Specialist Clinical/Counselling Forensic Psychologist

NHS; Worcester; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare provider is seeking a full-time Clinical/Counselling Forensic Psychologist to work in Worcestershire. The successful candidate will conduct assessments, provide therapy, and contribute to developing a new forensic support service. Applicants should have over 4 years of experience as a qualified psychologist and a doctorate in psychology. This role offers a chance to make significant contributions in rehabilitating patients with complex needs. Flexible working options and generous NHS benefits are also available.

Benefits

27 days leave plus bank holidays

Generous NHS pension

Flexible working opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years' experience as a Clinical/Counselling Psychologist.
• Training in psychological knowledge applicable to mental health.
• Experience conducting clinically relevant research.

Responsibilities

• Conduct specialist assessments and therapy for patient rehabilitation.
• Engage in clinical audits and quality improvement initiatives.
• Supervise other psychological professionals.

Skills

Effective communication skills

Psychological assessment skills

Therapeutic relationship development

Ability to supervise others

Education

BSc/BA Honours degree in Psychology

Post-graduate Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology

Eligible for registration as a Chartered Psychologist

Job description

Job Summary

We are excited to be recruiting a full time (37.5 hrs) Clinical/Counselling Forensic Psychologist who is passionate about working with patients with complex presentations, for our recently developed Forensic Support Service (FSS). Supported by the Reach Out Provider Collaborative, the specialist FSS will be based across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, improving the interface between specialised services and community services, enhancing the efficiency of transitions of care for patients with significant risk histories, improving patient flow through the whole care pathway.

The aim of the service is to contribute to the successful transition of forensic patients out of secure inpatient services and support their continued recovery and risk management in the community. This is an exciting opportunity, for an experienced psychologist, to help shape and develop the service from its very beginnings.

The service runs Monday-Friday 09:00 17:00hr and the ability to travel across both counties is essential to this post.

Interviews are scheduled for 25th November 2025.

Main duties of the job

The role will include conducting specialist assessments, 1:1 and group therapy and clinical/risk formulation to support patient rehabilitation, as well as offering advice and consultation to reduce the likelihood of escalation of risks and prevent avoidable (re)admissions, as well as

Contributing to the MDT forensic consultation process.

Engaging in clinical audit and quality improvement initiatives.

Contributing to training in relation to psychological concepts, interventions and tools etc.

Clinically supervise other psychological professionals in other teams.

Autonomous working is required in the development of the role and the successful candidate will be required to build strong working relationships with colleagues from a broad range of forensic, acute and community disciplines, both within and externally to the Trust, to understand service needs and support the development of the new service. Use of evaluation and quality improvement methodologies will be an important part of service development and monitoring of outcomes.

About us

At Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, we are working together to deliver outstanding care. We run community hospitals and community health services across Worcestershire and provide mental health and learning disability services across both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Our people (all 4500+ of them) provide services for people of all ages, experiencing both physical and/or mental health conditions from over 100 sites.

We will support you to thrive; offer flexible working options for a great work-life balance, help you fulfil your ambitions, and empower you to make positive changes within your team or service. We value diversity and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities.

What we offer;

• 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
• Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when you work unsocial hours
• Flexible and agile working opportunities
• Great maternity, paternity, and adoption support
• Wide range of supportive staff networks
• Health and wellbeing opportunities

If you would like to know more, please visit our website.

We encourage you to read the attached applicant guidance notes.

Sharing your data - As a data controller we may sometimes need to process your data to pursue our legitimate business interests, for example to request a survey from you (optional), to support the Trusts understanding of where you gained interest in working for the Trust.

Job description Job responsibilities

Behave consistently with the values and beliefs of the organisation and promote these on a day-to-day basis.

Act as a role model to colleagues, always seeking to maintain the highest standards of professionalism.

Use their initiative and take responsibility for themselves, the quality of their work and the service they provide to patients.

Be responsible and accountable for ensuring the development and delivery of a highly specialist psychology service.

