Job summary
We are seeking a passionate Clinical, Forensic or Counselling Psychologist to join the inpatient team at West London Forensic Service (WLFS). The post is 1.0 WTE for 1-year fixed term and will be based on a male low secure complex rehabilitation ward. It can be appointed at Band 7 or Band 8a depending on experience and with responsibilities adjusted accordingly. For Band 7, this will be a preceptorship towards an 8a role.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the provision of a highly developed and comprehensive specialist psychology service to culturally diverse service-users with enduring mental health difficulties and offending histories.

We provide a comprehensive induction and ongoing training and development, with opportunities to develop specialist skills and receive specialist supervision (e.g. EMDR and schema therapy), in addition to regular supervision. There are excellent staff benefits including a generous annual leave allowance and an on site gym (with membership at just £10 per month).

Main duties of the job
You will be responsible for providing a high quality psychology service on a low secure complex rehabilitation ward. As a core member of the MDT, you will be responsible for developing and implementing psychologically informed treatments for male service users who present with enduring mental disorders (both mental illness and personality disorder) and an offending history. As such you will be able to utilise varied skills in assessment, formulation and evidence-based intervention, tailored to individual needs.

As well as individual ward-based work, you will contribute to the cross-ward group therapy programme. You will also advise on risk assessment and risk management, and support psychological practice within the team through consultation and training.

In addition to direct clinical work, the role may involve staff supervision, service development and audit, and collaborative working within the psychological therapies department. There are also opportunities for research within WLFS.

About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Qualifications

Essential

• Good honours degree in Psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of BPS.

• Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996 or those in lateral transfer), Forensic Psychology, or Counselling Psychology, as accredited by the BPS

• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council

Desirable

• Other related academic qualifications

• Training in clinical supervision for Doctoral, and equivalent, trainees

• Evidence of post-doctoral training in psychological therapy techniques

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working as a qualified (specialist) psychologist for a minimum of one year in a forensic clinical setting or equivalent (or some experience of working clinically in a forensic service or similar if applying for a Band 7 preceptorship)

• Experience of providing specialist psychological assessments (including risk assessment and management), therapies, and psychological advice and consultation to others involved in service user care.

• Experience of administering, scoring and interpreting formal personality tools and/or neuropsychological assessments

Desirable

• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.

• Experience of having facilitated/co-facilitated psychological therapy groups

• Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts.

Knowledge

Essential

• Advanced specialist knowledge, both theoretical and practical, of psychology applied to forensic clinical practice

• Completion of at least 1 year's supervised practice in specialist forensic clinical practice (or approximately 6 months for Band 7)

• Knowledge of relevant legislation and its implications for work with mentally disordered offenders

Desirable

• Specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of the assessment and treatment of personality disorder and mental illness

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