Clinical / Forensic Psychologist

Is having the support and freedom to fast-track your career goals in psychology important to you? Are you looking for an organisation which will offer you flexible development pathways that are not constrained by a rigid, prescribed progression structure?

At Iris Care Group, we really appreciate the work our registered psychologists do and the results they achieve for our service users.

Having listened to feedback on the support they felt would benefit them to develop their careers, we created a specific skills escalator and compendium of internal training and professional development resources within our exciting new virtual learning suite, Kallidus. We are also dedicated to enriching progression through regular appraisals. Opportunities for additional external post-qualification training can be tailored to align with our clinician’s growth and the needs of the service. We believe that supporting our psychologists, particularly early in their career, to develop additional competencies not only benefits their career development and pathway to consultant grade but also ensures our service users benefit from the latest developments in psychological practice.

This Role
We currently have an opportunity for a Clinical or Forensic Psychologist at our forensic mental health hospital, Heatherwood Court. Comprising of a Locked Rehabilitation Service (1 female ward) and a Low Secure Service (1 male and 2 female wards), Heatherwood Court treats patients with complex needs, including severe and enduring mental illness, complex trauma, and difficulties consistent with a diagnosis of personality disorder.

We are looking for applicants with experience of working with service users with complex needs and risk behaviours along with those who have an interest and prior experience of delivering evidenced-based interventions for people with personality disorder and/or complex mental health problems. We are particularly interested in candidates who have received DBT training, but would offer training to suitable candidates on appointment.

This post will join an established, dynamic team of psychologists including a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Forensic Psychologist, and Assistant Psychologists, working as part of a specialist multi-disciplinary team. The team is also supported by Positive Practice Workers, graduate psychologists in blended roles combining both support worker shifts and clinical days with the teams. There are also regular opportunities to network with the wider Iris Care Group qualified psychologists within Departmental Meetings and Psychology away days.

The postholder will receive robust and regular line management & clinical supervision. Comprehensive psychological assessment, risk assessment, and formulation will be the foundation to the post with a delivery of person-centred therapeutic interventions. Clinical models utilised within the department include: CBT; DBT; CFT; and Schema Focused Therapy. Additional therapeutic work includes: group work; motivational interviewing & readiness to change programmes; skills training; and psycho-education. Our overarching framework is integrative; ensuring general principles of providing high relational quality care within a staged care pathway. As part of our commitment to recovery to reflect ‘Our Perfect Journey’ framework, there will also be sessional opportunities to provide ongoing step-down support into our Ocean Community Services homes.

The psychology team collaboratively works within a specialist MDT including Psychiatry, Nursing, Support Workers, Occupational Therapists, and Education. The team actively enhances psychologically informed practice from the daily ward huddles to team formulations, reflective practice, and staff training. They support the MDT based Safety and Support Plans (positive behavioural support based plans) as well as the internally developed RISE programme which focuses the wards on personalised SMART monthly recovery goals and positive engagement.

The successful applicant for this role should have an interest in using their skill set to work alongside and support other MDT staff.

About Us
Based in a rural setting on the outskirts of Pontypridd, Heatherwood Court focuses on developing and maintaining a culture of care that promotes recovery, gender sensitivity, and relational security. We believe in empowering our service users, promoting the development of hope, strength, and resilience to support people to work towards lasting recovery within the least restrictive environment.

Heatherwood Court is part of the wider Iris Care Group, which employs 1200+ staff in complex mental health services across South East Wales and Bristol. In addition to specialist hospitals and a SEN college, the organisation also has community step-down homes. Clinicians from across these services meet regularly to share best practice and provide peer review opportunities.

All our services offer opportunities for audit and research and have established links with local universities and networks, including the Offender Health Research Network–Cymru. Networking and academic interests are also encouraged, and clinicians are regularly asked to present at conferences and contribute to articles in both the academic and mainstream press.

South Wales has shaken off its traditional industrial image and is now better known for its beautiful countryside and coastlines, and its vibrant cultural centres. With highly regarded state and independent schooling provision and communities that are regularly voted amongst some of the best places to live in the UK, South Wales offers a quality of living that is hard to beat.

SALARY: Band 7 equivalent & based on experience (with preceptorship to 8a for newly qualified Psychologists)