Principal Clinical/ Counselling/ Forensic Psychologist

Northamptonshire Healthcare Nhs Foundation Trust; Bedford; On-site; GBP 67,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Living wage employer

Job summary

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) invites applications for a Consultant/Principal Psychologist role based at HMP Bedford. The post offers the chance to deliver high‑quality, psychologically informed care within a multidisciplinary team and to contribute to service development in a challenging prison environment.

Essential qualifications include Doctorate and current UK registration as a psychologist.

Qualifications

• Doctorate and UK registration as a psychologist.
• Specialist therapy experience is desirable.
• Essential experience includes qualified experience in psychology.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high‑quality psychological care and support for residents at HMP Bedford.
• Contribute to service development and embed psychologically informed practice.
• Maintain a small clinical caseload and provide supervision and consultation to colleagues.
• Support psychological formulation of complex presentations and develop care across the wider system.

Education

Doctorate and registered psychologist

Job description

Job summary

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) is a well-established provider of healthcare services across prisons in Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

This role is based at HMP Bedford, a local Category B remand prison for men aged 18 and over.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated psychologist who is confident working independently while also contributing as part of a large, integrated multidisciplinary healthcare team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about making a meaningful impact within a challenging and rewarding environment.

Prison healthcare plays a vital role in ensuring people in custody have access to healthcare that is equivalent to that available in the community. The role offers a unique opportunity to improve outcomes for a vulnerable population who may previously have experienced significant barriers to accessing effective healthcare and psychological support.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will work closely with the Mental Health Lead, Head of Healthcare, and Consultant Psychologist for Secured Services to deliver high-quality psychological care and support for residents at HMP Bedford.

Alongside senior colleagues, the postholder will contribute to service development initiatives, with a particular focus on continuing to embed and enhance psychologically informed practice across the healthcare department.

The role includes maintaining a small clinical caseload, providing supervision and consultation to colleagues, and supporting the psychological formulation of complex presentations. We are therefore keen to recruit a psychologist with substantial experience and specialist knowledge in working with severe and enduring mental health difficulties, including complex trauma, personality difficulties, and neurodivergence. The successful candidate will be committed to developing psychologically informed approaches that enhance care across the wider healthcare system.

About us

NHFT is an NHS Community and Mental Health Foundation Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in hospital settings and in the community. We provide over 200 services across the county - as well as some specialist services in bordering and nearby counties. We work together with our partners to ensure that everyone who comes through our doors receives compassionate, person-centred care, regardless of their background or circumstances.

NHFT promotes a culture of learning, to improve the care and safety of our patients and colleagues. We have achieved our 'outstanding' rating by encouraging opportunity, innovation, development and growth across our workforce.

At NHFT we believe that work should be rewarded in every sense which is why we are proud to an accredited living wage employer.

We aim to support financial wellbeing and create an environment where are people feel valued and able to thrive.

Details

Date posted: 16 October 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 8b

Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year pa, pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time

Reference number: 270-TH447-HMPBED

Essential qualifications

• Doctorate and registered psychologist

Desirable qualifications

• Specialist therapy

Essential experience

• Qualified experience

Desirable experience

• Prison Experience

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).

Employer details

Employer name: Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address: HMP Bedford, St Loyes Street, Bedford, MK40 1HG, United Kingdom

Employer's website: https://www.nhft.nhs.uk/

Contact

Consultant Counselling Psychologist, Dr Sunil Lad, [e-mail], 07768803884