As the biggest single employer of psychologists in the UK, we offer one of the widest range of career options. There are a range of progression and specialisation opportunities open to you within, or working alongside, the HMPPS psychology services.
From group worker to directorate lead psychologist
Group worker/interventions facilitator (Band 4)– starting salary from £31,995
Many of our psychologists start their career as an interventions facilitator/groupworker before applying for a trainee psychologist role. After passing your interventions training, you’ll deliver group and/or individual sessions to prisoners.
Qualified registered psychologist (Band 7) – starting salary from £50,303
Once you’ve finished your training and have Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration, you’ll be able to work as a registered practitioner psychologist. It’s not essential for you to have chartership at this level, but you must be HCPC registered. You’ll work directly with men, women, or young people in custody. You’ll support in training staff and supervise some of their work, but you won’t be a line manager.
Senior registered psychologist (Band 8) – starting salary from £53,324
You’ll already be operating as an HCPC registered psychologist. You’ll likely have worked as an independent practitioner psychologist and be keen to help manage and develop others and work more strategically across the team. You may need to have been registered for 2 years to meet BPS RAPPS requirements.
Principal registered psychologist (Band 9) – starting salary from £68,295
You’ll be a HCPC registered psychologist with a minimum of 2 years qualified experience and will be a specialist in your field. You’ll have responsibility for overseeing the quality of delivery across specific work areas and providing direction and support for other supervisors. You’ll be working with complex individuals and staff and applying your experience and competence in the area of psychology to reduce the risk of harm.
Regional or theme lead psychologist (Band 10) – starting salary from £75,185
You’ll be a HCPC registered psychologist with significant experience in applied forensic practice, both at a practice and strategic level. You’ll support the delivery of services at a regional/ national level providing a consultancy service to colleagues in relation to the assessment, intervention, and management of offenders. You’ll provide advice/guidance and develop strategies to achieve best practice in these areas across custodial settings.
Directorate lead psychologist (Band 11) – starting salary from £85,042
Supporting the work of an Executive Director within one of the HMPPS directorates, you’ll have a corporate role in helping shape and deliver overall service delivery within HMPPS. As a member of the Psychology Executive Leadership Team, you’ll line-manage a team of regional or theme-lead psychologists. You’ll provide leadership and vision, and set the strategic direction for psychological service development and delivery in your directorate.