Principal Forensic Psychologist

NHS; Stafford; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Staffordshire is seeking a Principal Forensic Psychologist to improve mental health therapies for individuals in the Criminal Justice System. The role involves supervising clinical interventions, developing innovative service pathways, and collaborating with various partner agencies. Ideal candidates will have post-graduate training in psychology and substantial experience in high-risk mental health scenarios. Great career development opportunities are available for the right individual.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Ongoing training and support

Qualifications

• Substantial experience working as a qualified psychologist with severe mental health problems.
• Communication skills with partner agencies.

Responsibilities

• Supervise assessment and treatment interventions.
• Deliver training and clinical consultation.
• Initiate project developments, including audits.
• Make decisions about treatment options.

Skills

High level skills in providing liaison and consultation

Clinical supervision

Education

Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology

Currently registered with HCPC

Additional training in psychological therapy (e.g. CBT, CAT)

Job description

Principal Forensic Psychologist

The closing date is 08 December 2025

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. If it is identified that you require sponsorship to undertake this role your application may be withdrawn

Band 8b Principal Psychologist - Primary MHTR - Fixed Term

Are you passionate about developing and evaluating an innovative treatment pathway, to improve access to mental health therapies in the community for complex individuals, who are involved with the Criminal Justice System?

Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) is seeking a highly motivated Principal Psychologist to join our Primary Care Mental Health Treatment Requirement (PC‑MHTR) Team in the Black Country and Staffordshire.

You will:

• Supervise and support the assessment, formulation and treatment interventions provided by Assistant Psychologists and other mental health practitioners in the team.
• Work closely with community mental health, probation services and NHS England commissioners.
• Implement policies and propose service developments to expand the service.
• Contribute to teaching and to the national evaluation of the service.

Main duties of the job

MAIN DUTIES: Please refer to the attached Job Description

In summary:

• Accepting clinical responsibility for service users and supervising the delivery of the interventions.
• Liaison with partner agencies.
• Deliver training and clinical consultation.
• Service development and evaluation.

We welcome interested candidates to have an informal discussion before applying to make sure this is the right post for them.

About us

Come and work with us at our award‑winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.

We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke‑on‑Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non‑clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.

We are ‘United in our Uniqueness’ and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications

Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification

In summary:

• To complete suitability decisions and reports, decide whether a recommendation for PC‑MHTR is appropriate, agree a decision to treat or decline and give reasons in writing.
• To make decisions about treatment options considering both theoretical and therapeutic models and complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual.
• Supervise the delivery of psychological interventions.
• Lead the team in implementing plans for the formal treatments of service users’ mental health problems based upon an appropriate conceptual framework and employing methods of proven efficacy in community settings.
• Communicate with partner agencies about clients treatment and keep up to date clinical records.
• Initiate project developments, including complex audit and service evaluations.
• Travel across different sites in the Midlands and provide cover (online) to other PC‑MHTR sites in the South East and/or West Midlands when your clinical lead colleagues are on leave.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

• Post‑graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology (or its equivalent), as accredited by the BPS.
• Currently registered with HCPC and eligible for chartered status with the British Psychological Society.
• Additional post‑graduate level training in at least one psychological therapy e.g. CBT, CAT.

EXPERIENCE

• Substantial experience of working as a qualified psychologist with people with severe and enduring mental health problems who present a serious risk of harm to others.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES

• High level skills in providing liaison, consultation and clinical supervision to professional and non‑professional colleagues in health and non‑health settings.

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.

Address

Remote working with some expectation to commute to Probation premises within the Black Country and Staffordshire.