Ensure that psychological services are based on best clinical and professional practice, in accordance with the objectives of the Trust and the Service Delivery Unit and/or Specialty.

Hold a specialist caseload of patients who have offended, are in danger of offending, or who are victims of criminal offending, as well as offering generic psychological interventions to Community services in agreed localities.

In collaboration with the Service Lead for Psychological Interventions and with the specialty lead, develop and support the implementation of psychological interventions and psychologically informed practice within the wider service.

For full details of the duties and criteria for the role please refer to the job description and person specification attached.

Person Specification

Experience Essential

• Experience required specific to the role and clinical area
• A minimum of 4 years of experience working as a qualified Clinical/Counselling Psychologist within the relevant area
• Experience of leading in relation to the development and organisation of psychological interventions within a given clinical area
• Sufficient training and experience to be recognised by the Division of Clinical/Counselling
• Psychology as a suitably qualified psychologist to offer clinical placements to trainee Clinical/Counselling Psychologists
• Training and experience in the application of psychological knowledge across range of mental health presentations, including organic illness, functional mental health, and physical health
• Experience of assessing and providing a wide range of psychological interventions to patients presenting with the full degree of clinical severity and across a range of clinical mental health presentations across the life span and care settings
• Experience of multi-agency/ multidisciplinary working
• Therapeutic expertise in working with carers/families/couples
• Experience of conducting clinically relevant research

Desirable

• Experience of strategic planning and service development
• Experience of teaching and training psychologists on a Clinical/Counselling Psychology doctorate training course
• Training and experience in specialist area of working within the clinical area

Additional Criteria Essential

• Able to meet the travel requirements of the post

Desirable

• Previous publications in either peer reviewed academic or professional journal and/or books

Qualifications Essential

• BSc/BA Honours degree at 2:1 or above in Psychology
• Post-graduate Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)
• Or Doctorate in Forensic Psychology (as accredited by the BPS)
• Or MSc in Forensic Psychology plus Stage 2 qualification in Forensic Psychology (as accredited by the BPS)
• Post qualification training/ experience in specific, evidence-based techniques for use with clients with complex psychological presentations, physical health and/or forensic needs, across the age span
• Evidence of regular further professional training and experience as required by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the BPS
• Eligible for registration as a Chartered Psychologist (Clinical or Counselling or Forensic) by the BPS
• Eligible for registration as a Practitioner member of the BPS Division of Clinical/Counselling Psychology
• Registered with HCPC as a Clinical/Counselling/Forensic Psychologist
• I understand that I will be asked to provide original certificates to verify my qualifications at point of offer.

Desirable

• Related academic qualifications to masters or doctorate level

Knowledge Essential

• Knowledge required specific to the role and clinical area
• Advanced theoretical and applied knowledge of psychological approaches for people with psychological problems including specialised psychological assessments and interventions for patients with complex psychological presentations and physical health and forensic conditions
• Well-developed psychometric assessment skills
• Doctoral level knowledge of research design and methodology, including complex multivariate data analysis, as practiced within the field of Clinical/Counselling Psychology

Skills & Abilities Essential

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English in both verbal and written formats
• Highly developed and effective communication skills, both oral and written, including ability to communicate complex, highly personal and sensitive information
• Advanced ability to develop and maintain a therapeutic relationship, appropriately
• Able to communicate effectively within the team and build good sound working relationships
• Good presentation and teaching skills; able to use multi-media materials for both formal large group situations and small informal settings
• Ability to use IT equipment including literature searches, data bases, patient information systems
• Able to project-manage changes in relation to clinical practice and/or governance and operational issues
• Able to prioritise own work and deal with competing demands to work effectively, within a highly stressed work environment
• Committed to promote patients right, independence and choice e.g., through informed consent for interventions

Desirable

• Able to manage change through influence, persuasion and good interpersonal relationships
• Able to think strategically; to consider the wider picture for developing specialist services long term and planning developments, which may impact across services

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer name: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Address: Studdert Kennedy House, Spring Gardens, Worcester, WR1 2AE