Highly Specialist Clinical Forensic Psychologist

West London NHS Trust provides a full range of mental health, community and physical healthcare services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow. We also provide some specialist services that are commissioned regionally, such as our medium secure services; and nationally, such as the Cassel Hospital for people with complex and severe personality disorder and our high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital.

An excellent opportunity for a Clinical or Forensic Psychologist, who is passionate about working with women in secure care, to join the Women’s Forensic Service at West London NHS Trust. This is a full-time post (1.0wte) but part-time or flexible working may also be considered. This is an 8a post but can be appointed to as a band 7/8a preceptorship. West London NHS Trust provides a broad range of forensic mental health care across high/medium/low security and community settings. The Orchard Unit is a purpose built women-only medium/low secure unit, with an emphasis on relational security. It provides 35 medium and 15 low secure beds. It is the country’s largest NHS provider of women’s secure services.

You will work within the Low / Medium secure wards with a warm, supportive and experienced Multi-Disciplinary Team. We actively promote CPD with opportunities to develop specialist skills, engage in research and encourage working within our large group of psychological professionals.

Main duties of the job:

• You will be responsible for providing a high quality psychology service to a female low secure ward (15 beds) and a medium secure ward (5 beds).
• You’ll be able to utilise varied skills in assessment, formulation and group and individual evidence-based intervention tailored to meet the challenging needs of the inpatient client group.
• As a key member of the MDT, you will be responsible for developing and implementing psychologically informed treatment for a very diverse group of female service users who are detained in medium and low secure settings.
• The role will involve service development and audit, staff training/supervision and frequent collaborative working within the psychological therapies department and with MDT colleagues.

Working for our organisation:

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’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

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.

Person specification:

• Able to provide and receive highly complex, highly sensitive or highly contentious information.
• Able to make judgements involving highly complex facts or situations.
• Able to plan, prioritise and organise own service user caseload.
• Post-graduate level knowledge of research design and methodology.
• Able to maintain intense concentration frequently and for prolonged periods.
• Able to function in potentially traumatic circumstances.
• Able to provide services in environments with patients who are disturbed and sometimes violent.
• Able to respond adaptably to rapidly changing service demands.

Qualifications:

• Good honours degree (2:i minimum) in Psychology.
• Eligibility for graduate membership of BPS.
• Post-graduate doctorate in clinical/forensic/counselling psychology.
• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council.
• Training in clinical supervision for Doctoral trainees.
• Evidence of post-doctoral training in psychological therapy techniques.

Experience:

• Experience of working as a qualified (specialist) psychologist for a minimum of one year in a forensic clinical setting.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
• Experience of having facilitated/co-facilitated psychological therapy groups.
• Experience of working clinically with female service users in secure settings.
• Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts.

Knowledge:

• Advanced specialist knowledge of psychology applied to forensic clinical practice.
• Completion of at least 1 year’s supervised practice in specialist forensic clinical practice.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and its implications for work with mentally disordered offenders.
• Specialist knowledge of the assessment and treatment of trauma.
• Specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of the assessment and treatment of personality disorder and mental illness.

As an employee of West London NHS Trust, you have a responsibility to maintain a sound understanding of, and a commitment to uphold the National Health Service values and principles set out in the NHS Constitution.