemes for various benefits

Wellbeing support services

Qualifications

• Experience with severe and enduring mental health difficulties.
• Experience working with forensic or risk presentations.
• Ability to deliver specialized psychological interventions.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist psychological assessment and intervention.
• Contribute to multi-agency risk assessment planning.
• Deliver individual and group-based psychological interventions.

Skills

Psychological assessment and intervention

Multi-agency collaboration

Mental health expertise

Education

Doctorate in Clinical or Forensic Psychology

HCPC registration

Job description

Job summary

Band 7 Clinical or Forensic Psychologist – Forensic CMHT Location: Coventry | Contract: 20‑month Fixed Term or Secondment | Hours: Full‑time (WTE) | Registration: HCPC

We are seeking a Clinical or Forensic Psychologist with a strong foundation in community mental health and experience working with individuals with forensic histories, offending behaviours, or contact with the criminal justice system.

Following significant new investment, the Forensic Community Mental Health Team is expanding and rebranding, offering an opportunity to help shape offender‑informed care across Coventry and Warwickshire. This role suits newly qualified psychologists consolidating forensic skills, or experienced practitioners wishing to broaden their practice within a multidisciplinary CMHT.

The post will involve establishing a clinic within a local remand prison; improving transition pathways from secure services to the community; embedding forensic expertise within CMHTs; providing consultation, formulation, and specialist advice; delivering targeted community‑based psychological interventions; supporting co‑production and collaborative service development; contributing to forensic training for CWPT staff; and supporting research and service evaluation to inform future service development.

Main duties of the job

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide specialist psychological assessment and intervention to adults with complex mental health presentations, including those with forensic histories, personality difficulties, trauma histories, psychosis, or high‑risk behaviours.
• Contribute psychological expertise to multi‑agency risk assessment and risk management planning, working collaboratively with probation, approved premises, social care and all other external and internal partners.
• Offer consultation, supervision and psychological formulation to MDT colleagues, influencing care planning, crisis planning and risk‑related decision‑making.
• Deliver both individual and group‑based psychological interventions in accordance with NICE guidelines and service protocols.
• Support service development, audit, research and clinical governance activities.
• Provide supervision to assistant psychologists and contribute to training for other professionals, where appropriate.
• Work autonomously within HCPC standards, professional guidelines and Trust policies.

About us

At Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT), we deliver a wide range of physical, mental health, learning disability and autism services, and are proud to serve communities across Coventry, Warwickshire and beyond.

We put ‘people at our heart’; this ethos is at the centre of everything we do and how we do it. We care for our staff and colleagues as much as they care for others and offer a wide range of benefits and development opportunities.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement which increases during your time with us
• Excellent learning and development opportunities, including apprenticeship frameworks, distance learning, internal training, coaching and mentoring, and much more
• Salary sacrifice schemes for lease car/vehicle, Cycle to Work, home and electronics, gym membership and more
• Discounts with a range of retailers, restaurants and entertainment venues through our Employee Assistance Programme and NHS discount schemes
• Wellbeing support, including an in‑house counselling service, external helpline and more
• Staff networks and support group

Why Join CWPT?

Supportive, enthusiastic team

Weekly supervision and excellent CPD

Dedicated time for reflective practice

Opportunity to shape a pioneering forensic project

Essential Requirements

• Doctorate in Clinical or Forensic Psychology
• HCPC registration
• Experience with severe and enduring mental health difficulties
• Experience working with forensic or risk presentations

Desirable

• Experience with psychosis, personality disorder and trauma
• Experience using structured risk assessment tools

Person Specification

Qualifications (Essential)

• DClin Psych or equivalent qualification in clinical or counselling psychology
• Registration with the HCPC as a Practitioner Psychologist

Experience (Essential)

• Experience of working with people and their carers in SCMH, or with people with complex mental health needs in different settings
• Experience of working with a range of clients, presenting a range of clinical severity and maintaining professionalism in challenging circumstances
• Experience of tailoring psychological assessment and intervention to individual needs
• Experience of working in community settings
• Experience of team working
• Experience in providing consultancy to colleagues
• Experience of clinical trials and research, and an ability to deliver a protocol intervention as required

Knowledge (Essential)

• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and the legal context. Evidence of continuing professional development
• Keen to participate in the development of a new style of service
• Committed to working as part of a multi‑disciplinary team and with other members of the Psychological Services

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).

Job details

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 20 months

Working pattern: Full‑time, Flexible working

Reference number: 444–7687337-MH

Job locations:
Swanswell Point, Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry, CV14FS

Employer details

Employer name: Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust

Address: Swanswell Point, Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry, CV14FS

Employer’s website

https://www.covwarkpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)