Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist

Job summary

The Young Adult (YA) Project at HMP Bronzefield is an exciting and unique pilot project that has been set up in recognition of the increased levels of self-harm and violence amongst 18-25yr old women in custody. The project is one of two pilot projects in the UK that aims to deliver an enhanced level of support to this vulnerable group of YA's who typically present with complex and broad ranging needs. The service is underpinned by a partnership between CNWL, Sodexo, and the Women's Estate Psychology Service, and it is shaped by trauma-informed principles, and recognises the pivotal importance of relational security and co-production. The clinical model adopts a holistic approach to assessment and care planning, and there is scope for ongoing development and flexibility in terms of service provision.

Main duties of the job

To provide specialist psychological assessments to young adults in HMP Bronzefield based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with young adults and others involved in the young adult's care.

To develop individual psychological formulations and lead on team formulations. To develop and utilise a range of psychological interventions to support the team and prison in their understanding and management of the young adults.

To formulate and implement plans for the psychological treatment and/or management of a young adults mental health and behavioural presentation, taking into account an appropriate conceptual framework of the patient's problems, theoretical and therapeutic models and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy. Interventions provided to include individual and group based modes of delivery depending on need.

To work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team consisting of both clinical and non clinical professionals to ensure service delivery is informed by psychological understanding of young adults strengths and needs.

About us

We're passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient's own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.Providingtop quality caredepends on our ability to employ the best people.We're always looking torecruit outstanding peoplewho will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we're hoping to find our future leaders and we'll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.With adiverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more - whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

Details

Date posted

09 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,888 to £64,880 a year per annum (pro rata, incl of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

333-D-HJ-1854

Job locations

HMP Bronzefield

HMP Bronzefield

Ashford, Surrey

TW15 3JZ

Job description

Job responsibilities

To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in psychology/psychological therapy across the service, by continuing to develop the skills of a reflexive and reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the fields of psychology and related disciplines.

To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping, including electronic data entry and recording, and report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance, in accordance with professional codes of practice of the relevant professional body and Trust policies and procedures.

To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific patient group and mental health.

To ensure that all aspects of professional activity (e.g. communication with patients, relatives, colleagues as well as in the assessment, development/delivery of interventions) issues of diversity such as race, culture, identity, gender and sexuality are sensitively considered and incorporated to reflect individual differences appropriately.

To ensure that service users are appropriately consulted about relevant aspects of their care and are empowered to express their views in a responsive environment enabling such views to be assimilated / incorporated into continued service development and improvement.

To communicate with other counselling providers within the prison to ensure robust referral pathways and appropriate division of cases.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in psychology/psychological therapy across the service, by continuing to develop the skills of a reflexive and reflective scientist practitioner, taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current developments in the fields of psychology and related disciplines.

To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping, including electronic data entry and recording, and report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance, in accordance with professional codes of practice of the relevant professional body and Trust policies and procedures.

To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific patient group and mental health.

To ensure that all aspects of professional activity (e.g. communication with patients, relatives, colleagues as well as in the assessment, development/delivery of interventions) issues of diversity such as race, culture, identity, gender and sexuality are sensitively considered and incorporated to reflect individual differences appropriately.

To ensure that service users are appropriately consulted about relevant aspects of their care and are empowered to express their views in a responsive environment enabling such views to be assimilated / incorporated into continued service development and improvement.

To communicate with other counselling providers within the prison to ensure robust referral pathways and appropriate division of cases.

Person Specification

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Doctoral level training in clinical, counselling or forensic psychology or its equivalent, accredited by the BPS. Training in models of developmental lifespan psychology, psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology and two or more distinct psychological therapies. oHCPC Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist. OR oA recognised post graduate qualification in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (or equivalent). oAccreditation with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP) (via having a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions e.g. nursing, psychology, medicine, social work, occupational therapy or evidence of having achieved the Knowledge Skills and Attitudes (KSA) route) OR oA recorded/registered qualification in counselling or psychotherapy and further post accreditation qualification in a nice recommended or evidence-based therapy (e.g. CBT; EMDR) oAccreditation with a Professional Standards Authority recognised Accreditation Body. oEvidence of post-qualification specialist training, experience and developing expertise in a specialist area of clinical practice relevant to this role.
• Evidence of post-qualification specialist training, experience and developing expertise in a specialist area of clinical practice relevant to this role

Desirable

• Other relevant CPD qualifications, pre- or post-training. Especially training in working with people with trauma and/or neurodiverse presentations, research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES

Essential

• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
• Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
• Possesses range of clinical knowledge, skills & information technology expertise relevant to post.
• Can demonstrate competence in supervision of junior qualified psychology and MDT staff and professional psychology trainees.
• Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
• Broad knowledge of models of assessment, management, and treatment of offenders with mental health difficulties and personality disorders.
• Ability to work intensively with people who present challenges in the complexity of their problems and needs, including sexual and violent offending and self-harming and suicidal behaviours
• High level of ability to plan and organise clinical service provision to meet service demands, and to maintain high quality professional practice
• Evidence of continual development of specialist knowledge and skills through engaging in relevant study and Continuing Professional Development relevant to the forensic population
• Excellent IT skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult-to-treat groups (e.g. people with additional disabilities).
• Can apply psychological knowledge creatively in developing new initiatives.
• Ability to write reports for varied audiences, including courts and purchasers of services.
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.

