24003 - Band 8 Senior Registered Psychologist
As part of the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway two additional services are being commissioned in NW prisons, a PIPE for prisoners convicted of a sexual offence and a small preparation PIPE for men presenting with complex needs. NW Psychological Services has responsibility for the clinical input to the two new services as well as an existing PIPE at HMP Wymott. Each PIPE has a B8 clinical lead, responsible for ensuring the clinical integrity of the service, supporting staff, overseeing selection of prisoners and contributing to developing the ethos of the service. The post-holder will report to the B9 Cluster Lead and will be expected to be part of the wider NWPS team.
For more information please contact Carol Bond, NW Regional Psychologist carol.bond@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
Overview of the job
This is non-operational prisoner facing job
Summary
The job holders covered by this job description are usually categorised as specialists in their field or those whose role requires significant additional experience, training and personal development.
The job holder will largely excel in the area of individual prisoner risk assessment or be a specialist in a specific area such as working with sex offenders. At this level the jobholder may have responsibility for the key specialist tasks involved in the delivery of a programme or related individual case management which would also entail overseeing the quality of delivery and supervision. They will also provide direction and support for other supervisors. This is a non-operational and non rotational job.
The job holder will be working with complex prisoners and prison staff and applying their experience and competence in the area of psychology to reduce the risk of harm and re-offending by undertaking complex risk assessment of prisoners, conducting research, providing consultancy and delivering training for staff and interventions (individual and group) for prisoners.
Responsibilities,Activities and Duties
The job holder will be require to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
Reviews cases and reconsiders the professional advice given by other psychologists on the potential release of serious prisoners
Conducts full case reviews on difficult cases and offers authoritative advice on next steps relating to sentence plan
Specialises in delivery of psychology services in settings such as therapeutic community wings
Lead and supervise and facilitate group sessions
Offers professional opinion to multi functional teams conducting offender reports e.g. risk reports, parole reports on high risk or vulnerable prisoners
Develops and/or strategies such as sex offender or indeterminate sentence prisoner assessment and intervention strategy
Delivers and supervises (treatment management) the delivery of more complex programmes e.g. healthy sexual functioning
Provides consultancy support to colleagues such as an establishment Senior
Management Team (SMT) in relation to psychology services and outcomes
Conducts relevant research including data gathering and analysis
Act as a professinoal witness in parole borad meetings, multi -agency meetings, and other formal settings where psychology input is required. May also act as expert witness in respect of court proceedings for Ministry of Justice
Responsible for managing and providing professional supervision to trainee forensic psychology staff
Provides supervision, training, mentoring and support to trainee psychologists and where relevant other staff such as interventions staff
Assist in national specialist tasks such as training on courses related to their specialist discipline
Provides professional supervision to support a trainee in developing through the key steps towards chartered and registered status. This may be as a coordinating or designated supervisor
Ensures staff are developed in accordance with key competencies and gateways and ensuring consistency across the team in the application of policies and procedures affecting staff and offenders
Leads on risk assessment and resulting risk management of complex, vulnerable or high risk prisoners. Will be competent to undertake the full range of risk assessments including the more complex risk assessments. Gives feedback of the assessment to the prisoner and other stakeholders
Contributes to other offender management processes (usually with more complex cases in work such as Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) assessments and self harm or personality disorder assessments)
Provides consultancy role to wider team on their specialist activity. Visit a range of sites to advise on complex cases
Act as a negotiation adviser where suitable and competence has been demonstrated
Manage own Continued Professional Development (CPD) requirements and maintains professional standards
Ensure they maintain their professional Health Professions Council (HPC) registration
Provide a psychological contribution to the work of areas of the regime such as a therapeutic community
Provide psychological reports when requested for life sentence prisoners and to submit within the appropriate time framework
Responsible for relevant accreditation audit baselines as detailed in the audit document
Line management of trainee psychologists
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
Competencies
All of the competencies in the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Competency and Qualities Framework are relevant to this group profile. For the purpose of selection the following competencies will be measured:
3. Making Effective Decisions
4. Leading and Communicating
5. Collaborating and Partnering
6. Building Capability for All
9. Managing a Quality Service
12. Showing Drive and Resilience
Essential Skills/Qualifications/Accreditation/Registration
The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health
Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title. They are likely to also be a Chartered Psychologist and Full member of the appropriate division of the BPS if the post requires it. They are likely to have been registered for a minimum of two years.
An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh
Hours of Work and Allowances
37 hour working week
Qualifications
The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title. They are likely to also be a Chartered Psychologist and Full member of the appropriate division of the BPS if the post requires it. They are likely to have been registered for a minimum of two years.
Professional memberships
The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title. They are likely to also be a Chartered Psychologist and Full member of the appropriate division of the BPS if the post requires it. They are likely to have been registered for a minimum of two years.
Languages
Spoken English
Working Arrangements & Further Information
Some of MoJ’s, including HMPPS, terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
Standard working hours for this post are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid.
If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.
The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.
Benefits
Annual Leave
-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.
Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays
-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment
Pension
-The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Work Life Balance
-HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ
Season Ticket Advance
-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work
Childcare Vouchers
-HMPPS offers a childcare vouchers scheme. The scheme enables staff to take part of their salary in the form of Childcare Vouchers. This is known as a Salary Sacrifice. The vouchers can then be used to help meet the costs of any form of registered or approved childcare for children aged 0-16. The vouchers are exempt from tax and National Insurance contributions
Training
-HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes
-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provide a variety of training appropriate to individual posts
-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles
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 considers to be racist
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.
There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
11/02/2019, 23:55 hours.
Closing date: 11/02/19 at 23:55 hours
If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk. Please quote the job reference.
Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.
We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.
Application form stage assessments
Interview stage assessments
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
· UK nationals
· nationals of the Republic of Ireland
· nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
· individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
· Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
This Vacancy is closed to applications.