Highly Specialist Clinical / Counselling / Forensic Psychologist

NHS; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 47,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A national health service provider is seeking a Forensic Psychologist to work directly with service users with intellectual disabilities and/or autism. The position is full-time, based at The Oxford Clinic, and offers a range of responsibilities including clinical assessments and multidisciplinary team training. Candidates must possess a doctoral-level psychology qualification, HCPC registration, and relevant experience.

Benefits

27 days annual leave

NHS discounts

Staff assistance programme

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• HCPC registration required.
• Experience in specialist psychological assessment and treatment.
• Willingness to travel between sites.

Responsibilities

• Direct clinical services to clients, families, and carers.
• Teaching and training for the multidisciplinary team.
• Governance, audit, and clinical administrative activities.

Skills

Complex psychological assessment

Interpersonal communication

Consultation to multidisciplinary teams

Education

Doctoral level training in clinical, counselling, or forensic psychology

Job description

Job summary

The Forensic Community Learning Disability Team (FCLDT) psychology role involves direct work with forensic service users (with an intellectual disability and/or autism) and indirect work with teams/services to ensure psychological thinking is integral to FCLDT patient care. The service sits within the forensic service's Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT). The post aims to support service users to improve quality of life, health and wellbeing; those at risk of admission to secure services, or being discharged from hospital. The role supports a trauma-informed, needs-led, service user centred approach with transitions recognised as challenging; the postholder will help embed trauma-informed care in the FCLDT’s work.

Location and terms

This is a full-time role based at the Oxford Clinic in Littlemore. We can consider 30 hours per week with flexible working options. This is a preceptorship position and could be taken as a Band 7 development post, or a Band 8a. If commencing on Band 7, you will receive supervision and CPD support to progress to Band 8a within usually 1 year to 18 months.

Responsibilities

• Accountability for own professional actions, discretion in determining how objectives are achieved, and independent day-to-day work within the framework of policies and professional codes. Direct clinical services to clients, families and carers, undertaking specialist psychological assessments and providing psychological interventions.
• Dissemination of effective evidence-informed psychological practice within the team.
• Teaching and training for the MDT.
• Consultation and supervision where agreed to enable and support client-related work of the MDT.
• Where required, supervises qualified and non-qualified psychologists.
• Governance, audit and clinical administrative activities.
• Applied research and development activities related to the needs of the clients and broader Psychology Service.
• Participates in supervision, appraisal and CPD.
• Draws upon advanced level specialist knowledge commensurate with a doctoral degree in psychology, eligibility for registration as a practitioner psychologist, and further specialist training and practice.

Qualifications and experience

• Qualifications essential: Doctoral level training in clinical, counselling or forensic psychology, or its equivalent, as accredited by BPS; HCPC registration.
• Desirable: Post-qualification training in specialist areas relevant to forensic populations, clinical psychometrics, neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies, and lifespan developmental psychology; HCPC registration as a practitioner psychologist or forensic psychologist; qualifications or training in specialist psychometrics for working with people with an intellectual disability and/or neurodiversity.
• Experience essential: Experience of specialist psychological assessment and individual and group/system-based treatment across the full range of care settings; experience with a wide variety of client groups across the lifespan; experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
• Desirable: Experience within forensic mental health services; experience with people with an intellectual disability and/or neurodiversity; experience in clinical risk assessment, formulation, and management; formal supervision training to enable independent supervision of psychology trainees.
• Other essential attributes: Willingness and ability to travel between sites; ability to accept and use supervision appropriately; awareness of clinical governance; commitment to multicultural practice.

Knowledge and skills

• Well developed theoretical and practical knowledge in clinical, counselling or forensic psychology; evidence of CPD; familiarity with ethical codes of conduct.
• Skills in complex psychological assessment and formulation, and in delivering highly specialist therapies and management techniques for complex presenting problems.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills; ability to respond safely to physical aggression and promote personal safety; ability to provide teaching and training; ability to provide consultation to multidisciplinary teams.
• Awareness of diverse needs and issues in multicultural urban settings.

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS): This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and requires a DBS disclosure. UK registration with the HCPC is required. The employer is Oxford Health NHS Trust, The Oxford Clinic, Littlemore Mental Health Centre, Sandford Road, Oxford, OX4 4XN. For more information see the NHS Careers guidance.

Benefits and organisation

Oxford Health is a Trust providing physical, mental health and social care across multiple locations. We offer career progression opportunities, tailored learning and development, 27 days annual leave (rising to 33 with continuous service), NHS discounts, a competitive pension, cycle to work, staff assistance programme, mental health first aiders, staff accommodation (waiting lists apply), and staff networking and inclusion groups. Our vision is "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team" with values of "Caring, safe and excellent".

Job details

Date posted: 01 September 2025 • Band 7 • Salary £47,810 to £62,682 per year + Regional Secure Unit uplift • Contract: Permanent • Working pattern: Full-time, Job share, Flexible working, Home or remote working, Compressed hours, Term time hours, Annualised hours

Location: The Oxford Clinic, Littlemore Mental Health Centre, Sandford Road, Oxford, OX4 4XN