What do forensic psychologists do and where do they work?
Most forensic psychologists work for HM Prison Service. They also work with victims of crime and/or offenders and appellants and litigants in a variety of other forensic settings such as within low, medium and high secure hospitals and residential units, the social services and in university departments. Some practitioners go into private consultancy. Their main tasks include piloting and implementing treatment programmes, modifying offender behaviour, completing risk assessments, responding to the changing needs of staff and prisoners as well as reducing stress for staff and prisoners. They may also help address the mental health difficulties of offenders, e.g. delivering mental health treatment programmes if they are appropriately trained to do so. Forensic psychologists also conduct research in order to support practice and demonstrate the effectiveness of treatment programmes. They may also give evidence in court and/or advise parole boards and mental health tribunals.
Qualifications to be a Forensic Psychologist
Forensic psychology training typically involves gaining the following qualifications:
Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). This is achieved by completing a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited degree or conversion course. Universities are primarily looking for applicants with a 1st class honours or a good 2:1 honours degree. The application process for all psychology degree programmes is administered by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) www.UCAS.com
Stage 2 of the BPS Qualification in Forensic Psychology. This involves at least two years full time supervised practice with an employer, e.g. HMP Prison (or part-time equivalent), in which you will be expected to demonstrate several core competencies. (See https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologists/society-qualifications/qualification-forensic-psychology for more information on qualifications in forensic psychology).
Some universities offer a doctorate programme in Forensic Psychology, which is the equivalent of both an accredited Masters Qualification and stage 2 of the BPS Society Qualification. This qualification makes you eligible to become to become a Chartered Member of the Society.
In order to use the title Forensic Psychologist, you will need to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This will involve completing Stage 2 of the Society's Qualification in Forensic Psychology or equivalent qualification that has been approved by the HCPC. Contact the HCPC for more information on the entry requirements for their register.
Contact universities directly for more specific information on their entry criteria. Courses are typically self-funded although some employers may pay or contribute.
What do clinical psychologists do and where do they work?
Another possible career is Clinical Psychology. You can be qualified as a Clinical Psychologist and still work in a forensic setting. Clinical Psychologists deal with a wide range of mental and physical health problems including addiction, anxiety, depression, serious and enduring mental illness, adjustment to physical illness, learning difficulties, sexual problems, relationship issues, neurological disorders etc. They may undertake a clinical assessment to investigate a clients’ situation using psychometric tests, interviews and direct behavioural observations. Assessment may lead to individual or group therapy which a Clinical Psychologist may deliver or supervise other healthcare staff to deliver. Clinical Psychologists also partake in a number of leadership roles such as delivering training. Most clinical psychologists are employed by the National Health Service (NHS) working largely in health and social care settings including hospitals, health centres, community mental health teams, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and social services. They work with adults, children and young people, older people and individuals with disabilities. However, a large number of individuals within prison and probation settings have mental health problems, therefore Clinical Psychologists can and do work in a number of forensic settings again completing tasks such as risk assessment, advising parole boards and mental health tribunals concerning release decisions, supervising staff and developing and delivering therapy. Therefore in addition to being able to work in a variety of mainstream and specialised healthcare settings, being a Clinical Psychologist does not exclude you from working with individuals with offending histories and in forensic settings.
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
In order to be a Clinical Psychologist you need to complete a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Applications for most Doctorate courses are made through the Clearing House for Postgraduate Training Courses in Clinical Psychology (www.leeds.ac.uk/chpccp/). The Clearing House works with a number of clinical doctorate course centres. You choose which course centres to apply to, with a limit of four for NHS funded courses.
The doctorate in clinical psychology combines academic and practical training, including both clinical placements and research and lasts three years (full-time). There are no part-time or distance learning courses.
What academic experience do I need?
Clinical Psychology doctorate course centres are primarily looking for applicants with a 1st class honours or a good 2:1 honours degree recognised by the British Psychological Society as conferring Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC). The application process for all psychology degree programmes is administered by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). www.ucas.com/ Some course centres consider applicants with a 2:2 but they usually ask for further evidence of academic ability e.g. having a Master’s degree. Securing a place is very competitive with only around 15% of clinical psychology doctorate applicants securing a place (2014 figures).
What work experience do I need?
Similar to becoming a Forensic Psychologist, it is important to think about gaining relevant work experience as soon as you decide this is your preferred career path. Course centres look for applicants to have relevant work experience, for instance as an 'assistant psychologist' or 'research assistant' but work experience could include being a Support Worker or Health Care Assistant or working in other caring or service roles in the private or charitable sectors. Work may be part-time or full-time, voluntary or paid work.
You will find that some course centres lay down more specific requirements or give advice on how to go about gaining experience so do check the course centre you are interested in. If you go onto the Clearing House website they have links to the various course centres they work with. Read the information about each course centre carefully to ensure you meet their entry requirements before you make your choice. All these courses are approved by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and make you eligible to apply for registration with them as a Clinical Psychologist. All the courses are also accredited by the British Psychological Society.
Selection Procedure
Each course centre will have a selection process. The purpose of selection is to find the best candidates both for the academic programme and for a training contract with an NHS employer. This involves short-listing from (typically hundreds of) applications, but can also involve pre-selection written screening exercises and tests, as well as selection interviews considering personal, professional, clinical and academic abilities. Selection interviews can include mock role-plays and/or presentations. Typically candidates' scores from all interviews and any pre-selection written exercises are combined and the candidates placed in rank order. The successful candidates are those who attain the highest ranked scores overall.
Funding
Unlike qualifying as a Forensic Psychologist in which courses are typically self-funded (unless your employer contributes), the National Health Service (NHS) provides the funding for most of the places on clinical psychology courses. People accepted on these NHS funded places are currently employed by the NHS as Trainee Clinical Psychologists while they study. The minimum salary is £25,783 pa, which is the bottom of Band 6 (April 2014 figures) on the Agenda for Change pay scale (see www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/working-in-the-nhs/pay-and-benefits/agenda-for-change-pay-rates/)
Once qualified clinical psychologists typically start on within a band 7 (minimum £30,764) or a band 8a position (minimum £39,239).
Contact The Clearing House for Postgraduate Training Courses in Clinical Psychology directly for more information on the application process, what is expected, international applicants, applicants with disabilities, criminal record checks and other checks, etc.
Also see www.clinpsy.org.uk/forum/ which is a forum for aspiring and qualified clinical psychologists.
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