Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Clinical / Forensic / Counselling Psychologist within Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as part of the ACORN Service at HMP Whatton. This is a specialist treatment service for individuals with personality difficulties and a history of sexual offending. The service is part of the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway and is jointly delivered by NHS and Prison partners.
We are committed to working in partnership with His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), both with Prison and Probation colleagues; this service is a joint enterprise so relies on collaborative working. We also work in partnership with other healthcare providers and our criminal justice system partners to improve health, support justice and reduce re-offending behaviour. The ACORN service forms part of a wider network of OPD pathway services delivered by Nottinghamshire Healthcare as part of the Specialist Service Care Unit across HMP North Sea Camp, HMP Gartree and community services in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
We welcome applications from newly qualified Psychologists or those imminently eligible for HCPC registration as part of a preceptorship role.
Main duties of the job
The ACORN service is a comprehensive specialist service offering a range of therapeutic interventions at HMP Whatton to individuals with problematic personality traits which are linked to difficulties with progression or risk. The non-residential service offers a suite of psychological therapies including Schema Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitiation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (RO-DBT), and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) within tiered phases, alongside a newly developed Occupational Therapy pathway. Therapies, including socially creative sessions, psychoeducation and both group and 1:1 therapy are provided with an emphasis upon the importance of relationships and the environmental setting.
The successful post holder will work as part of a team approach to the assessment and treatment of individuals referred to the service. The post holder will undertake assessments and co-deliver psychologically informed groups, alongside offering 1:1 therapy, supervision and consultation to the team and wider prison. The post holder will work closely with prison partners and the clinical lead to develop, innovate and deliver the service.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will work as part of a team to provide comprehensive trauma informed therapies to individuals with a history of sexual offending and difficulties arising from trauma and problematic personality traits.
The post holder will provide specialist psychological assessments and develop collaborative formulations to inform treatment pathways.
The post holder will deliver a range of therapies as indicated by the need and risk understood in the formulation on a 1:1 or group basis.
The post holder will contribute to multi-disciplinary team discussions and decision making processes.
The post holder will be responsible for engaging with their own supervision and reflective practice and to support team members in offering supervision and reflective practice.
The post holder will support the Clinical Lead to work in partnership with our prison partners. They will also work collaboratively to support the development of awareness and psychologically informed working practices and culture within the prison environment.
The post holder will work with the Clinical Lead and Consultant Clinical Psychologist to support the development of the ACORN service and support the local OPD pathway services.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Able to engage constructively with people who are highly anxious, depressed, or hostile. To work intensively with people who present challenges in the complexity of their difficulties and needs (e.g. sexual and violent offending and self-harming/ suicidal behaviours)
- Skills in complex psychological assessment, intervention and management with special relevance to PD (inclusive of trauma informed approaches)
- Excellent communication, interpersonal style and teamwork skills
- High level of ability to plan and organise clinical service provision to meet service demands, and to maintain high quality professional practice
- Can demonstrate competence in supervision of junior qualified psychology and MDT staff and professional psychology trainees.
- Formulation and analytical skills
- Teaching and training skills
- Effective skills in word-processing and other clinically relevant computer software
- Use of psychometric test equipment
Desirable
- Computer literacy.
- Research skills.
- Supervision skills.
- Staff training skills.
- Presentational skills.
Training
Essential
- Evidence of post-qualification specialist training in a specialist area of forensic/ clinical/ counselling practice
- Evidence of broader CPD such as risk assessment/ management and case formulation.
Desirable
- Further specialist training in mental health, personality disorder, risk assessment and management, Schema Therapy/ EMDR/ DBT/ RO-DBT
- Evidence of completion of supervision training
Knowledge
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of models of assessment, management and treatment for personality difficulties and complex trauma
- Demonstrates an understanding of a variety of models of formulation and how to convey this to others in an accessible form.
- Knowledge of criminal justice processes and awareness of the constraints of secure services
- Service evaluation
- Data analysis
Desirable
- Knowledge of individuals with offending histories and mental health difficulties.
- Knowledge of specialist interventions for personality disorder.
- Knowledge of relevant professional guidelines and best practice documents, such as NICE, BPS etc.
Experience
Essential
- Relevant experience developing expertise in clinical/forensic/Counselling psychology practice
- Experience of working effectively in multidisciplinary settings to devise specialist care programmes
- Relevant experience of providing clinical supervision, reflective practice and debriefs
- Service evaluation and research
- Teaching and training
- Risk assessment and management
- Clinical Assessment
Desirable
- Working with individuals with offending and complex trauma histories
- Working systemically/ within secure or prison settings
- Experience of using specialist treatments (i.e. EMDR, Schema therapy)
- Project or other service development experience
Qualifications
Essential
- Honours degree in Psychology as accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
- Doctorate in Clinical or Forensic or Counselling Psychology. Must be able to demonstrate eligibility for chartered status as a Clinical or Forensic or Counselling Psychologist and be registered with the HCPC as a practitioner Psychologist.
Desirable
- Specific additional accreditation (i.e. specific therapy accreditation)
Values and Behaviours
Essential
- All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork
- All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust’s expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation
Contractual Requirements
Essential
- Ability to be able to travel between locations
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Clinical/Forensic/Counselling Psychologist 7/8a ACORN service with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in HMP Whatton. It is listed as a Band 7 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is £49,387 - £64,750 per annum (pro rata for part time). The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 31 Aug 2026.
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