Principal Clinical or Forensic Psychologist

NHS; Marston Green; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is seeking a Principal Clinical or Forensic Psychologist to lead specialized psychological services for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism. The role involves supervising junior psychologists, ensuring high-quality assessments and treatment, and providing training to clinical staff. Ideal candidates should have forensic experience, appropriate qualifications, and a passion for improving community wellbeing. Competitive salary ranging from £64,455 to £74,896 per annum pro rata, based in Marston Green, Birmingham.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Learning and development opportunities

Salary sacrifice schemes

Wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Forensic experience within an inpatient or community setting.
• Experience with autism or learning disability.
• Experience of partnership and multi-agency working.

Responsibilities

• Lead specialized psychological services for adults with learning disabilities or autism.
• Ensure high-quality psychological assessments and treatments.
• Provide training and consultation to statutory agency staff.
• Supervise junior psychologists and clinical staff.

Skills

Forensic experience

Ability to teach and train others

Ability to communicate information clearly

Ability to adapt communication

Education

Post‑graduate doctoral level training in psychology

Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist

Job description

Go back Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust

Principal Clinical or Forensic Psychologist

The closing date is 09 December 2025

We are seeking an experienced psychologist with a background in community and forensic work with adults with learning disabilities and/or autistic adults. Our service (FACTT) covers the area of Coventry and Warwickshire (which includes Rugby, Nuneaton, Coventry and Leamington) and is based at Brooklands Hospital in Marston Green, Birmingham.

Applications are welcome from staff who are currently working at Band 8a level or above.

This post is available as a 2 year fixed-term contract or secondment opportunity for internal applicants.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in leading specialist psychological services, providing clinical and professional leadership, and supporting recovery-focused outcomes for individuals across secure and community services.

Main duties of the job

This position will involve taking a lead role in the Forensic Assessment Consultation Training and Treatment (FACTT) Service for people with learning disability and/or autism, as directed by the lead psychologist.

Based on the core functions of the national specification for community forensic LD and autism services, the community forensic service is set up to provide:

• In-reach support to inpatient services to support safe and timely discharges
• Forensic risk assessment and management of risk in the community to ensure public safety and safety of the individual
• Delivery of offence specific therapeutic interventions
• Expert advice and training to other agencies, including health services, probation, police, prison service and Prevent
• Consultancy and support

The Principal Clinical or Forensic Psychologist will hold responsibility for the supervision and governance of the service and support psychological practice within the team through consultation, supervision, formulation and training. They will be expected to utilise research skills for audit, service development and research within the area served by the team/service.

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.

• 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

We're always on the lookout for people who share our passion for improving the lives and wellbeing of people in our community, as well as our values of compassion, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect.

Job responsibilities

Key priorities include:

Planning, coordinating, delivering, and evaluating highly specialist psychological services for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism who have forensic needs, including those in inpatient services.

Ensuring the systematic provision of high-quality psychological assessment and treatment for highly complex cases requiring detailed analysis, formulation, and intervention.

Providing highly specialist training and consultation to staff from a range of statutory agencies and independent providers to support service users to remain in the community.

Supervising and supporting the psychological assessment and therapy provided by junior psychologists, assistant and trainee psychologists, and other clinical staff delivering psychologically-based care.

Adhering to the lone worker policy and ensuring safe practice in line with professional guidelines.

Being responsible for the governance of psychological practice within the service.

Working autonomously within professional guidelines while providing clinical and professional leadership to psychologists, psychological therapists, and other relevant clinical staff.

Planning, organising, and contributing to the development, evaluation, and monitoring of the team's operational policies and services, including research, service evaluation, and audit, and advising management on psychological and organisational matters.

Person Specification

Experience

• Forensic experience within an inpatient or community setting
• Experience of working with autism or learning disability
• Experience of partnership & multi agency working

Knowledge & Skills

• Ability to teach and train others.
• Ability to communicate information in a clear and sensitive manner
• Ability to adapt written or verbal communication according to need

Qualifications

• Post‑graduate doctoral level training in clinical or forensic psychology [or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996 or outside the UK] as approved by the HPC.
• Professionally registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council (HPC)

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.

Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust

£64,455 to £74,896 a year per annum pro rata