Band 4 Assistant Psychologist - Secure Care and Offender Health
The closing date is 07 June 2026
A number of vacancies for Assistant Psychologists have arisen across the Secure Care and Offender Health directorate. Some of the services which currently have vacancies are:
* Tamarind Centre; a medium secure unit for men
* Reaside Clinic; a medium secure unit for men
* Forensic Intensive Recovery Support Team (FIRST)
* HMP Birmingham
* Ardenleigh Hospital
* Women's outreach (based at Ardenleigh hospital)
* Secure CAMHS (based at Ardenleigh hospital)
* CAMEO (based at Foston Hall prison)
Please note that some of the above roles are split posts across more than one service, which can be discussed in more detail at interview.
Our values centre on providing compassionate, high-quality and person‑centred care and we are looking for like‑minded individuals to apply. The role would suit committed, hard‑working and compassionate individuals with an interest in working with people who present with complex needs within the criminal justice system.
As an Assistant Psychologist in our services, there is access to regular, highly specialist supervision and CPD as part of a wider psychological therapies team of over 70 staff. We offer continued support and progression and we work hard to ensure our roles are inclusive and enriching. We are also committed to supporting the wellbeing of our staff team to provide a positive and fulfilling experience of work.
Main duties of the job
Within Tamarind Centre and Reaside Clinic, there are opportunities to contribute to assessments, formulations and interventions with adult men who have a history of offending behaviours and mental health difficulties within a medium secure inpatient setting.
FIRST is a community based service and offer individual/group interventions with men and women. This includes supporting service users who are transitioning from secure hospitals into the community, as well as those already living in the community.
HMP Birmingham is a category B male prison. The role would include providing assessment, short‑term individual and group interventions for people detained in prison, alongside support to the prison's mental health ward.
Within Ardenleigh there are opportunities to contribute to assessments, formulations, and interventions with adult women who have a history of offending behaviours and mental health difficulties within a medium secure inpatient setting.
Secure CAMHS is medium secure inpatient service for young people age 18 and under, there are opportunities to contribute to assessments, formulations, and interventions for adolescents with a history of offending behaviours and mental health difficulties.
CAMEO is a specialist personality disorder service for high‑risk women within HMP Foston Hall. The service delivers a range of psychological interventions aiming to alleviate distress.
About us
Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.
Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community.
Job responsibilities
For further information about the main responsibilities please view the attached job description and person specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology.
* Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
* Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Experience
* Experience of work with people with mental health problems or disabilities, or other relevant problems or disabilities (e.g. learning disabilities, organic impairment).
* Experience of working with people with serious mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia)
Skills
* High level interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to work and effectively communicate complex or sensitive information in highly emotive and emotionally charged settings involving conflict and significant personal distress.
* An awareness and understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and disabilities and of contemporary issues in the field
* An awareness and understanding of the differential needs of people from black and minority ethnic communities and from other minority groups and of the service issues arising within a multi-cultural urban area.
* Awareness of boundary issues between professionals and between clients and psychologists.
Personal
* Ability to interact and to build and sustain relationships with people with mental health problems and associated disabilities
* Adaptable and able to work flexibly when required (e.g. in the light of changing service priorities) such as some evenings and/or weekends
* Capacity for tolerating frustration, change and high levels of demand with an ability to work effectively under pressure.
* An interest in working with people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
Other
* Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
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.
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
£28,392 to £31,157 a year per annum, pro rata
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