OFFICIAL
Job Description (JD)
Band 5
Group Profile: Trainee Psychotherapist (TP)
Job Description: TP: Trainee Psychotherapist
Document Ref.
OR-JES-3127-JDB5: TP: Trainee Psychotherapist
Document Type
Management
Version
1.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
19 June 2025
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
OFFICIAL
OR-JES-3127-JD-B5: TP: Trainee Psychotherapist v1.0
OFFICIAL
Job Description
Job Title
Trainee Psychotherapist
Group Profile
Trainee Psychotherapist
Organisation
First Line Management
Level
Band
5
Overview of the
This is a non-operational, prisoner-facing role that aims to
job
reduce the risk of re-offending and promote psychological
wellbeing for those who are participating in Democratic
Therapeutic Community (DTC) treatment by contributing clinical,
psychotherapeutic input within DTCs.
All work will be conducted under the supervision of a registered
psychotherapist.
Summary
This position involves working within a multidisciplinary team to
deliver accredited Therapeutic Community treatment aimed at
reducing risk and enhancing psychological wellbeing. The focus
of the work is based on therapeutic community principles of
relationally based, psychotherapeutic work delivered in a safe
and cohesive social environment. The job holder is responsible
for ensuring they are constantly progressing to the level of a
registered psychotherapist. The job holder will be provided with a
range of opportunities to progress which they are expected to
use to the best advantage of their training and development. The
job holder will have experience and/or relevant training in
psychodynamic and psychotherapeutic models of treatment or in
specific area such as group analysis or working with people with
complex needs or personality disorder. This is a non‐operational
job with no line management responsibilities.
Responsibilities,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following
Activities and
responsibilities, activities and duties:
Duties
• Specialise in the clinical delivery of an accredited
intervention (Democratic Therapeutic Community)
ensuring that clinical requirements are adhered to and
complement operational practice.
• Co-facilitate therapy groups providing a specialist group
analytic or psychotherapeutic contribution supporting co-
facilitators and other staff engaged in group delivery.
• Contribute to the integrity and effectiveness of the group
sessions by ensuring they adhere to relevant professional
standards.
• Contribute to ensuring that the delivery of treatment
complies with the requirements of the programme and
remains consistent with the underlying theoretical models
and prescribed delivery style.
OFFICIAL
OR-JES-3127-JD-B5: TP: Trainee Psychotherapist v1.0
OFFICIAL
• Where agreed with the training provider and clinical
supervisor to provide supervision to other TC
practitioners.
• Provide professional clinical input in formal settings where
specialist input is required, such as re-categorisation
boards and multi-agency meetings.
• Provide clinical formulation and implementation of plans
for psychotherapeutic treatment or management of
resident’s mental health problems based on current
evidence-based best practice within the Therapeutic
Community.
• Contribute to the preparation for external clinical audit of
the therapeutic community, including preparation of case
studies, detailed self-reviews and liaison with external
agencies such as the community of communities.
• Provide specialist reports and assessments when
requested for prisoners and to submit within the
appropriate time framework.
• Offer advice/assist in target setting for community
members.
• Be involved in the development and delivery of training.
• Maintain professional networks with other clinicians and
TCs sharing best practice.
• Participate in psychotherapy training, supervision groups
and any other training events as and when required by
their training provider with the goal of achieving qualified
psychotherapist recognition.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is
at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is
expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of
a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments
may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme
and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.
An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence
through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales)
Welsh.
Behaviours
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Developing Self and Others
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
Strengths
Note: We recommend you choose 4 to 8 strengths locally -
select from the list of Civil Service strength definitions on the
intranet.
Experience
• Experience of working as a practitioner within a
psychotherapeutic environment within a secure setting (i.e.
Interventions Facilitator nurse/prison officer, support worker,
clinical facilitator).
OFFICIAL
OR-JES-3127-JD-B5: TP: Trainee Psychotherapist v1.0
OFFICIAL
Technical
• An undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification in a
requirements
Social Science or related field.
• All post holders are expected to undertake a psychotherapy
qualification and to qualify as a registered psychotherapist
within a five-year period.
• Undertake at least monthly supervision with a qualified,
registered, psychotherapist.
• Have experience of, or be willing to have training in, the wider
HMPPS organisation in which the DTC is located.
Ability
Minimum
Please do not alter this box
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 HMPPS consider to be racist.
Hours of Work
Leave Blank
(Unsocial Hours) To be used by the JES Team only
Allowances
OFFICIAL
OR-JES-3127-JD-B5: TP: Trainee Psychotherapist v1.0