Job summary
Are you looking for a role where you can grow professionally, make a meaningful difference, and feel part of a close-knit, knowledgeable team? We have an exciting opportunity to join our Somerset Youth Justice Service (YJS) as a Clinical or Forensic Psychologist.
As the YJS psychologist, you'll play a key role in embedding trauma-informed practice, offering expert consultation, and helping to formulate complex psychological profiles of young people. YJS works to reduce youth offending through early intervention and holistic, multi-agency support. You'll also be connected to the Forensic CAMHS and wider Psychology CAMHS networks, where peer support, supervision, and opportunities for joint service development are actively encouraged.
There are opportunities to shape and grow the role depending on your interests, including involvement in research, service development, and training to deliver specialist models such as MBT (Mentalization-Based Therapy) or CAT (Cognitive Analytic Therapy) for young people.
There is a strong emphasis on working flexibly to meet the needs of our young people - which means a mix of virtual working and travel around the county. The hybrid approach of working if often championed as supporting a good work-life balance.
We are committed to working inclusively with all children, young people, parents, carers, and victims - regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or disability
Main duties of the job
To deliver a qualified Clinical or Forensic Psychology service within the Youth Justice Service (YJS). This will include:
- Providing psychological support to children and young people -- and their families -- who are involved with the YJS through court-ordered or out-of-court disposals, as well as those engaged in preventative or diversionary programmes.
- Promoting trauma-informed practices and the use of psychological formulation to better understand and meet the wellbeing needs of young people and those who support them.
- Carrying out specialist psychological assessments, developing formulations, and delivering direct therapeutic interventions tailored to individual needs.
- Offering expert psychological consultation and advice to multi-disciplinary colleagues, supporting a holistic approach to care.
- Working autonomously within professional and ethical guidelines, aligned with the policies and procedures of the YJS team.
- Applying research skills to contribute to audits, service evaluation, and policy or service development initiatives within the YJS.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
- Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
- NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
- Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
- A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
- Provide specialist psychological assessments for children, young people, and families referred to the Youth Justice CAMHS Psychology Service, using a range of tools including psychometric tests, structured interviews, and observational methods.
- Formulate and deliver psychological treatment plans informed by evidence-based models, tailored to mental health and forensic needs across settings, including custodial environments.
- Implement individual and group interventions, adapting formulations and drawing on a range of psychological theories to support complex needs.
- Evaluate and decide on treatment options, considering developmental and historical influences on the young person and their system.
- Maintain autonomous responsibility for the assessment, treatment, and discharge of clients under psychologically led care plans.
- Offer specialist psychological advice and consultation to colleagues, contributing to formulation, diagnosis, and intervention planning.
- Support a psychologically informed approach to care across all agencies involved with the young person.
- Undertake risk assessments and offer expert input on risk management.
- Participate in YJS-led multi-agency panels and other risk forums.
- Provide psychological support to staff following distressing or traumatic incidents.
- Act as a keyworker when appropriate, coordinating and reviewing care plans across agencies.
Management, Policy & Service Development
- Contribute to service development, policy implementation, and evaluation through research and audit activities.
- Advise on psychological and organisational issues affecting service delivery.
- Supervise assistant and graduate psychologists and take part in recruitment where appropriate.
Research & Evaluation
- Apply psychological theory and research to inform practice.
- Undertake and support service evaluation, audits, and research projects to improve service outcomes.
Teaching, Training & Supervision
- Receive regular supervision and provide supervision to trainees, assistants, and other MDT staff as appropriate.
- Contribute to post-graduate teaching, training and consultation across disciplines and agencies working with the client group.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
- Provide specialist psychological assessments for children, young people, and families referred to the Youth Justice CAMHS Psychology Service, using a range of tools including psychometric tests, structured interviews, and observational methods.
- Formulate and deliver psychological treatment plans informed by evidence-based models, tailored to mental health and forensic needs across settings, including custodial environments.
