20713 - Principal Registered Psychologist - Psychology Services - Enable Learning and Development Psychology Lead

General Information

Salary The national salary range is £73,513 - £80,864, London salary range is £76,634 - £86,082. Your salary will be dependent on your base location Working Pattern Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working Vacancy Approach External Location National Region National Closing Date 17-Aug-2026 Business Unit Psychology Services Post Type Permanent Civil Service Grade Grade 7 Number of jobs available 1 Reserve List 12 Months Job ID 20713

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Enable Learning and Development Psychology Lead (Band 9 Principal Psychologist) - National Role - Full Time – Permanent 

We are excited to announce this opportunity for a Band 9 Psychologist to lead in the development, learning, and testing of Psychology supported components of the Enable Transformation Programme. The successful candidate will play a critical role in working as part of a wider HMPPS Programme team. They will support the learning and development of this priority HMPPS change programme, working with central teams and sites to develop and inform evidence-based conditions for change. A specific focus of the role will be the Reflective Skills Framework, although contribution, support, and learning around wider Enable products, including the leadership offer, will be a key part of the role. 

The individual’s work will be central in pulling together key learning and informing both design principles and operational decisions to support the implementation of key products and process developed within the programme. The work will be critical in enabling HMPPS to deliver its vision ‘Working together to protect the public and help people lead law-abiding and positive lives’ through an open learning culture; transforming through partnership; enabling people to be their best; and modernising our estate and technology. This role will work alongside the Enable 5-year plan to deliver priority activity of the programme. 

This is a national role although there will be an expectation that the successful candidate will be able to travel to relevant sites and HQ as necessary. These will include those sites included in the London Regional Pilot, LTHSE and Early Adopter sites (Lancaster Farms, Channings Wood, Guys Marsh, Cardiff, Downview). There will also be a requirement to deliver training and presentations at other national venues. 

Enable Programme Five-Year Plan (2025–2030)

The Enable Programme Five-Year Plan sets out how we (HMPPS) will strengthen learning, capability, and leadership across the prison workforce between 2025 and 2030. It is not a single learning offer. It is a long-term workforce transformation programme that brings together a joined-up development system, supporting staff from entry into role, through progression, and into leadership.

The plan reflects a simple truth: the performance of the prison system depends on our people. When staff feel confident, capable, and supported, they are better able to manage risk, build professional relationships, make sound decisions, and deliver consistent outcomes.

Our ambition is that by 2030, we want a workforce that is confident and capable, has strong leadership at every level, works professionally and consistently, and contributes to safer prisons and better outcomes.

Enable aims to deliver:

• better support for new starters
• clearer development pathways
• stronger leadership and management capability
• greater pride and professional identity 

The Enable Learning and Development Psychology Lead will work to support the aims of the programme and in doing so work extremely closely with the London Regional Pilot Enable Band 9, and the Enable Lead for LTHSE. Work will be overseen and co-ordinated through the Psychology Services Enable Lead: Directorate Lead for Corporate Services, Governance, Safety and London (Giles McCathie). As such both roles will be line managed by the Band 10 Area Lead for London. 

Roles explained: 

The successful applicant will support this work centrally and continue to support Psychology staff across relevant sites. There will be some expectation to visit sites delivering Enable products, this will be dependent on existing site support and required learning opportunities. Good visible leadership will be required, and the successful candidate will be expected to be a visible champion for Enable at senior levels, including presentations at senior forums. The successful candidate will be expected to travel and attend meetings in person both at sites and London HQ. 

Additional responsibilities of the role will include:

• Will contribute as part of the Enable Management Team.
• The role will contribute to the psychological design of leadership and management development offers across all levels of the prison workforce, supporting Enable’s ambition to build a sustainable leadership pipeline.
• Support the cultural and behavioural conditions required for successful workforce transformation.
• Support the development of psychologically informed evaluation approaches to assess the impact, adoption, and sustainability of Enable products. 

This is an exciting opportunity to enhance skills and experience. Working alongside a major HMPPS programme is likely to stretch the applicant’s skills whilst working as a psychologist but also linking with a wide and varied range of stakeholder on this important service wide transformation. Updates and input at Senior level boards will be a necessary activity for both roles. The individual will be a critical link across departments and specialist areas and be expected to work using tested models of behaviour change and other evidence informed approaches. 

For more details on the role and further discussion please contact Giles McCathie.

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Benefits

Annual Leave

-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment

Pension

-The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Work Life Balance

HM Prison & Probation Service  (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ

Season Ticket Advance

-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work

Childcare Vouchers

For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers

Training

HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes

-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts

-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles

Eligibility

-All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

-All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS

-All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

• To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk); 
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

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

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
• 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information  

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference: 20713

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference: 20713

Job Description Attachment

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Application form stage assessments

Experience We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability Specific membership requirements The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title. The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title. Possess a professional background in Psychology. Experience in providing clinical supervision. Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practise. The job holder are likely to also be a Chartered Psychologist and Full member of the appropriate division of the BPS if the post requires it. Please note that being a Chartered Psychologist is desirable but not essential They will have been registered for over two years. Specific licence requirements The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title. The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title. Possess a professional background in Psychology. Experience in providing clinical supervision. Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practise. The job holder are likely to also be a Chartered Psychologist and Full member of the appropriate division of the BPS if the post requires it. Please note that being a Chartered Psychologist is desirable but not essential They will have been registered for over two years. Specific language requirements Written and spoken English Evidence of Experience CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates To Be Confirmed Behaviours Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Working Together Managing a Quality Service Strengths Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here. Level of security checks required DBS Enhanced

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.