Occupational psychology is the government profession concerned with the performance of people at work and how individuals, groups and organisations behave.
Our work
The work we do covers a wide range of activities that span the five areas of occupational psychology:
- psychological assessment at work
- learning, training, and development
- leadership, engagement, and motivation
- wellbeing at work
- work design, organisational change and development
We have approximately 250 members across all the major government departments and many agencies and arms-length bodies. This makes us the largest occupational psychology community in the UK. Our members work in both designated occupational psychology jobs and jobs in other professions and functions – all using their occupational psychology skills and knowledge to solve organisational challenges.
‘The civil service is the largest single employer of aspiring, trainee and fully qualified Occupational Psychologists. Through collective people interventions we play a big role in creating safe, skilled, and productive government departments.”
Dr Antonia Dietmann, C.Psychol, FBPSsS, Registered Occupational Psychologist
Head of the Government Occupational Psychology Profession
What you can do as part of our profession
The profession is uniquely positioned to improve the performance effectiveness and working environment of today’s civil service. We give decision-makers occupational psychology evidence-based advice and services to improve organisational effectiveness, employment experiences, public policy and the quality of UK public services.
Key psychology roles are found in these departments and agencies:
- Department for Work & Pensions
- Ministry of Justice
- Ministry of Defence
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- College of Policing
- Cabinet Office
We have 250 members across government, in both psychology roles and other role types.
We do a wide variety of work, such as:
- assessing police officers/prison officers/military
- the safety of rail/road/air
- researching employees’ experience
- developing leadership programmes
- reviewing organisational culture
- assisting with job search and support
- designing internal and public policies
- coaching
We are a vibrant community connected through our group on KnowledgeHub and the Government Occupational Psychology Profession Board.
You might find yourself . . .
- designing group sessions to support long term unemployed people to rejoin the workforce
- developing an in-house psychometric to support civil service wide recruitment and development
- creating tools to monitor and reduce workplace stress
- identifying ways to improve inclusion within the workplace
What these activities have in common is the value of our work in supporting key challenges tackled by the civil service. We offer the opportunity to support large scale projects that add real value. The responsibility is huge, but our vast network ensures that you will have support from subject matter to deliver evidence-based work that contributes to lasting change.
The Government Occupational Psychology Profession is open to all current civil servants (and some Crown servants).
We include in our profession anyone who holds a psychology undergraduate degree (BSc or equivalent) and intends to complete, is currently undertaking, or who has completed a postgraduate (MSc) qualification in occupational psychology (or similarly titled course).
If you are a current civil servant and meet these criteria, please contact government.occupationalpsychprofession@DWP.GOV.UK to request to join the profession.
Our members work in both designated occupational psychology jobs and jobs in other professions and functions, e.g. Human Resources, Analysis, Research, Operational Delivery. We recognise members of our profession might hold dual professional identities and memberships with another government profession. We embrace the diversity this brings to our community and our professional practice.
We are looking for people who:
- are dedicated to making a difference to others by developing high quality solutions
- enjoy and see the value in collaboration
- are open to a diverse range of perspectives
- want to learn and continuously improve
We are a large, supportive and collaborative community. Everyone is willing to help each other and to provide knowledge and information.
Being part of the profession offers:
- a variety of work
- an online network
- specialist training
- learning events
- conferences
- interest groups
- specialist pay/allowances (departmental policies apply)
- project swaps
- BPS/HCPC fees paid (departmental policies apply)
- financial and supervisor support for the qualification to attain C.Psychol & HCPC Registered status (designated psychology posts and subject to local business decision in other posts)
- relevant work experience
- departmental libraries (where available)
For more information about Occupational Psychology roles in the Civil Service, and the related skills and standards, see our resources below:
Here are some example job profiles from our profession’s members, past and present
Hear from Anna about her work at HMRC
Anna is the Organisation Design and Development Lead.
Read about a typical day for Susanne
Susanne is the Head of Civil Service Strategic Organisational Design and Development Projects at the Cabinet Office.
Hear from Michelle about her role at the Ministry of Justice
Michelle is a Principal Occupational Psychologist.
Read about Elly’s current Psychologist role
Elly works for the College of Policing.