Job requirements
Requirements from the employer’s person specification. These describe the role, not your personal match.
Essential
27 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Other
Keyboard skills and ability to use word –processing, spreadsheet, and statistical analysis software.
- Other
Ability to get to required locations in timely and efficient manner.
- Other
Ability to attend and participate in all mandatory and statutory training events where required
- Qualifications
Post Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical or Forensic Psychology, as accredited by the B.P.S (or equivalent level health- relevant Applied Psychology training, as accredited by the B.P.S )
- Qualifications
Registered as Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC
- Qualifications
Further training in forensic focussed assessments and interventions
- Specialist knowledge
Core Knowledge: Highly developed knowledge of lifespan developmental psychology, models for psychopathology, psychometrics, up to date practice with client group, and two or more psychological therapies. Knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex multivariate data analysis consistent with Practitioner Psychologist status
- Specialist knowledge
Advanced knowledge: HCPC Registration qualifies Psychologists to work in any of a wide range of disciplines. This post requires person to have gained theoretical and practical knowledge of forensic clinical psychology and to have experience of clinical leadership that is significantly beyond the core levels necessary to achieve Registration. The knowledge may have been developed in a variety of ways. Appropriate evidence could include • Formal training • Skill development through significant post graduate employment • Supervision experience with trainee Clinical/Counselling Psychologists/ other professions. • Learning acquired through participation in relevant short specialist courses. • A minimum of 70 hours post–qualification CPD • Receipt of a minimum of 50 hours clinical supervision working as a qualified clinical psychologist Ability to adapt style and/or assessment and intervention strategies to meet the challenges of complex clients / situations
- Length and nature of experience
Experience of working in forensic clinical psychology services
- Length and nature of experience
Broad and specialist knowledge of forensic clinical psychology services
- Length and nature of experience
Experience of undertaking leadership roles
- Length and nature of experience
Experience of working in a range of settings or agencies
- Length and nature of experience
Advanced knowledge and experience of psychological assessment and formulation in a forensic/mental health service which includes risk assessment
- Length and nature of experience
Experience of working with multi-agencies
- Length and nature of experience
Experience of completing and communicating risk assessments in the context of forensic and/or criminal justice services
- Length and nature of experience
Experience of leading the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies and/or clinical policies in multi-disciplinary or multi-agency contexts
- Length and nature of experience
Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues, both within and outside the NHS. Well organised and an effective team player
- Length and nature of experience
Evidence of maintaining effective communication when there are barriers to understanding and in circumstances where hostility, manipulation, conflict, and antagonism are present.
- Length and nature of experience
Proficient in the manipulation of complex Psychological test equipment for use in formal testing situations
- Length and nature of experience
Evidence in application of Psychological knowledge to improve and develop practice and contribution to service development
- Length and nature of experience
Experience of acting as a Care Programme Approach (CPA) coordinator, key-worker or similar
- Length and nature of experience
Experience of clinical supervision and supporting the psychological work of other clinical staff who provide psychologically based care and treatment. Experience of conducting appraisals and monitoring performance of staff
- Length and nature of experience
Receipt of at least 50 hours clinical supervision while working at highly specialist level with delegated responsibility for a largely autonomous and systematic service provision. Post qualification experience demonstrates effective work in a multi-disciplinary setting
- Length and nature of experience
To demonstrate ability to draw on experience to apply knowledge and understanding of professional guidelines and governance issues to the service area
- Personal attributes, skills and abilities
Emotional robustness to frequently work with the intense distress of others.
- Personal attributes, skills and abilities
Empathic towards and able to engage effectively with the client group. Experience of maintaining working relationships and a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical aggression. Ability to cope with workload pressure. Self-aware and emotionally resilient.
- Personal attributes, skills and abilities
Ability to undertake all statutory and mandatory training including Breakaway (subject to Health Clearance)
Desirable
2 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Qualifications
Further training in forensic clinical psychology
- Specialist knowledge
280 hours post–qualification CPD demonstrating examples of assuming increasing responsibility within a largely autonomous area of service
Job overview
This role is offered on a permanent basis . The hours are part-time, 30 hours per week. Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (GHC) is pleased to offer a permanent Band 8b Principal Clinical or Forensic Psychology post. We are seeking an enthusiastic experienced Psychologist who can be a positive and flexible leader alongside a skilled clinician to lead the psychological provision within our male low secure unit (Montpellier).
The successful candidate will be HCPC registered and have experience working with service users with complex risk presentations, and experience of working within complex systems including criminal justice.
