Job Description

The Forensic Intensive Recovery Support Team (FIRST) has an exciting vacancy for an HCPC Registered Senior Practitioner Psychologist within our established multi-disciplinary community team.



We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Senior Clinical, Forensic or Counselling Psychologist to join our Principal and Consultant Psychologists in the Forensic Psychological Service. This role will expand psychological provision within FIRST, supporting people discharged from forensic inpatient services. We want someone passionate about improving lives and committed to delivering a high-quality, psychologically informed service and discharge pathway.



FIRST works closely with other forensic services in the West Midlands as part of the REACH OUT provider collaborative. MPFT's FIRST supports men and women from the northern West Midlands through safe, effective transitions to the community and preventing re-admissions to secure care. The post holder will be part of a multi-disciplinary team supporting these transitions.



The Senior Practitioner Psychologist will provide and develop evidence-based psychological services for people with complex mental health and offending behaviour, working collaboratively with families/carers. Responsibilities include consultation, clinical supervision, and supporting staff to enhance psychological well-being. Participation in an out-of-hours on-call rota for crisis response may be required.

The FIRST Senior Practitioner Psychologist will:

Deliver highly specialist psychological services to service users supported by FIRST, ensuring a high-quality community forensic service. Provide expert advice, guidance and consultation to professionals on interventions, risk management and care pathways for service users in forensic inpatient and community settings. Communicate complex information confidently and effectively. Offer specialist psychological assessment, individual and group therapy for complex presentations. Supervise and support psychologically informed care delivered by other staff. Plan and deliver training for MPFT and partner organisation staff. Undertake and share audit, service evaluation and research. Demonstrate high-level communication skills and the ability to work independently. Work across forensic inpatient wards, community services, residential placements and custodial settings, attending in person for assessments, treatment or meetings within the northern West Midlands and nationally.

Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities.



We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.



We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow.



We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.



Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications



Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.



Please see attached and Person Specification for the roles.



To work with service users, staff and families/carers within FIRST, and the Forensic Directorate, across a range of community and inpatient settings as appropriate (including service user's home; health and mental health premises; social care and probation offices, third sector housing providers; acute, rehabilitation and secure inpatient environments).



To work with service users and staff in prisons, special hospitals and other secure facilities as required.



To routinely work with service users who have been perpetrators and/or victims of offences that cause serious harm and/or who show behaviour that is severely challenging services. This includes behaviour that may be violent and/or cause sexual harm.



To provide highly specialist psychological assessments for service users of FIRST and the Forensic Directorate, both written and verbal, based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex psychological 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 service users, family members and others involved in the service user's care.