Clinical Registered Psychologist

Ministry of Justice; Devizes; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Leave

Bank, Public Holidays

Pension

Work Life Balance

Season Ticket Advance

Childcare Vouchers

Training

Job summary

Ministry of Justice in the South West & South Central Area Psychology Team seeks a Band 7 Registered Psychologist to deliver and supervise psychological services across prisons. You will conduct high-quality risk assessments for Parole Board processes, provide specialist interventions, and contribute to staff training and research within a supportive, ambitious team.

Hybrid working patterns are available; the role includes supervision of Trainee Psychologists and opportunities to develop

Qualifications

• HCPC registered psychologist with forensic/clinical specialism or working toward HCPC registration.
• Proven ability to provide high-quality psychological risk assessments and supervision.
• Experience informing staff training, service development and research in psychology.

Responsibilities

• Deliver psychological services across prisons, including risk assessments for Parole Board proceedings.
• Provide specialist one-to-one interventions and supervision to Trainee Psychologists.
• Contribute to staff training, research, and evaluation activities within the SWSC Psychology Team.

Skills

Clinical psychology

Forensic psychology

Supervision

Education

HCPC registration

Job description

The South West & South Central (SWSC) Area Psychology Team delivers psychological services across 14 prisons, offering a unique opportunity to develop a broad and varied portfolio of practice. Our establishments differ in function and population, meaning no two roles are exactly the same. This diversity provides psychologists with rich professional experiences and opportunities to apply their skills across a range of clinical, forensic and operational settings. A significant part of our work involves supporting the parole process, including the delivery of high-quality psychological risk assessments and other Parole Board-directed activity. Alongside this, we deliver a range of specialist one-to-one interventions, including the Healthy Sex Programme, helping individuals address factors linked to their offending and support their progression through sentence plans. Our psychologists play a key role in supporting prisons to meet wider operational objectives. This includes providing psychologically informed consultation, contributing to staff training and development, supporting research and evaluation activity, and helping establishments progress important safety and rehabilitation agendas. As a Band 7 Registered Psychologist, you will be an integral member of a local prison-based psychology team, working under the guidance of both an Establishment Lead Psychologist and a Cluster Lead Psychologist. You will also contribute to the wider SWSC Area Psychology Team and Psychology Services Group (PSG) priorities. The role includes designated supervision responsibilities for Trainee Psychologists, providing an excellent opportunity to contribute to the development of the future psychology workforce. Our establishments are located across the South West and South Central regions, encompassing some of the UK's most desirable places to live, with access to coastlines, countryside, vibrant cities and thriving local communities. Whether you are looking to further develop specialist forensic psychology skills, broaden your experience across different prison functions, or take the next step in your professional career, SWSC Area Psychology offers a supportive, ambitious and rewarding environment in which to thrive.

Working Arrangements & Further Information The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks. Some of MoJ's terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS' Flexible Working policy. If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff. The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Qualified forensic or clinical psychologists with the HCPC or in the process of receiving HCPC registration. Where HCPC registration is not yet in place, confirmation of registration must be provided within 3 months of provisional offer.

Specific licence requirements Qualified forensic or clinical psychologists with the HCPC or in the process of receiving HCPC registration. Where HCPC registration is not yet in place, confirmation of registration must be provided within 3 months of provisional offer.

Specific language requirements Spoken and Written English Statement of Suitability Guidance for the Statement of Suitability Please give your progression towards/ achievement of your registration Evidence of Experience CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability Technical Technical Questions Application Form Question Word Limit 250 Possess a professional background in Psychology Experience in providing clinical supervision Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practise Qualified forensic or clinical psychologists with the HCPC or in the process of receiving HCPC registration. Where HCPC registration is not yet in place, confirmation of registration must be provided within 3 months of provisional offer Specific qualification requirements Qualified forensic or clinical psychologists with the HCPC or in the process of receiving HCPC registration. Where HCPC registration is not yet in place, confirmation of registration must be provided within 3 months of provisional offer.

Interview stage assessments Interview Dates To Be Confirmed - Expected Week Commencing 19th October 2026 Behaviours Communicating and Influencing Developing Self and Others Making Effective Decisions Working Together Strengths Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here. Level of security checks required DBS Enhanced

Benefits

• Annual Leave - The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.
• Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays - You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment.
• Pension - The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
• Work Life Balance - HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ
• Season Ticket Advance - After two months' service, you'll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work.
• Childcare Vouchers - For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.
• Training - HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes. There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts. All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles.

Eligibility - All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post - All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS - All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist.

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace.

Diversity & Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces. Visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.