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Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Whatton-in-the-Vale; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a Clinical/Forensic/Counselling Psychologist to join the ACORN Service at HMP Whatton. The role focuses on trauma-informed therapies for individuals with personality difficulties linked to offending history, operating within the OPD pathway and in partnership with NHS and prison colleagues.

The post involves assessments, 1:1 therapy, and group work, with supervision and consultation to the team and close collaboration with

Qualifications

• HCPC registration or eligibility required.
• Experience with personality disorders and offender pathways.
• Experience in group and individual therapy.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychological assessments and contribute to formulation.
• Co-deliver group and one-to-one therapies within ACORN.
• Provide supervision and consultation to the team.
• Collaborate with prison partners and clinical lead to develop services.

Skills

Clinical Psychology

Forensic Psychology

Counselling skills

Education

HCPC registration or eligible

Job description

Clinical/Forensic/Counselling Psychologist 7/8a ACORN service

Company:

Company: Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

A Vacancy at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Clinical / Forensic / Counselling Psychologist within Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as part of the ACORN Service at HMP Whatton. This is a specialist treatment service for individuals with personality difficulties and a history of sexual offending. The service is part of the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway and is jointly delivered by NHS and Prison partners.

We are committed to working in partnership with His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), both with Prison and Probation colleagues; this service is a joint enterprise so relies on collaborative working. We also work in partnership with other healthcare providers and our criminal justice system partners to improve health, support justice and reduce re-offending behaviour. The ACORN service forms part of a wider network of OPD pathway services delivered by Nottinghamshire Healthcare as part of the Specialist Service Care Unit across HMP North Sea Camp, HMP Gartree and community services in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

We welcome applications from newly qualified Psychologists or those imminently eligible for HCPC registration as part of a preceptorship role.

The ACORN service is a comprehensive specialist service offering a range of therapeutic interventions at HMP Whatton to individuals with problematic personality traits which are linked to difficulties with progression or risk. The non-residential service offers a suite of psychological therapies including Schema Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitiation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (RO-DBT), and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) within tiered phases, alongside a newly developed Occupational Therapy pathway. Therapies, including socially creative sessions, psychoeducation and both group and 1:1 therapy are provided with an emphasis upon the importance of relationships and the environmental setting.

The successful post holder will work as part of a team approach to the assessment and treatment of individuals referred to the service. The post holder will undertake assessments and co-deliver psychologically informed groups, alongside offering 1:1 therapy, supervision and consultation to the team and wider prison. The post holder will work closely with prison partners and the clinical lead to develop, innovate and deliver the service.

#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.

We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.

We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.

The health and wellbeing of colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.

The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment.

The post holder will work as part of a team to provide comprehensive trauma informed therapies to individuals with a history of sexual offending and difficulties arising from trauma and problematic personality traits.

The post holder will provide specialist psychological assessments and develop collaborative formulations to inform treatment pathways.

The post holder will deliver a range of therapies as indicated by the need and risk understood in the formulation on a 1:1 or group basis.

The post holder will contribute to multi-disciplinary team discussions and decision making processes.

The post holder will be responsible for engaging with their own supervision and reflective practice and to support team members in offering supervision and reflective practice.

The post holder will support the Clinical Lead to work in partnership with our prison partners. They will also work collaboratively to support the development of awareness and psychologically informed working practices and culture within the prison environment.

The post holder will work with the Clinical Lead and Consultant Clinical Psychologist to support the development of the ACORN service and support the local OPD pathway services.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.

“Please be advised Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has made the difficult decision to serve notice on its offender health contracts. Over the coming months, we will be working with NHS England on the transition of the services to Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust as the new provider. We still need to recruit to these valued positions and welcome your application. But, in line with our values, honesty is important, so please note that if you are successful that in time your recruitment and/or employment would move from Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, who would then be your new employer.”

This advert closes on Monday 31 Aug 2026

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust