Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical or Counselling Psychologist - Forensic Services

The closing date is 04 January 2026

Job summary

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a HCPC Registered Clinical, Counselling or Forensic Practitioner Psychologist to join the Essex Specialist Community Forensic multidisciplinary team based at Heath Close, Billericay. This is a multi-disciplinary team consisting of highly experienced professionals with a diverse background of working within mental healthcare. The team offers expertise in working with service users within forensic services and specific skills such as CBT, DBT, Behavioural Family Therapy and specialist risk assessment (eg HCR 20).

The team are an Essex wide service which was set up as part of the NHS New Care Models initiative aiming to transform services for forensic service users across the county. Our aim is to facilitate and support discharge and repatriation of service users from low and medium secure care back into the community across Essex and to reduce the length of stay in secure settings. Through this we are working to improve outcomes for this group of individuals through intensive support.

Our model of care is recovery based with a focus on empowerment of individuals to foster their wellbeing, self-esteem and to realise their full potential on the road to independence.

The role sits within the wider Forensic Psychological Services Department which comprises clinical, counselling and forensic psychologists, trainee psychologists, assistant psychologists and psychology undergraduate placement students.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide specialist psychological assessment and therapy to those referred to the team. Where appropriate, the post holder will also take a lead in ensuring that family therapy or family interventions are available to those seen within the service.

The post holder will be required to:

Work across locality and interagency boundaries to meet the needs of a highly complex client group.

Work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team's policies and procedures.

Utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the area served by the team/service.

Offer advice and consultation on clients' psychological care to non-psychologist/psychotherapist colleagues and to other, non-professional carers.

Use appropriate evidence based psychological therapies.

About us

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

  • Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
  • Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
  • If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
  • We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits

  • 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
  • Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
  • Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
  • £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
  • Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

  • Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
  • Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Details

Date posted

04 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum pro rata plus 5% Fringe High Cost Allowance

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

364-A-9578

Job locations

2 Heath Close

Billericay

CM12 9NW


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full list of responsibilities for this role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full list of responsibilities for this role.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

  • Doctoral level training in applied psychology, as accredited by the BPS
  • HCPC Registered

Knowledge

Essential

  • Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology and research design.
  • Evidence of continued professional development as recommended by the relevant professional or registering body

Desirable

  • Formal training in supervision of other psychologists/ Psychotherapists as appropriate to their training and qualifications
  • Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, eating disorders etc).
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health speciality.
Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

  • Doctoral level training in applied psychology, as accredited by the BPS
  • HCPC Registered

Knowledge

Essential

  • Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology and research design.
  • Evidence of continued professional development as recommended by the relevant professional or registering body

Desirable

  • Formal training in supervision of other psychologists/ Psychotherapists as appropriate to their training and qualifications
  • Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, eating disorders etc).
  • Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health speciality.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

2 Heath Close

Billericay

CM12 9NW


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

2 Heath Close

Billericay

CM12 9NW


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Principal Counselling Psychologist

Sharon Akinkunmi

sharon.akinkunmi@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

04 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum pro rata plus 5% Fringe High Cost Allowance

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

364-A-9578

Job locations

2 Heath Close

Billericay

CM12 9NW


Supporting documents

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