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• Forensic psychologist (prison and probation services): Typical employers/vacancy sources

Forensic psychologist (prison and probation services): Typical employers/vacancy sources

Typical employers

Forensic psychology is one of the fastest growing areas of employment for psychology graduates. Forensic psychologists work in the criminal and civil justice field, mainly in the prison service but also the probation service. In England and Wales, recruitment is conducted through HM Prison Service and the National Probation Service . They are separate employers, with some differences in conditions of service, even though both work together under the remit of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) , which is a government agency. HM Prison Service, in England and Wales, is divided into 11 areas and each has an area psychologist. Additionally, there is an area psychologist representing high security prisons. The Scottish Prison Service and Northern Ireland Prison Service recruit independently of the prison service in England and Wales.

The National Probation Service of England and Wales was launched in its current form on 1 April 2001. It comprises a central national directorate and 42 local probation areas (contact details are available on the National Probation Service website). Recruitment is managed at local level so refer to individual probation areas for vacancies. In Northern Ireland, probation work is carried out by the Probation Board for Northern Ireland . The situation in Scotland is rather different in that there is no probation service: the equivalent remit is delivered at local level by the Criminal Justice Social Work Development Centre for Scotland .

Forensic psychologists are increasingly being employed outside the prison and probation services. An emerging major employer is The National Health Service (NHS) , where psychologists are based in special hospitals; opportunities also exist in secure hospitals in the private sector. For more information on the role of a forensic psychologist in the NHS consult NHS Careers . Universities provide opportunities in research and lecturing roles; opportunities also exist in the police, social services, the Home Office and private consultancy.

Sources of vacancies

Search graduate jobs on this site.

• Psychologist Appointments
• Psychminded
• The National Probation Service recruitment pages
• HM Prison Service and Home Office website
• NHS Jobs
• Probation Bulletin
• Civil Service Careers
• Police Recruitment
• Mental Health Jobs
• Community Care
• Social Services Yearbook
• The Guardian (Wednesdays)
• local government (Local Government Jobs ) and local authority vacancy bulletins.

See also job hunting tips and applications, CVs and interviews.

AGCAS

Written by David Henderson, University of Durham

Last updated:

October 2009

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