ATTITUDES, APTITUDES PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Team player
• Appreciation of the interface between our personal and professional lives, high level of self awareness and knowledge of principles of self care.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Demonstrate specialist experience gained post-qualification of working as an applied psychologist with evidence of having received a substantial amount of clinical supervision (normally in the region of approximately 50 hours)
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
• Experience of representing psychology within context of multidisciplinary care
• Experience of the application of applied psychology in different cultural contexts and experience of working within a multicultural framework.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision. Experience or demonstrable knowledge of working with the particular client group served by the team/service
• Knowledge of guidance and legislation in relation to the client group and mental health
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnosis, people with additional disabilities etc)
• High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies
• Formal Training in Supervision of other psychologists

Desirable

• Experience of working in secure environments and/or forensic mental health
• Experience of using a trauma informed approach with young adults with complex ranging needs
• High level knowledge and skills in neuropsychology and evidence of further practice and/or training since qualification
• Experience in carrying out research and/or service evaluation in secure settings

OTHER

Essential

• Ability to work in a secure environment. Must be able to obtain and maintain prison security clearance and work in accordance with HMPS and Sodexo policies and procedures.
• The post holder must have the ability to understand and implement the equal opportunities policy at a level appropriate to the job
• Ability to promote anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practices

Person Specification

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Doctoral level training in clinical, counselling or forensic psychology or its equivalent, accredited by the BPS. Training in models of developmental lifespan psychology, psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology and two or more distinct psychological therapies. oHCPC Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist. OR oA recognised post graduate qualification in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy (or equivalent). oAccreditation with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (BABCP) (via having a recognised qualification in one of the core mental health professions e.g. nursing, psychology, medicine, social work, occupational therapy or evidence of having achieved the Knowledge Skills and Attitudes (KSA) route) OR oA recorded/registered qualification in counselling or psychotherapy and further post accreditation qualification in a nice recommended or evidence-based therapy (e.g. CBT; EMDR) oAccreditation with a Professional Standards Authority recognised Accreditation Body. oEvidence of post-qualification specialist training, experience and developing expertise in a specialist area of clinical practice relevant to this role.
• Evidence of post-qualification specialist training, experience and developing expertise in a specialist area of clinical practice relevant to this role

Desirable

• Other relevant CPD qualifications, pre- or post-training. Especially training in working with people with trauma and/or neurodiverse presentations, research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES

Essential

• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
• Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
• Possesses range of clinical knowledge, skills & information technology expertise relevant to post.
• Can demonstrate competence in supervision of junior qualified psychology and MDT staff and professional psychology trainees.
• Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
• Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour.
• Broad knowledge of models of assessment, management, and treatment of offenders with mental health difficulties and personality disorders.
• Ability to work intensively with people who present challenges in the complexity of their problems and needs, including sexual and violent offending and self-harming and suicidal behaviours
• High level of ability to plan and organise clinical service provision to meet service demands, and to maintain high quality professional practice
• Evidence of continual development of specialist knowledge and skills through engaging in relevant study and Continuing Professional Development relevant to the forensic population
• Excellent IT skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult-to-treat groups (e.g. people with additional disabilities).
• Can apply psychological knowledge creatively in developing new initiatives.
• Ability to write reports for varied audiences, including courts and purchasers of services.
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.

ATTITUDES, APTITUDES PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Team player
• Appreciation of the interface between our personal and professional lives, high level of self awareness and knowledge of principles of self care.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Demonstrate specialist experience gained post-qualification of working as an applied psychologist with evidence of having received a substantial amount of clinical supervision (normally in the region of approximately 50 hours)
• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
• Experience of representing psychology within context of multidisciplinary care
• Experience of the application of applied psychology in different cultural contexts and experience of working within a multicultural framework.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision. Experience or demonstrable knowledge of working with the particular client group served by the team/service
• Knowledge of guidance and legislation in relation to the client group and mental health
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnosis, people with additional disabilities etc)
• High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies
• Formal Training in Supervision of other psychologists

Desirable

• Experience of working in secure environments and/or forensic mental health
• Experience of using a trauma informed approach with young adults with complex ranging needs
• High level knowledge and skills in neuropsychology and evidence of further practice and/or training since qualification
• Experience in carrying out research and/or service evaluation in secure settings

OTHER

Essential

• Ability to work in a secure environment. Must be able to obtain and maintain prison security clearance and work in accordance with HMPS and Sodexo policies and procedures.
• The post holder must have the ability to understand and implement the equal opportunities policy at a level appropriate to the job
• Ability to promote anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practices

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).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (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).

Additional information

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).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (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 details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

HMP Bronzefield

HMP Bronzefield

Ashford, Surrey

TW15 3JZ

Employer's website

https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

HMP Bronzefield

HMP Bronzefield

Ashford, Surrey

TW15 3JZ

Employer's website

https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work (Opens in a new tab)