About

I am an Associate Lecturer in Forensic Psychology, an HCPC Registered and BPS Chartered Forensic Psychologist. I teach Postgraduate Forensic Psychology qualifications at the University of Derby. Alongside lecturing, I am a practising psychologist employed by His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service in a Senior Psychologist role.

I am on the BPS register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors. I have worked in forensic settings for over 15 years with a variety of client groups including people who have committed violent offences, young adults who have been given life sentences, prisoners who persistently self-harm and people who have committed sexual offences. I provide psychological training to a range of professionals, offer psychological consultancy and am actively involved in applied research. I provide clinical supervision to Trainee Psychologists as part of their journey to becoming Registered Psychologists with the HCPC.

Teaching responsibilities

I teach both the online and on-campus versions of the MSc in Forensic Psychology, specifically leading the module 'The Psychology of the Offender and Victim'. I provide academic supervision for MSc empirical research projects. I also lead the 'Teaching and Training Others' module on the Post Graduate Diploma in Forensic Psychology Practice.

Professional interests

My overarching interest is in making a career in forensic psychology more inclusive to people from a diverse range of backgrounds. This translates into my accessible style of supervision and management of people who are training to become Forensic Psychologists. 

I am currently the psychology lead at a prison for people who have committed sexual offences and have a strong interest in approaches to support distance from sexual offending and accurate risk assessment of those who sexually offend. Due to my consultancy work, I focus much of my professional interest and development on; understanding effective approaches to reducing self-harm and suicide in prisons, understanding prison debt, the link between brain injury and harmful behaviour within prisons and mitigating the impact of suicide in custody on custodial staff.

I am interested in understanding the impact of perceptions of people who commit sexual offences within the criminal justice system, and how to effectively address myths about self-harm.

Research interests

• Evaluating interventions for self-harm in prisons
• Why people desist from harmful behaviour in custodial settings
• The link between brain injury and harmful behaviour in custodial settings 

Membership of professional bodies

• Chartered Member of The British Psychological Society
• Registered Psychologist with The Health & Care Professions Council

Qualifications

• Stage Two Qualification in Forensic Psychology - British Psychological Society 
• Postgraduate Certificate in Expert Witness - University of Central Lancashire 
• MSc Applied Forensic Psychology - University of Leicester
• BSc Psychology - University of Leicester

Recent conferences

• 2019 -Division of Forensic Psychology Conference by The British Psychological Society- Exploring the impact of traumatic brain injury on prison assaults and problematic anger in a sample of adult male prisoners. Jolene Braiden, HMPPS 

Experience in industry

I have worked in a range of roles and settings during the previous 15 years. This has included the delivery, management and clinical oversight of accredited custodial interventions for people who pose a moderate or high risk of recidivism. I have developed bespoke interventions for a range of forensic clients including those with neurodiversity considerations. I have undertaken psychological risk assessments on a range of clients and provided evidence about matters of risk and psychological functioning in formal settings. I have trained psychological and non-psychological professionals in a range of relevant areas including providing professional evidence, effectively working with people serving life sentences and working with those who repeatedly self-harm.

Recent publications

Taylor, J. (2023). Isn't is time for forensic psychologists to stop using the term 'gang'? Forensic Update, 144, 25-31. https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsfu.2023.1.144.25