Job overview

An excellent opportunity for a Clinical or Forensic Psychologist, who is passionate about working with women in secure care, to join the Women’s Forensic Service at West London NHS Trust. This is a full-time post (1.0wte) but part-time or flexible working may also be considered. This is an 8a post but can be appointed to as a band 7/8a preceptorship.

West London NHS Trust provides a broad range of forensic mental health care across high/medium/low security and community settings. The Orchard Unit is a purpose built women-only medium/low secure unit, with an emphasis on relational security. It provides 35 medium and 15 low secure beds. It is the country’s largest NHS provider of women’s secure services. You will work within the Low / Medium secure wards with a warm, supportive and experienced Multi-Disciplinary Team. We actively promote CPD with opportunities to develop specialist skills, engage in research and encourage working within our large group of psychological professionals.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for providing a high quality psychology service to a female low secure ward (15 beds) and a medium secure ward (5 beds). As such you’ll be able to utilise varied skills in assessment, formulation and group and individual evidence-based intervention tailored to meet the challenging needs of the inpatient client group. As a key member of the MDT, you will be responsible for developing and implementing psychologically informed treatment for a very diverse group of female service users who are detained in medium and low secure settings, who are mentally disordered offenders with severe and enduring mental disorders (both mental illness and personality disorder) and serious forensic histories and have a wide range of psychiatric, psychological and criminological problems and extremely complex needs.

As well as direct clinical work the role will involve service development and audit, staff training / supervision and frequent collaborative working within the psychological therapies department and with MDT colleagues.

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and   Hammersmith & Fulham).  We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.