Clinical, Counselling, Forensic Psychologist

Cheswold Park Hospital

Job Summary

We are looking for a talented Band 7-8a Clinical/Forensic/Counselling Psychologist to join our Inpatient Psychology Team at Cheswold Park Hospital. Cheswold Park is a 112-bed low and medium secure service for men and women who have come into contact with the criminal justice system. The role offers a unique opportunity to work with service-users with complex needs which may include mental-health difficulties, attachment difficulties, experiences of trauma, learning-disabilities or other neuro-developmental needs.

Our Psychology department, alongside the rest of the hospital, is undergoing a period of positive change and development since becoming part of the SWYFT Forensic Care Group, and the roles would particularly suit practitioners with a desire to innovate and to foster close MDT working relationships. We are a close-knit but welcoming team who genuinely look out for each other, and who have professional skills which support and complement one another. As a team we are committed to relational working with service-users and colleagues, and we work hard to support service-users to make progress and move on to less-restrictive environments. We also take time to continue our professional development at both a team and individual level. There is considerable scope for involvement in shaping service delivery, and evaluation / research.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will provide assessment and therapeutic interventions for the inpatient group, as well providing consultation, supervision, and training to the service. The post-holder will receive regular clinical supervision from a Clinical/Forensic Psychologist based within the Forensic Service, and further training in trauma focused therapies will be available.

Experience of working with complex mental health needs is essential and experience of working in secure settings is desirable, alongside the ability to develop and communicate complex psychological formulations.

The post is suitable for an experienced Senior Clinical/Forensic Psychologist who is already working at Band 8a, or a psychologist currently working at Band 7 and wanting future career progression, or alternatively for someone newly qualified or about to qualify.

If you would like to know more about this role, please contact me for an initial chat. Lisa Maltman (Principal Forensic Psychologist) on 01302 651131 or ***email_hidden***

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Details

Date posted

11 June 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £64,750 a year Band 7 - 8a development role

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9378-F0717

Job locations

Cheswold Park Hospital

Cheswold Lane

Doncaster

South Yorkshire

DN5 8AR

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

Band 7

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

The post holder will provide specialist clinical psychology skills within a multidisciplinary team. The post holder will provide a high quality clinical service to the users of the service.

They will provide highly specialist psychological assessment and intervention while working collaboratively with non-psychologist colleagues, professionals from other agencies and carers. They will be clinically responsible to a senior clinical psychologist. Clinical oversight of all work will be held by the clinical lead in the service.

The job plan will be delivered in the services the post is based.

The post holder will work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team while observing Trust and National policies and procedures.

The post holder will provide support to Assistant Psychologists and Doctoral trainees. They will utilise research skills in audit, service development and research relevant to the post.

KEY RESULT AREAS

To offer consultation, supervision and training when required by other agencies involved in the psychological, emotional and behavioural well-being of people referred to the service

To provide consultation, assessment and intervention in the service.

To work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary context.

To provide assessment and treatment options for people experiencing moderate, severe and complex mental health problems .

To exercise expert clinical judgement based on the highest standards of evidence based practise.

To continually seek to expand and consolidate clinical skills using training, experience, and supervision.

To be proficient in the use of Psychometric testing appropriate to the age range.

To provide specialist risk assessment of and intervention to people who present to the service.

To follow appropriate Adult and Child Protection guidelines in all Clinical work, including close liaison with all agencies.

To liaise and consult with the wider professional network in the care of the client.

To work jointly with other team members in delivering the most appropriate clinical service to people and their families.

To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients.

To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to effectively evaluate progress.

To receive regular professional supervision from a senior Clinical Psychologist and where appropriate, other senior clinicians.

To continue to access continuing professional development opportunities in line with agreed targets and agreed personal development plan.

To assist in the supervision of Doctoral level Clinical Psychology trainees and trainees from other disciplines as appropriate.

To contribute to the pre and post qualification teaching of Clinical Psychologists.

To assist in the teaching and training of professionals

To contribute to the Audit processes within the service.

To contribute to research in the service area.

To utilise theory, evidence based literature and research to support evidence based practise of self and others.

To provide advice on research projects to other staff within the service around appropriate methodology, statistical analysis etc.

To undertake project management as required to aid service development.

Band 8a

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed. The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

JOB PURPOSE

The post holder will provide a high quality specialist clinical psychology service to clients as part of the multidisciplinary team within the service.

Provide highly specialist psychological assessment and intervention.

Provide advice and consultation on psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues, and other, non-professional carers, working autonomously within professional guidelines, and the overall framework of the team and trusts policies and procedures.

Supervise and support Psychology Assistants, Trainees and Band 7 HCPC Registered Clinical Psychologists.

To utilise research skills for audit, policy, service development and research within the areas served by the team/service.

JOB DIMENSIONS

(e.g. budgetary or supervisory responsibilities)

To offer consultation and supervision when required by other agencies involved in the psychological, emotional and behavioural well-being of service users

To provide supervision of Band 7 Clinical Psychologists, doctoral level clinical psychology trainees, assistant psychologists and trainees from other disciplines as appropriate.

Key Result Areas

Clinical

To provide highly specialist psychological assessment and treatment for service users experiencing moderate, severe and complex mental health/psychological problems 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 observation and semi-structured interviews with service users, their family and/or carers.

To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological intervention and/or management of mental health/psychological and/or behavioural difficulties based upon an appropriate conceptual framework and exercising expert clinical judgement based on the highest standards of evidence based practice across a full range of care settings.

To establish rapport and build effective working relationships with service users and all those involved in their psychological, emotional and behavioural well-being.

To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes.

To work jointly with other team members and professionals in delivering the most appropriate clinical service to service users and, where appropriate, their families/carers.

To follow appropriate local Safeguarding Adults and Children policies in all clinical work, including close liaison with all relevant agencies.

To provide specialist risk assessment of, and intervention to, service users who may present in local acute settings in line with agreed procedures

To liaise and consult with the wider professional network in the care of service users, offering consultation and supervision where necessary.

To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients whose problems are managed by psychological interventions and to autonomously manage a caseload of clients.

To contribute directly and indirectly to a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all service users, the settings in which they present, and agencies involved in the psychological, emotional and behavioural well-being.

To communicate in a skilled and sensitive manner, information concerning the assessment, formulation and treatment plans of clients under their care and to effectively evaluate progress.

To participate in the multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment of service users.

For Full Job Description, Please See Attached Supporting Documents.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

For Full Job Description, Please See Attached Supporting Documents.

Person Specification

Special Knowledge & Skills

Essential

Band 7.
Communication skills.
Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role
IT Literate.
Band 8a.
Good Psychometric Assessment skills.
Experience of assisting in training of Post Graduate Clinical Psychology Trainees.
Exceptional communication skills in verbal, non verbal and written modes.
Ability to empathise and develop good therapeutic alliance.
Ability to Formulate Complex processes.
Capacity to conduct Psychometric Assessment.
Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role.
Keyboard skills.
Manual Dexterity for conducting tests.

Desirable

Band 7.
Research skills.
Knowledge of adult & child protection legislation.
Awareness of legislation relevant to the clinical area of practice.
Band 8a.
Working with people in Crisis.
Working on an in-patient Psychiatric ward.

Physical Attributes

Essential

Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Qualifications

Essential

Band 7.
Hons. Degree in Psychology.
Doctoral qualification clinical or counselling psychology.
Appropriate safeguarding training.
Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist.
Band 8a.
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
Significant Post qualification experience in a Setting relevant to the post.
HCPC Registration as a Clinical Psychologist.

Desirable

Band 7.
2:1 min.
Eligible for chartered status.

Experience

Essential

Band 7.
Completion of supervised clinical practice in the NHS.
Ability to work within two models of psychological assessment, formulation and intervention.
Band 8a.
Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient settings.
Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
Frequent, protracted sustained and intense concentration.
Show respect and treat people with dignity.
Be able to give bad news sensitively.
Be able to sustain empathy in difficult situations.
Be aware of all interviewees in any situation.

Desirable

Band 7.
Experience in working with service users in the clinical area of the post.
Different theoretical approaches.
Work with other disciplines.
Work with people who have disabilities.
Band 8a.
Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts.
Experience of groupwork.

Training

Essential

Completion of formal training to meet eligibility as clinical supervisor of Doctoral Trainee Clinical Psychologists.

Personal Attributes

Essential

Band 7.
Caring.
Team Player.
Commitment to supervision and support.
Band 8a.
Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role.
To transport Psychometric testing equipment.

Desirable

Band 7.
Flexible.
Committed to client group.

Person Specification

Special Knowledge & Skills

Essential

Band 7.
Communication skills.
Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role
IT Literate.
Band 8a.
Good Psychometric Assessment skills.
Experience of assisting in training of Post Graduate Clinical Psychology Trainees.
Exceptional communication skills in verbal, non verbal and written modes.
Ability to empathise and develop good therapeutic alliance.
Ability to Formulate Complex processes.
Capacity to conduct Psychometric Assessment.
Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role.
Keyboard skills.
Manual Dexterity for conducting tests.

Desirable

Band 7.
Research skills.
Knowledge of adult & child protection legislation.
Awareness of legislation relevant to the clinical area of practice.
Band 8a.
Working with people in Crisis.
Working on an in-patient Psychiatric ward.

Physical Attributes

Essential

Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Essential

Band 7.
Hons. Degree in Psychology.
Doctoral qualification clinical or counselling psychology.
Appropriate safeguarding training.
Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist.
Band 8a.
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
Significant Post qualification experience in a Setting relevant to the post.
HCPC Registration as a Clinical Psychologist.

Desirable

Band 7.
2:1 min.
Eligible for chartered status.

Essential

Band 7.
Completion of supervised clinical practice in the NHS.
Ability to work within two models of psychological assessment, formulation and intervention.
Band 8a.
Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care and inpatient settings.
Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
Frequent, protracted sustained and intense concentration.
Show respect and treat people with dignity.
Be able to give bad news sensitively.
Be able to sustain empathy in difficult situations.
Be aware of all interviewees in any situation.

Desirable

Band 7.
Experience in working with service users in the clinical area of the post.
Different theoretical approaches.
Work with other disciplines.
Work with people who have disabilities.
Band 8a.
Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts.
Experience of groupwork.

Training

Essential

Completion of formal training to meet eligibility as clinical supervisor of Doctoral Trainee Clinical Psychologists.

Personal Attributes

Essential

Band 7.
Caring.
Team Player.
Commitment to supervision and support.
Band 8a.
Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role.
To transport Psychometric testing equipment.

Desirable

Band 7.
Flexible.
Committed to client group.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Cheswold Park Hospital

Cheswold Lane

Doncaster

South Yorkshire

DN5 8AR

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Cheswold Park Hospital

Cheswold Lane

Doncaster

South Yorkshire

DN5 8AR

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)