Senior Registered Psychologist - Psychology Services – LTHSE – HMP Belmarsh (Close Supervision Centre) (Ref: 14591)

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

The Long-Term High Security Estate (LTHSE) manages some of the most complex and high‑risk prisoners in the Prison Service, including Category A and B men convicted of violent, sexual, and terrorism‑related offences. At HMP Belmarsh psychologists play a central role in the assessment, management, and rehabilitation of this diverse and challenging population. This post holder will be based at HMP Belmarsh and will work directedly onto the High Secure Unit, where the CSC is based. The job holder may be required to work across both the HSU and CSC unit if required.

The role of a Senior Registered Forensic Psychologist within Close Supervision Centres (CSCs) involves working with some of the most complex, high‑risk, and behaviourally challenging individuals within the high‑security prison estate. Psychologists form part of a multidisciplinary team responsible for assessing, managing, and supporting prisoners who demonstrate violent or highly disruptive behaviour.

Key responsibilities include delivering comprehensive psychological risk assessments, developing detailed case formulations, and providing recommendations for selection, ongoing management, and progression within the CSC system. Psychologists hold a specialist caseload, contribute to Care and Management Plans, deliver evidence‑based interventions, and advise the Central Management Group (CMG) and CSC Management Committee (CSCMC).

The role also includes staff supervision, training, consultancy, research, and participation in security and risk‑related processes such as Dynamic Risk Assessment Meetings, Category A reviews, and Parole Hearings. Strong expertise in personality disorder, mental health, complex risk assessment tools, and long‑term therapeutic work is essential, alongside advanced skills in teamwork, consultation, training, and clinical leadership.

The postholder will be required to supervise and support Forensic Psychologists in Training, requiring strong knowledge of BPS and university qualification pathways. They will also be required to line manage staff.

A key component of the job role will be to promote a joint operational‑clinical delivery model, with close collaborative working with operational colleagues, senior managers, psychiatry and mental health services, and wider stakeholders to ensure consistent, evidence‑based practice. The role offers varied, specialist opportunities and requires high‑level expertise and multidisciplinary working in a high‑security context.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Licences

•The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title.
•The post holder should have two years post registration experience at the point of taking up post.

Memberships

•The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title.
•The post holder should have two years post registration experience at the point of taking up post.

Languages

Written and Spoken English

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,471, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £16,939 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
• Telephone : 0345 241 5358

Recruitment team

• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/14591?entityId=14591