Registered Practitioner Psychologist

Ministry of Justice; Nuthall CP; Hybrid; GBP 71,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

A government organization is looking for a Principal Psychologist to join their Senior Leadership Team. In this pivotal role, you will shape evidence-based services for women in the criminal justice system and drive strategic initiatives. The ideal candidate will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with extensive experience in delivering psychological services and strong leadership capabilities. This full-time position offers hybrid working arrangements and a competitive salary range of £71,027 – £78,129 based on experience and location.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Pension options

Training opportunities

Childcare vouchers

Qualifications

• Registered Practitioner Psychologist with over two years' experience.
• Experience delivering psychological services through a managed team.
• Chartered Psychologist if the post requires it.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and leadership for psychological services.
• Assist in the development of policies and strategies.
• Empower local teams and drive service development.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Decision Making

Education

Registered Practitioner Psychologist

Chartered Psychologist

Job description

About the Role

Women's Estate Psychology Services (WEPS) is seeking a dynamic Principal Psychologist to join our Senior Leadership Team. This is a pivotal role within a service that delivers core forensic psychology alongside a wide range of safety-focused initiatives across the women's prison estate. As a key member of our experienced and passionate leadership team, you will provide strategic direction, drive service development, and offer expert guidance to individual sites. Your leadership will empower local teams within your cohort, fostering innovation and excellence in psychological practice.

Working within WEPS and the wider Women’s Group, you will play a vital role in shaping gender-responsive, evidence-based services for women in the criminal justice system, including contributing to the development and review of policies and strategies across HMPPS, ensuring our work reflects best practice and meets the unique needs of women.

Working Arrangements

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and/or from home. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre‑employment checks.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS' Flexible Working policy. If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff. The loan/secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Key Competencies

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods: CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability, Specific membership requirements.

Qualifications and Experience

• The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title.
• They are likely to also be a Chartered Psychologist with Full member of the appropriate division of the BPS if the post requires it.
• They will have experience of delivering psychological services directly, and through a managed team.
• They will have been registered for over two years.

Specific licence requirements: The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title.

Specific language requirements: Written and Spoken English. Evidence of experience via CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability.

Salary and Benefits

National salary range: £71,027 – £78,129. London salary range: £74,041 – £81,444. Your salary will be dependent on your base location.

Working Pattern: Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working.

Vacation: Vacancy Approach External, Annual Leave – The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non‑standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro‑rated basis. If you were appointed internally and leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays: You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes). These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. A requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and operational needs.

Pension: The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes.

Work life balance: HMPPS encourages alternative working arrangements to support staff. Flexible working is subject to a satisfactory probationary period.

Other benefits: Season ticket advance, childcare vouchers, training opportunities in Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti‑Bullying programmes.

Eligibility and Security Checks

All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post. All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS. All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which HMPPS considers to be racist.

Complaints and Redress Process

• To Transformative Business Services – 0345 241 5358 (Mon–Fri 8am–6pm) or email [e-mail]
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing Team – [e-mail]
• To the Civil Service Commission – details available here

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ is committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. You will be able to request reasonable adjustments during the application process. For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long‑term condition, please watch our animated videos.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Veterans: MoJ offers a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs.

Redeployment Interview Scheme: Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. MoJ is committed to providing opportunities to those who are at risk of redundancy.