Oxford Health NHS Trust

Good Lives Practitioner

The closing date is 18 February 2026

Job summary

Are you looking for a new challenge within an innovative NHS service? Do you have a compassionate, creative approach and a commitment to trauma-informed care and supporting people with complex needs?

We are recruiting Band 4 Good Lives Practitioners to join our team across the Thames Valley region.

The Enhanced Intensive Intervention and Risk Management Service (EIIRMS) is a specialist partnership between Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The service aims to improve psychological wellbeing, address barriers to engagement, reduce risk linked to offending, and minimise the risk of serious harm.

The role involves supporting the assessment and delivery of practical psychosocial interventions under the supervision of qualified clinicians, engaging service users, and contributing to recovery-focused, multidisciplinary care plans.

Main duties of the job

  • Work collaboratively with members of the Thames Valley Integrated OPD Pathway Service multidisciplinary team to develop and deliver appropriate psychosocial interventions for service users.

  • Support the planning, development, and delivery of a psychosocial and psychologically informed service for individuals with offending histories and associated interpersonal difficulties.

  • Deliver interventions under the supervision of the Clinical Lead for the Thames Valley Integrated OPD Pathway Service.

  • Contribute to service governance and evaluation by supporting the collection and reporting of data for commissioning and quality improvement purposes.

  • Support qualified clinicians in the delivery of psychosocial formulations and interventions as required.

  • Participate in wider forensic psychology team activities, including continuing professional development opportunities.

  • Develop and maintain effective working relationships with partner agencies, including Probation Services and voluntary sector organisations.

About us

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

o Excellent opportunities for career progressiono Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and developmento 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous serviceo NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailerso Competitive pension schemeo Lease car schemeo Cycle to work schemeo Employee Assistance Programmeo Mental Health First Aiderso Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)o Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Details

Date posted

04 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year NA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

267-FS7757676

Job locations

Manzil Way Resource Centre

Manzil Way

Oxford

OX4 1XE


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Support the identification of appropriate referrals to the service through suitability consultations with HMPPS staff.

  • Support and contribute to the planning, delivery, and evaluation of evidence-based psychosocial interventions, working collaboratively with relevant professionals to ensure interventions are meaningful and integrated within a wider framework of support.

  • Contribute to the delivery of a psychosocial and psychologically informed service across the Thames Valley, including travel to Probation and Health bases. The post holder will manage a caseload across multiple sites within the region.

  • Encourage and support service users to maintain regular engagement with the Thames Valley Integrated OPD Pathway Service, promoting the development and use of skills.

  • Build effective and supportive working relationships with individuals who may be experiencing distress or communication difficulties, and motivate them to engage with the service.

  • Monitor service user progress, taking account of environmental factors, and adapt interventions through supervision as required.

  • Manage an agreed, prioritised caseload under the supervision of senior clinical staff and with support from a qualified clinician.

  • Work collaboratively with colleagues and partner agencies to ensure a coordinated approach to risk management, care, and treatment

The role is subject to Job evaluation

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Support the identification of appropriate referrals to the service through suitability consultations with HMPPS staff.

  • Support and contribute to the planning, delivery, and evaluation of evidence-based psychosocial interventions, working collaboratively with relevant professionals to ensure interventions are meaningful and integrated within a wider framework of support.

  • Contribute to the delivery of a psychosocial and psychologically informed service across the Thames Valley, including travel to Probation and Health bases. The post holder will manage a caseload across multiple sites within the region.

  • Encourage and support service users to maintain regular engagement with the Thames Valley Integrated OPD Pathway Service, promoting the development and use of skills.

  • Build effective and supportive working relationships with individuals who may be experiencing distress or communication difficulties, and motivate them to engage with the service.

  • Monitor service user progress, taking account of environmental factors, and adapt interventions through supervision as required.

  • Manage an agreed, prioritised caseload under the supervision of senior clinical staff and with support from a qualified clinician.

  • Work collaboratively with colleagues and partner agencies to ensure a coordinated approach to risk management, care, and treatment

The role is subject to Job evaluation

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology or similar social science subject.

Desirable

  • Further training relevant in relevant areas of psychology, social science or mental health.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with difficult to engage populations, particularly individuals with interpersonal difficulties and/or diagnosed personality disorders.
  • Experience of working with people from a range of diverse social and ethnic backgrounds.
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary working and in the development and maintenance of professional relationships with external partner agencies.
  • Effective skills in using supervision, which includes self-reflective skills around workload monitoring, personal development and performance appraisal.
  • Experience of motivating people to attend sessions or take part in tasks / activities

Desirable

  • Experience of working in forensic settings or with people with offending histories.
  • Experience of planning and running therapeutic interventions.

kowledge & Skills

Essential

  • Understanding of risk factors associated with working with service users within offending histories and personality difficulties and how to manage these risks effectively.
  • Demonstrates a professional approach including boundary keeping to relationships with staff and service users.
  • Ability to work as a team member, remaining adaptable to changing demands within the team.
  • Able to solve problem and use solution-focused approaches and recognise own limitations.
  • High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of Criminal Justice System structure and procedures.

Personal

Essential

  • Ability to maintain high level of professionalism when faced with highly distressing material, problems and circumstances, including challenging behaviour, verbal abuse and occasional threatened physical abuse from clients
  • An ability to reflect on their practice with peers and within supervision.
  • Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
  • Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.

Other

Essential

  • Driving licence and access to a vehicle.
  • Ability to travel between sites as required by service delivery.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology or similar social science subject.

Desirable

  • Further training relevant in relevant areas of psychology, social science or mental health.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with difficult to engage populations, particularly individuals with interpersonal difficulties and/or diagnosed personality disorders.
  • Experience of working with people from a range of diverse social and ethnic backgrounds.
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary working and in the development and maintenance of professional relationships with external partner agencies.
  • Effective skills in using supervision, which includes self-reflective skills around workload monitoring, personal development and performance appraisal.
  • Experience of motivating people to attend sessions or take part in tasks / activities

Desirable

  • Experience of working in forensic settings or with people with offending histories.
  • Experience of planning and running therapeutic interventions.

kowledge & Skills

Essential

  • Understanding of risk factors associated with working with service users within offending histories and personality difficulties and how to manage these risks effectively.
  • Demonstrates a professional approach including boundary keeping to relationships with staff and service users.
  • Ability to work as a team member, remaining adaptable to changing demands within the team.
  • Able to solve problem and use solution-focused approaches and recognise own limitations.
  • High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of Criminal Justice System structure and procedures.

Personal

Essential

  • Ability to maintain high level of professionalism when faced with highly distressing material, problems and circumstances, including challenging behaviour, verbal abuse and occasional threatened physical abuse from clients
  • An ability to reflect on their practice with peers and within supervision.
  • Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
  • Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.

Other

Essential

  • Driving licence and access to a vehicle.
  • Ability to travel between sites as required by service delivery.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

Manzil Way Resource Centre

Manzil Way

Oxford

OX4 1XE


Employer's website

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

Manzil Way Resource Centre

Manzil Way

Oxford

OX4 1XE


Employer's website

https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant Forensic Psychologist

john cordwell

john.cordwell@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

07801284513

Details

Date posted

04 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year NA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

267-FS7757676

Job locations

Manzil Way Resource Centre

Manzil Way

Oxford

OX4 1XE


Supporting documents

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