Head of Psychological Services in London

HMP Thameside - London

£73,838 per annum, plus company car, company bonus and private medical cover, & London weighting

Permanent 40 hours per week Monday - Friday - flexible working

Lead the Future of Psychological Services at HMP Thameside

Are you ready to make a profound impact on rehabilitation and safer custody? We’re seeking a Head of Psychological Services to take the helm of our Psychological Services Department and shape the strategic direction of psychological care within HMP Thameside. This is more than a leadership role—it’s an opportunity to influence culture, drive innovation, and ensure the highest standards of practice in line with BPS and HCPC codes.

As a key member of the Senior Management Team, you’ll provide expert oversight of risk assessment, intervention, and violence reduction strategies, while guiding the development of a rehabilitative environment. You’ll work with complex cases, lead clinical decision-making for parole reports, and deliver consultancy, research, and training that truly makes a difference.

This role offers an unparalleled opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives. Every day, you’ll see the impact of your expertise—helping individuals navigate complex psychological challenges, reducing harm, and supporting their journey toward rehabilitation. Beyond the clinical work, you’ll shape the culture of the prison, lead a dedicated team, and influence strategies that promote safer custody and positive change. It’s a role where your leadership and knowledge don’t just transform services—they transform futures. If you’re passionate about meaningful work that combines challenge, purpose, and the chance to leave a lasting legacy, this is where you’ll find it.

If you’re passionate about reducing harm and reoffending through evidence-based psychological practice, this is your chance to lead, inspire, and transform lives.

Main Accountabilities

• Provide strategic leadership and development of Psychological Services at HMP Thameside, including line management of the department.
• Lead on complex risk assessments, risk management plans, and psychological input for high-risk or vulnerable prisoners.
• Review cases, advise on parole directions, and act as a professional witness in hearings and multi-agency meetings.
• Contribute to rehabilitative culture strategies, safer custody initiatives, and young offender approaches.
• Offer expert consultancy to senior management and multidisciplinary teams on psychology services, trauma-informed practice, and evidence-based interventions.
• Deliver professional supervision for Forensic Psychologists in Training and support their progression toward chartered status.
• Conduct research, data analysis, and present findings to inform practice and policy.
• Ensure compliance with HCPC and BPS standards, maintain CPD, and uphold professional registration.
• Provide timely psychological reports and input across the prison regime.

Essential

• Able to achieve SC Clearance and enhanced vetting
• Chartered with the BPS
• Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC
• Significant experience post-qualification - highly desirable within a prison environment
• Previous experience of managing people or leading a team

Desirable

• PCL-r certification
• Experience of Offending Behaviour Programmes.
• Experience of supervising FPiTs
• On the Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors (RAPPS) with BPS.
• Experience of conducting a range of psychological assessments including PCL-r, WAIS, SARA, HCR20, SRA, RSVP
• Experience of writing Parole Reports

What We Offer

• Company car
• Company bonus
• Private Medical cover.
• Salary: Competitive salaries with annual reviews
• Pension: Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Holidays: 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
• Training and development: We offer a wide range of learning opportunities with over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships, mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
• Wellbeing: 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, BUPA Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, Simplyhealth cash plans to claim back money towards healthcare costs, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres
• Discounts: Save across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
• Employee networks: Dedicated networks where colleagues can come together to find support, share challenges, discuss ideas, network and be part of a community
• Charity: Support a charity or organisation with a paid volunteering day each year. You can also choose to donate to your favourite charity tax-free, through our Payroll Giving Scheme

About Serco

At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone. By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Apply

Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment. At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. For help with your application please contact j&icareersUK@serco.com.

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on j&icareersUK@serco.com to discuss.