Senior Psychologist

We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated and skilled Band 8A Senior Psychologist to join our well-established, dynamic and diverse multi-disciplinary Integrated Mental Health Team, which forms part of the wider Health Care Team at HMP Leeds.

HMP Leeds is a busy local Category B prison which holds male prisoners who are both sentenced and remanded.

This role gives you the autonomy to grow your skills in a trauma-informed, recovery-focused service. You will work in a challenging secure setting with a diverse mix of patients and complex clinical needs.

Monday - Friday: 08:00 - 16:00, or 09:00 - 17:00.

This is a full time role working 37.5 hours a week.

You’ll receive an annual salary of £58,025 - £63,300 per annum - depending on experience.

• Bespoke induction, including our Introducing Health in Justice training course
• Competency framework
• Regional and national career development opportunities
• Our bespoke Learning Management System to address your learning needs

Candidates are required to have a legal right to work in the UK due to the nature of the role; offers of employment will be subject to additional vetting and security checks.

• Offer leadership, consultancy, assessment and interventions, working under the guidance and support of the overseeing Cluster Psychologist.
• Support the Cluster Lead Psychologist in training initiatives, developing clinical materials, group intervention packages, and in service evaluation and general service development.
• Be skilled in applying diverse psychological theories and modalities, to provide trauma‑informed one‑to‑one intervention, formulation and/or consultation for complex cases.
• Oversee and clinically supervise two Assistant Psychologists in their delivery of low‑medium intensity work (both group and individual approaches).
• Work across with patients located on the main site of the prison and those who are located in the Complex Care Unit.
• Complete clinical assessments and interventions with patients, and provide consultation and support for the staff in the Complex Care Unit.

• Discounts on shopping and leisure activities
• Support to grow in your role and continue your professional development
• 24/7 employee assistance helpline and financial assistance when you need it

Practice Plus Group’s purpose is to Unlock your best work life and we stand by our core values:

• We treat patients and each other as we would like to be treated
• We act with integrity
• We strive to do things better together

We are looking for caring, compassionate but also driven professionals who can help us drive our vision for a fair and inclusive healthcare access to all.

The Senior Psychologist will work within a prison, where the need for specialised psychological support is paramount. This role focuses on embedding a trauma‑informed and multidisciplinary approach to care, aimed at minimizing further re‑traumatization for people in prison while also addressing the impact and secondary trauma of staff to reduce burnout. As a clinical leader, the Senior Psychologist will develop and implement evidence‑based interventions that foster resilience and recovery among men in prison, while simultaneously providing support and training to staff to enhance their understanding of trauma and its effects.

By working closely with multidisciplinary teams, the Senior Psychologist will ensure the delivery of high‑quality mental health care, develop and implement trauma‑informed and evidence‑based treatment programs in line with the Psychological Therapies Services (PTS) model, and contribute to the formulation of policies and practices that promote psychological wellbeing.

• Qualified clinical, counselling or forensic psychologist and registered with the HCPC as a practitioner psychologist.
• Postgraduate qualification/training in at least one specific mode of psychological therapy relevant to people with severe and long‑standing mental health difficulties (e.g. CBT, Systemic/family therapy, Mindfulness‑based therapies, CAT, DBT, Mentalisation, Schema Therapy).
• Experience in complex, high‑risk or forensic environments.
• Experience in working collaboratively and ability to contribute to ongoing development, adaptation, and delivery of psychologically and trauma‑informed practice.
• Working knowledge of clinical governance, including relevant approaches and tools.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Practice Plus Group

2 Gloucester Terrace

Stanningley Rd

Leeds

West Yorkshire

LS12 2TJ

United Kingdom

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