Consultant Psychologist - Forensic Mental Health

Job overview

The Forensic Mental Health Service in Hywel Dda University Health Board are looking to welcome a Consultant Clinical Psychologist into our service who can:

• Be accountable for the systematic provision of a high-quality Psychology and psychological therapy service within a highly specialised field of Forensic Psychology
• Exercise an exceptionally high level of Forensic Mental Health Psychology expertise for clients of the Forensic Mental Health Team and Low Secure Service.
• Work autonomously within professional guidelines and exercise responsibility for the systematic governance of psychological practice.
• Be managerially and professionally responsible for all professionally qualified and unqualified Psychology staff working within Forensic Mental Health.
• Ensure that effective systems are in place, for the clinical and professional supervision and support of all practitioners within the service for which the post holder has designated professional responsibility, including clear systems for recruitment, professional appraisal, and the identification of CPD needs across the service/sector.
• Act as a highly specialist resource to the wider professional and stakeholder community, providing consultation and advice on clinical, policy, service and strategic issues.

The post is advertised at Band 8c.  Applications are welcomed from clinicians who demonstrate strong potential but not yet meet all Band 8c competencies.  Please see  below for further information on the annex 21 option.

Main duties of the job

Working within a highly specialised clinical area, to provide highly developed specialist psychological assessments of clients based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological (and neuropsychological) tests, self-report measures, rating scales direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with clients, family members and others involved in the client’s care.

To formulate plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a client’s mental health problems based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the client’s problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy, across the full range of community and care settings.

To be responsible for implementing a range of highly specialist psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups, within and across teams employed individually and in synthesis, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses.

To make highly skilled evaluations and decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post is advertised as a band 8c. However, applicants who do not currently meet the post qualification experience within the designated specialty for band 8c role, are encouraged to apply and, if successful, will be appointed under Agenda for Change Arrangement for Pay and Banding of Trainees (Annex 21) supported by a development plan for 2 years.

During the first year payment will be 70% of the top rate of band pay, and 75% for the second year.

Following successful completion and successful attainment of skills and competences for the role, the post holder will then be paid at band 8c (minimum point on the scale). Continued support and supervision will be provided in order to develop the practitioner to the role.

As part of the Annex 21 process, there is no financial penalty to those who apply for this role where the percentage will cause a reduction in pay, subsequently a local protection would be put in place until the pay has caught up.

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences.  In our commitment to increase the number of staff who can communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during your employment with us.

If successfully shortlisted, you will be asked to complete psychometric assessments. Information regarding these and the stakeholder panels/interview will be sent to you following completion of shortlisting.

Stakeholder panels will be held on 25/06/2026.

Interviews will be held on 26/06/2026.