Forensic Psychologists in Training

You will provide support to the Principal Psychologist and Consultant Psychologists specialist areas of work being undertaken, with an emphasis on the implementation of offending behaviour programmes and, over time, risk assessment and management, all of which contributes to the SPS aims or reducing re-offending and creating a safer Scotland.

There are 16 posts available in total with 10 positions starting in 2025, followed by a further 6 in approximately March 2026. Candidates progressing to the interview stage of the recruitment process will be asked to provide their location preferences and successful candidates will be offered assignments in order of merit, aligned to location preferences.

Responsibilities

To conduct and support the Offending Behaviour Programmes selection process. This will includecompletion of assessments to identify the needs of individual prisoners, and reporting the findings of those assessments to multi-disciplinary case conferences.

To deliver and, where appropriate, supervise, offending behaviour group work interventions.

To conduct individual assessment and/or interventions, when requested to do so by the Principal Psychologist or Consultant Psychologist.

To represent, and provide psychological input, to relevant multi-disciplinary meetings.

To manage referral systems to psychology and to provide input as part of a multi-disciplinary team to local establishments\’ prisoner care needs.

To implement and manage systems for collection and collation of information and data for psychology projects, ensuring compliance with Data Protection Legislation and SPS guidelines. Where required, to disseminate such data to relevant parties.

Person Specification

SPS recruitment and selection practice is based on the fundamentals of our Competencies for Success Framework. This identifies behaviours and standards required both of applicants seeking to join us, and our staff in their respective roles. Assessment of specific behaviours, of which there are eight, will be determined by the role you are applying for. Whilst it is unlikely you will be assessed on all of them, you will be assessed on those identified as key to role.

Qualification Requirements

Degree in Psychology conferring Graduate Basis for Registration with the British Psychological Society

MSc in Forensic Psychology accredited with the British Psychological Society (essential)

*consideration will be given to candidates that are pending graduation on the condition that evidence of certification is available at the point of the pre-employment checks*

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Requirements

Reflective Practice: Willing and able to engage in reflective practice as a Forensic Psychologist in Training, to enhance and develop towards becoming a practitioner psychologist.(essential)

Psychology Experience: Experience of working within a forensic or other relevant field of applied psychology.(essential)

Understanding of the pathway to becoming an independent practitioner psychologist: Understands the work undertaken by Forensic Psychologists in prison, and have given consideration to their plan for training as part of the British Psychological Society Qualification in Forensic Psychology (Stage 2).(essential)

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