Trainee Counselling Psychologist Placement with Youth 
Custody Service (YCS)
The YCS is offering Trainee Counselling Psychology
placements.
The placement is to work with children aged 15-18 years with 
complex needs within a custodial setting. Some work is likely to be short-term, but 
there is scope for longer term work. 
The placement is a rich opportunity for a Trainee Counselling Psychologist to work 
within a large organisation and demonstrate the benefits of a Counselling Psychology 
approach. It’s a rewarding placement where a Trainee will work as part of a multi-
disciplinary team and will provide therapeutic input with children who may not have 
previously engaged with talk therapy.
Environment, population and challenges
There are four Youth Offenders Institutions (YOI) across the UK and they are HMYOI 
Cookham wood, HMYOI Feltham and HMYOI Wetherby and Werrington. Each has 
their own unique culture and service.
Trainee Counselling Psychologists interested in a placement at either of the YOIs are
advised to consider that the environment and population will present practical and 
emotional challenges not experienced in other environments. The children will often 
have experienced extremely adverse conditions and events, including abuse, which 
may have resulted in emotional regulation issues, trauma and engagement
difficulties.
The placement is within a custodial setting so Trainees will be required to carry keys 
and keep all gates locked at all times. The children are encouraged to attend a range 
of activities so Education, the gym, family visits and interventions, such as
psychological counselling. Given the emphasis on education and on the system 
having to respond quickly to violence and risk there may sometimes be delays to 
sessions, difficulties access young people, so booked sessions may need to be
rescheduled. The environment is challenging but is one in which a Trainee 
counselling psychologist will build on their resilience, clinical experience and partner 
with a creative and dedicated specialist staff team. A team comprised of custodial 
officers and a multi-disciplinary CAMHS team.
The fundamentals

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The Trainee Counselling Psychologist (s) on placement will work from the 
Psychology Department made up of Trainee Forensic Psychologist at various stages 
of training, Registered Psychologist and at some sites there is also a Family 
Therapist. Clinical supervision will be provided by a registered Psychologist. 
The Trainee(s) can agree to a 6 month placement, however a 12 month contract 
and longer is preferred because it provides a better depth of experience and 
learning. The Trainee will attend the placement once a week. Days are negotiable.
They can see up to four clients, depending on experience and gaining familiarity 
with the setting. If the YOI has a family therapist the Trainee may want to join the 
Family Therapy team. There are opportunities for assessment, formulation, 
treatment planning and therapy. 
Application process
The placement will be advertised on the civil service jobs website. Due to the 
security of the environment it is important that a good fit between the Trainee 
Counselling Psychologist and the placement is found. Therefore applicants will be 
asked to provide a CV and covering letter explaining how they see their experience 
and skills fit this placement. Interviews will be offered in order to further ensure a 
suitable fit. Interviews will focus on the Trainee’s understanding of what it means to
work in a secure environment, responding to the children’s needs and dealing with 
challenges to resilience that this placement may pose as well as on multi-disciplinary 
team working within such a setting. The interview panel will likely include a child.
The successful Trainee will need to have enhanced DBS clearance. Undertaking 
Prison Service security checks after the interview will also be necessary. This process
is slow and can take several weeks. The successful Trainee will undertake a brief (4
day) induction programme to ensure they know about Prison Service processes and 
about the teams that they will be working with as well as feel confident in the 
environment. The Induction programme normally takes place once a month Monday-
Thursday. You will also be required to produce a Covering Letter.
Contact / questions welcome so if you are interested in finding out more before 
applying. Please email: hradmin.psychology@Justice.gov.uk
THIS PLACEMENT IS FOR A TRAINEE COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGIST. 
YOUR APPLICATION WILL ONLY BE CONSIDERED IF YOU HAVE A 
PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE AND ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN FURTHER 
STUDY TO BE REGISTERED AS A COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGIST. DO NOT 
ENQUIRE OR APPLY IF YOU DO NOT MEET THIS REQUIREMENT.

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