Forensic Psychologist

Serco Limited; Bristol; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Health & wellbeing

Training & development

Discounts

ShareSave

Charity

Employee networks

Job summary

Serco Limited seeks a Forensic Psychologist to join the team at HMP Ashfield, near Bristol. The role focuses on delivering psychological services to prisoners, including new therapeutic approaches and evidence-based assessments.

Responsibilities include assessments, reports, supervision, and staff consultation, with emphasis on rehabilitation, safety, and reducing re-offending in a Category C establishment outside Bristol.

Qualifications

• Experience working with offenders and conducting psychological assessments and interventions.
• HCPC registration (or within six months of obtaining it).
• Completion of Stage 1 of the Qualification in Forensic Psychology and most of Stage 2.
• Knowledge of psychological theory related to treatment of violent and sexual offending.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychological assessments (HCR-20, SARA, WAIS, IPDE, PCL-R) with a safety-focused rehab perspective.
• Prepare parole reports and directions.
• Supervise Forensic Psychologists in Training and programme staff; provide staff training.
• Conduct research and consult with prison staff on interventions.
• Decide suitability of candidates for accredited interventions.
• Ensure adherence to BPS Code of Conduct.

Skills

Experience working with offenders

Psychological assessments

Interventions

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Education

HCPC registration

Stage 1 & Stage 2 Forensic Psychology qualification

Tools

WAIS

HCR-20

PCL-R

IPDE

Job description

Forensic Psychologist

Full Time, Permanent - 40 hours

Location: HMP Ashfield, Bristol, Bs16 9QJ

Salary: Up to £45,000 Per annum - could be exceeded dependent upon experience per annum + Company Benefits

Ready to think differently about rehabilitation? At Serco, we're seeking a Forensic Psychologist to join our team at HMP Ashfield, a Category C establishment just outside Bristol, where you'll contribute to innovative approaches and play a key role in delivering quality psychological services to people in prison.

This is an exciting opportunity to enrich your career - from a new Therapeutic Community to the use of EMDR and schema therapy, here you can enhance your experience and career with a variety of therapeutic approaches.

Make an impact at Serco

As a Forensic Psychologist at HMP Ashfield, you'll play a crucial role in supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners. By conducting psychological assessments and providing expert consultancy to prison staff, you'll help shape interventions that directly address offending behaviour. Your work will not only contribute to the safety and wellbeing of individuals but also enhance the broader rehabilitative efforts of the prison, ultimately helping reduce re-offending and supporting the safe reintegration of offenders into society.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Completing psychological assessments including HCR-20, SARA, WAIS, IPDE and PCL-R, all while fostering an environment focused on safety and rehabilitation
• Completing parole reports and directions
• Managing and supervising Forensic Psychologists in Training and programmes staff, and providing employee training
• Conducting research and consulting with other prison staff
• Making decisions regarding suitability of candidates for accredited interventions
• Ensuring all activities adhere to the Code of Conduct of the British Psychological Society (BPS)

You may be involved in the management and delivery of Offending Behaviour Programmes, too

Join a place you can grow

At Serco, we believe in continuous development, and you'll find plenty of opportunities to grow in this role. You'll work within a supportive and collaborative team that is passionate about making a difference in the lives of others. We offer a range of professional development and CPD activities, and we actively promote from within.

You'll also receive:

• Pension: Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Health and wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service and free flu jabs
• Training and development: Ongoing support and training opportunities to enhance your skills and career progression, with your professional training fees paid.
• Discounts: Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel.
• ShareSave scheme: Save regularly with the choice to buy Serco shares at a discount at the end of your savings period.
• Charity: Support a charity or organisation with a paid volunteering day each year. You can also choose to donate to your favourite charity tax‑free, through our Payroll Giving Scheme, and donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity.
• Employee networks: Join a network where colleagues can come together, meet new people, find support, share ideas and be part of a real community.

What you'll need

To succeed in this role, you should have:

• Experience working with offenders and conducting psychological assessments and interventions
• HCPC registration (or be within six months of obtaining it)
• Completion of Stage 1 of the Qualification in Forensic Psychology and the majority of Stage 2 (or equivalent experience on the Doctorate route)
• Knowledge of psychological theory related to the treatment of violent and sexual offending
• Experience in administering, scoring, and interpreting psychological assessments such as WAIS, HCR-20, PCL‑R, and IPDE
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with offenders and as part of a multi‑disciplinary team

Desirable (but not essential)

• Qualified Forensic Psychologist registered with HCPC
• Registration with the Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors (RAAPS)
• Experience in group psychotherapy or psychotherapeutic treatment approaches

A little bit about us

At Serco, we're a fast-growing company, serving governments around the globe. Our work spans a wide range of sectors including Justice, Immigration, Defence, Leisure, Healthcare, Transport, and Citizen Services. We're committed to delivering, improving and redesigning public services for the benefit of everyone, guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation, and Pride.

Our inclusive recruitment process: We see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We're a proud holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard and a Disability Confident Leader, championing fair access to employment and equal opportunities for all. As such we're open to flexible working arrangements and we'll make reasonable adjustments from interview through to employment.

As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.

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