- Implement individual and group interventions, adapting formulations and drawing on a range of psychological theories to support complex needs.
- Evaluate and decide on treatment options, considering developmental and historical influences on the young person and their system.
- Maintain autonomous responsibility for the assessment, treatment, and discharge of clients under psychologically led care plans.
- Offer specialist psychological advice and consultation to colleagues, contributing to formulation, diagnosis, and intervention planning.
- Support a psychologically informed approach to care across all agencies involved with the young person.
- Undertake risk assessments and offer expert input on risk management.
- Participate in YJS-led multi-agency panels and other risk forums.
- Provide psychological support to staff following distressing or traumatic incidents.
- Act as a keyworker when appropriate, coordinating and reviewing care plans across agencies.
Management, Policy & Service Development
- Contribute to service development, policy implementation, and evaluation through research and audit activities.
- Advise on psychological and organisational issues affecting service delivery.
- Supervise assistant and graduate psychologists and take part in recruitment where appropriate.
Research & Evaluation
- Apply psychological theory and research to inform practice.
- Undertake and support service evaluation, audits, and research projects to improve service outcomes.
Teaching, Training & Supervision
- Receive regular supervision and provide supervision to trainees, assistants, and other MDT staff as appropriate.
- Contribute to post-graduate teaching, training and consultation across disciplines and agencies working with the client group.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post-graduate doctoral level training in Clinical or Forensic Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
- Current registration with the HCPC under the appropriate domain specific title.
- Evidence of regular post- qualification development.
- Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS/HCPC.
Desirable
- Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.
- Formal training in supervision of other psychologists.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, particularly children and young people, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, in-patient and residential care settings.
- Experience of delivering NICE adherent interventions for psychological problems.
- Experience of maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems and verbal and physical abuse.
- Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment.
- Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision.
Desirable
- Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
- Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts.
- Post qualification experience of working with BME children, young people and their families.
- Experience of working within a multicultural framework.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- To have a full driving licence and vehicle to be willing to drive to localities appropriate for work purposes.
- Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical or forensic fields of psychology.
- Knowledge of the Criminal Justice System and of legislation in relation to the health, education and welfare services to children and young people with mental health needs.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific groups (e.g. children and young people with complex needs, sexual and violent conduct, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).
- High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies (e.g. CBT, DBT, systemic, TF-CBT, EMDR, CAT).
- Knowledge and experience of using structured professional judgement risk assessment tools (e.g. AIM, SAVRY or HCR-20).
- Knowledge of the academic literature concerning forensic presentations in children and adolescents.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post-graduate doctoral level training in Clinical or Forensic Psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996) as accredited by the BPS, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
- Current registration with the HCPC under the appropriate domain specific title.
- Evidence of regular post- qualification development.
- Evidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS/HCPC.
Desirable
- Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.
- Formal training in supervision of other psychologists.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, particularly children and young people, across the whole life course and presenting with the full range of clinical severity across the full range of care settings including outpatient, community, primary care, in-patient and residential care settings.
- Experience of delivering NICE adherent interventions for psychological problems.
- Experience of maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems and verbal and physical abuse.
- Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for clients' psychological care and treatment.
- Experience of teaching, training and/or professional and clinical supervision.
Desirable
- Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
- Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts.
- Post qualification experience of working with BME children, young people and their families.
- Experience of working within a multicultural framework.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- To have a full driving licence and vehicle to be willing to drive to localities appropriate for work purposes.
- Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical or forensic fields of psychology.
- Knowledge of the Criminal Justice System and of legislation in relation to the health, education and welfare services to children and young people with mental health needs.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific groups (e.g. children and young people with complex needs, sexual and violent conduct, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).
- High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies (e.g. CBT, DBT, systemic, TF-CBT, EMDR, CAT).
- Knowledge and experience of using structured professional judgement risk assessment tools (e.g. AIM, SAVRY or HCR-20).
- Knowledge of the academic literature concerning forensic presentations in children and adolescents.
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
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).
