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You’ll need an honours degree in psychology to become a member of the Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society which allows you to apply for post graduate courses in forensic psychology.

Most jobs in the NHS are covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay scales. After completing their training, forensic psychologists will be paid at band 7. Forensic psychologists in the NHS will usually work standard hours of 37.5 per week. Terms and conditions can vary for employers outside of the NHS.

On a daily basis you will use a broad range of skills, including a thorough knowledge of psychological theory and practice, an interest in how people think and behave and the ability to relate to a wide range of people.You'll need to be a patient, sympathetic and the ability to work on your own and in consultation with others.

Some psychologists decide to do into management and lead a team of professionals. You could decide to go into clinical academic research to support the development of the profession.You could also apply for a trainee high intensity therapist position, enabling you to work under the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies initiative.

To practise as a social worker in England, you must be registered with Social Work England. To register with Social Work England, you need to study for an approved programme in social work. Degree courses take three or four years full time and some combine social work with mental health or learning disability nursing. To get onto a social work degree course you usually need appropriate level 3 qualifications. If you already have a degree in another subject, you could take a postgraduate qualification (Diploma or Masters) in social work; train through Step up to Social Work (combining work and study), apply for the Frontline 2-year programme combining study with supervised practical work in child protection or the 2-year Think Ahead fast-track scheme to become a mental health social worker. The scheme blends academic learning with extensive on-the-job experience. A degree apprenticeship in social work has also been approved.

Social workers working in the NHS are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. You would typically start on AfC band 6. With further training and experience, you could apply for more senior positions at bands 7 and above. Most social workers in the NHS work standard hours, which are likely to be around 37.5 a week. They may work some evenings or weekends. Terms and conditions will usually be different for social workers working outside of the NHS.

Social workers need to be able to work under pressure, deal with very challenging behaviour, organise their own workload, be understanding of other people’s lifestyles, work with people from all walks of life and be happy visiting people where they live. They also need organisational skills, empathy (able to see things from other points of view), relationship-building skills, resilience, problem-solving skills and motivational skills.

You may decide to specialise in a particular client group or issue such as the elderly, young people, substance misuse, mental health or domestic violence. You could train as a high intensity therapist, as part of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service. With experience, you could become a senior social worker, supervising the work of other social workers, or a primary mental health worker in child and adolescent mental health services. You may be able to progress into a management position, responsible for a department or an area.