The post holder will join an existing inpatient psychological therapies service lead by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist. This is a busy and vibrant team covering acute, PICU and recovery units.
There are opportunities for connection and joint working within GHC. Furthermore, Montpellier Low secure unit is part of the South West Provider Collaborative and as such the successful candidate will have opportunities to network across the southwest, including opportunities for CPD and peer mentoring.
The profession of Applied Psychology within GHC has close links with a number of Universities including Bath, Exeter and Plymouth. We support training placements for Doctoral students, Clinical Associate Psychologists (CAPs) and Undergraduates.
Main duties of the job
The role has a clinical, consultation and leadership function. The successful candidate will divide their time between each of these dimensions.
Clinical work primarily will primarily focus on assessments (including system wide access assessments), ensuring interventions (not just psychological) are formulation driven and focussed on reducing risk and enhancing protection.
Consultation will include chairing and leading risk clinics (alongside other clinical leaders within Montpellier) and care team meetings in addition to internal consultation to Montpellier colleagues and wider consultation to GHC colleagues.
Clinical leadership within Montpellier to assist with bringing a psychological voice to the MDT. There is expectation to lead MDT's CPA's and other professional meetings as required. There are many opportunities for teaching. Specifically it is expected that the successful candidate will provide teaching on risk assessment, formulation and risk management using a SPJ approach.
There may be other, wider requirements, as directed by service need and the Consultant Clinical Psychologist.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical
- Assessment and Intervention: To provide expert forensic clinical psychological assessment, formulation and treatment planning and where appropriate, implementing specialist psychological interventions for individuals, carers, families and groups and to demonstrate awareness of diversity issues. To ensure that interventions are maintained within the boundaries of best practice within risk management and ensure all treatment records are completed according to Trust policy.
To participate in access assessments for Gloucestershire patients alongside other clinical leads within Montpellier.
- Consultation and Guidance: To provide advice, guidance and consultation on:
- forensic (risk) matters
- psychological aspects of patient care
to colleagues, other service providers, patients and carers.
To lead and contribute to service user planning and review meetings.
Works primarily within a multi-disciplinary approach/team where a variety of opinion and expertise is brought to bear on a situation.
- Safeguarding: To be responsible for the protection of individuals from abuse and harm in line with local safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring the appropriate sharing of information.
Teaching, training, supervision and consultancy
- To ensure that other staff, professionals, and managers (across a range of agencies and settings) have access to a psychologically based framework for the understanding and care of clients of the service, through the provision of specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation and the sharing of psychological research and theory.
- To provide training to others as relevant to service need.
- To provide training on the Clinical or Forensic Psychology Doctoral Course as agreed.
Leadership and management
- To provide delegated line management for psychological staff as appropriate.
- To provide clinical supervision to Psychology Assistants, Trainees and Qualified psychologists.
- To hold delegated professional management for specified clinical psychology staff and assistants.
- To participate as a senior lead clinician in the planning and development of a high quality, responsive and accessible service. Includes leading on and making proposals for policy implementation and service development for the service. Includes advising both service and professional management on those aspects of the service where forensic, psychological and / or wider organisational matters need addressing.
- To participate in supervision of own practice, completing any agreed actions. To participate in own line management sessions.
Research activities, service evaluation and development
- Within forensic and secure services, uses professional skills and knowledge including research, service evaluation and audit to suggest ways to improve and develop practice.
- Ensures reflective scientist-practitioner approach in own practice and that of supervisees
- To provide research advice to other staff undertaking research
- To supervise and where necessary organise the research activities of Assistant Psychologists, Doctoral trainees and other staff.
- To undertake project management including complex audit and service evaluation to help develop service provision
- To explore innovative ways of delivering and improving patient care.
- To utilise theory, evidence-based literature and research to support and develop evidence-based practice in individual work and work with other team members.
CPD and professional standards
- Accountable for own professional actions, acting within the Trust policies and procedures and guided by the Professional Practice Guidelines including the BPS and HCPC.
- Exercises own expert clinical judgement in all aspects of work including where there is insufficient or conflicting data.
- To carry out C.P.D. activity to maintain knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and wider psychological practice. To maintain a C.P.D. log suitable for submission to the HCPC.
- To maintain standards required for ongoing professional registration and to maintain Registration once this in force for the Profession
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.
WhatsApp job alerts
Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 8 Psychology roles in Gloucester
Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.
Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Principal Clinical/Forensic Psychologist with Gloucestershire Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust in Gloucester, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Psychologist role. The advertised salary is £66,582 - £77,368 per annum pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 14 Sep 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (28 Aug 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.