Registered Psychologist - Psychology Services - Youth Custody Services

Psychology Services for HMPPS Youth Custody Service (YCS) are currently recruiting two Senior Registered Psychologists who will be based in HMYOI Feltham (London). The role supports the whole spectrum of complex needs of boys who are remanded or sentenced to custody and works across all partner agencies with a trauma‑informed approach. Senior Psychologists will line‑manage and supervise a range of staff, including trainee psychologists, and be responsible for risk assessment, specialist reporting, research, consultancy and staff development.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct full case reviews on difficult cases and offer authoritative advice on next steps relating to sentence plan.
• Specialise in delivery of psychology services in settings such as therapeutic community wings or PIPEs.
• Lead, supervise and facilitate group sessions.
• Offer professional opinion to multi‑functional teams, producing offender reports such as risk reports or parole reports on high‑risk or vulnerable offenders.
• Develop strategies for sexual offending or indeterminate sentence assessment and intervention strategy.
• Deliver and supervise complex programmes, for example the healthy sex programme.
• Provide consultancy support to colleagues and Senior Management Team in relation to psychology services and outcomes.
• Conduct relevant research, including data gathering and analysis.
• Act as a professional witness in parole board hearings, multi‑agency meetings and other formal settings where psychology input is required; may also act as expert witness in court proceedings for the Ministry of Justice.
• Provide professional supervision to trainee forensic psychology staff.
• Provide supervision, training, mentoring and support to trainee psychologists and, where relevant, other staff such as intervention staff.
• Assist in national specialist tasks such as training on courses related to the specialist discipline.
• Provide supervision to support a trainee in developing through the key steps towards chartered and registered status, acting as a coordinating or designated supervisor.
• Ensure staff are developed in accordance with key competencies and gateways, ensuring consistency across the team in the application of policies and procedures affecting staff and offenders.
• Lead on risk assessment and risk management of complex, vulnerable or high‑risk offenders; undertake the full range of risk assessments and give feedback to the individual and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to other offender management processes (usually with more complex cases in work such as Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork assessments and self‑harm or personality disorder assessments).
• Provide consultancy to the wider team on specialist activity, visiting sites and forums to advise on complex cases.
• Act as a negotiation adviser where suitable and competence has been demonstrated.
• Manage own continued professional development (CPD) and maintain professional standards.
• Maintain HCPC registration.
• Provide psychological reports for those convicted of a life sentence under the appropriate time framework.
• Maintain relevant accreditation audit baselines as detailed in the audit document.
• Line‑manage trainee psychologists.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Professional background in Psychology.
• Experience in providing clinical supervision.
• Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practice.
• Likely to be a Chartered Psychologist and full member of the appropriate division of the BPS.
• Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and eligible to use a protected title.
• Minimum 18 months post‑registration experience at the time of application; two years required for formal appointment.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Professional background in Psychology.
• Experience in providing clinical supervision.

BENEFITS

• Annual leave calculated on a pro‑rate basis – holiday year runs from 1 March.
• 9 bank, public and privilege holidays added to annual leave allowance.
• Choice of two Civil Service pension schemes.
• Hybrid working arrangements where business needs allow.
• Training and development opportunities across the custodial estate, including equality and diversity training.

EQUALITY AND INCLUSION

The MoJ is an equal opportunities employer. All candidates will be considered on the basis of merit and are encouraged to apply irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, marital or family status, sexual orientation or belief.