Principal Clinical or Forensic Psychologist

Job overview

Principal Psychologist - Band 8b (applications welcome from band 8a or above). Community Forensic Learning Disability & Autism Services

Split post: FACTT (2.5 days) / FASTER (2.5 days)

We are seeking an experienced psychologist with a background in community and forensic work with adults with learning disabilities and/or autistic adults to join our specialist community forensic services in a split post across FACTT (Forensic Assessment, Consultation, Training and Treatment) and FASTER (Forensic Autism and learning disability Support, Training & Enhanced Risk management).

Both services are based at Brooklands Hospital in Marston Green, Birmingham but also involve home working. This role is available as a 20-month fixed-term contract.

The FACTT element of the post covers Coventry and Warwickshire (including Rugby, Nuneaton, Coventry and Leamington).

The FASTER element is part of a newly developing West Midlands Learning Disability and Autism Community Forensic Service, delivered in partnership between Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust and Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

Across both services, the post holder will play a key role in leading specialist psychological services, providing clinical and professional leadership, and supporting recovery-focused outcomes for individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism who present with forensic needs across community and inpatient settings.

Main duties of the job

Based on the core functions of the national specification for community forensic LD and Autism services, the community forensic service is set up to provide:

• In-reach support to inpatient services to support safe and timely discharges
• Forensic risk assessment and management of risk in the community to ensure public safety and safety of the individual
• Delivery of offence specific therapeutic interventions
• Expert advice and training to other agencies, including health services, probation, police, prison service and Prevent.
• Consultancy and support

The Principal Clinical or Forensic Psychologist will hold responsibility for the supervision and governance of the service and support psychological practice within the team through consultation, supervision, formulation and training. They will be expected to utilise research skills for audit, service development and research within the area served by the team/service.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key priorities include:

• Leading the planning, delivery, and evaluation of highly specialist psychological services for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism who present with forensic needs, across community and inpatient settings.
• Providing high-quality psychological assessment, formulation, and intervention for highly complex cases.
• Offering specialist consultation and training to professionals across statutory and independent services to support individuals to remain in the community.
• Supervising and supporting junior psychologists, assistant and trainee psychologists, and other staff delivering psychologically informed care.
• Holding responsibility for the governance of psychological practice and ensuring safe, autonomous practice in line with professional and lone working policies.
• Providing clinical and professional leadership to psychology and wider MDT colleagues.
• Contributing to service development, operational policy, research, audit, and service evaluation, and advising managers on psychological and organisational matters.
• Participating in the West Midlands–wide on-call rota to provide out-of-hours clinical advice and urgent support (FASTER only).

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.