Principal Psychologist

The Methodist Church in Britain; Wellingborough; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts on shopping and leisure

Professional development support

Regional and national career growth

Bespoke induction (Introducing Health)

Learning Management System access

Competency framework

Employee assistance helpline

Financial assistance

Job summary

HMP Five Wells is seeking a Principal Psychologist to lead the integrated mental healthcare team. You will oversee clinical leadership, deliver specialist assessments and supervise junior staff, with a focus on trauma-informed practice in a high-security setting.

The role involves training across healthcare and prison teams, contributing to audits and research, and coordinating care handovers for transfers and releases. A HCPC registration and postgraduate therapy training are required.

Qualifications

• HCPC registration as a practitioner psychologist.
• Postgraduate training in at least one psychological therapy for severe and long-standing mental health difficulties.
• Training in at least one trauma-specific intervention.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership to the mental health team and contribute to psychological therapies service development.
• Carry out specialist psychological assessments and complex multidisciplinary formulations.
• Lead and deliver individual and group psychological interventions, including the Making Sense programme.
• Make specialist clinical decisions on patient care and treatment options, including structured and dynamic risk assessment.
• Provide trauma-informed consultation to multidisciplinary colleagues and attend ACCT, segregation and risk management reviews.
• Deliver training and clinical supervision to healthcare and prison staff and junior psychology colleagues.
• Plan and supervise undergraduate and trainee psychologists on placement.
• Lead audit, service evaluation and research projects and prepare findings for presentation and publication.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and keep the PTS dashboard updated with outcomes data.
• Work with Offender Management, Probation and external stakeholders, including regional quality review.
• Contribute to policy development, governance meetings and recruitment shortlisting and interviews.
• Plan psychological care handover for patients transferring to other prisons or released into the community

Skills

trauma-informed practice

critical appraisal

clinical judgment

Education

Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologist

Postgraduate therapy training

Trauma-focused intervention training

Job description

This Principal Psychologist post sits within the integrated mental healthcare team at HMP Five Wells, a category C prison of around 1,800 patients. The work centres on clinical leadership, specialist psychological assessment and leading one-to-one and group interventions, all delivered through a trauma-informed approach. Working four days a week, including Wednesdays, the role involves supervising junior staff, delivering training across healthcare and prison teams and contributing to audit and research. Candidates need HCPC registration as a practitioner psychologist and postgraduate training in at least one psychological therapy.

What the job involves

• Provide clinical leadership to the mental health team and contribute to psychological therapies service development
• Carry out specialist psychological assessments and complex multidisciplinary formulations
• Lead and deliver individual and group psychological interventions, including the Making Sense programme
• Make specialist clinical decisions on patient care and treatment options, including structured and dynamic risk assessment
• Provide trauma-informed consultation to multidisciplinary colleagues and attend ACCT, segregation and risk management reviews
• Deliver training and clinical supervision to healthcare and prison staff and junior psychology colleagues
• Plan and supervise undergraduate and trainee psychologists on placement
• Lead audit, service evaluation and research projects and prepare findings for presentation and publication
• Maintain accurate clinical records and keep the PTS dashboard updated with outcomes data
• Work with Offender Management, Probation and external stakeholders, including regional quality review
• Contribute to policy development, governance meetings and recruitment shortlisting and interviews
• Plan psychological care handover for patients transferring to other prisons or released into the community

Qualifications

• Qualified clinical, counselling or forensic psychologist
• Postgraduate training in at least one psychological therapy for severe and long-standing mental health difficulties (eg CBT, CAT, DBT, schema therapy)
• Training in at least one trauma-specific intervention

Registration & licences

• HCPC registration as a practitioner psychologist

Skills & knowledge

• Familiarity with trauma-informed practice
• Critical awareness of psychological models applicable to delivering psychological approaches in remand prisons
• Working knowledge of current good practice, recent government health policy and professional guidelines

Checks & eligibility

• Legal right to work in the UK
• Additional vetting and security checks

What’s offered

• Discounts on shopping and leisure activities
• Support to grow in role and continue professional development
• Regional and national career development opportunities
• Bespoke induction, including the Introducing Health in Justice course
• Access to a bespoke Learning Management System
• Competency framework
• 24/7 employee assistance helpline
• Financial assistance