21514 - Registered Psychologist

More than most, you know that what’s on the surface seldom tells the whole tale. So whether you’re dealing with first or frequent offenders, you’ll look to uncover the full story behind the vulnerable people in our care.

The biggest employers of psychologists in the country, we aim to reduce re-offending and help more individuals go on to lead better lives. You’ll be doing complex work in prisons, which are an environment like no other. It will see you assess high-risk offenders, do intervention work, act as a consultant for governors and senior management, carry out research, and train and supervise others.

You could be based anywhere from a young offenders institution to a high security establishment as your career progresses – which it will.

Throughout, you’ll be alongside award-winning colleagues who believe in meaningful work and in building a place of safety and rehabilitation for men, women and young people.

We’re specifically looking for Forensic Psychologists, though we’re happy to hear from you if you’re a qualified psychologist and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.

New entrants will join within the salary range for our Band 7 Registered Psychologists;

Inner London Area – Minimum £38,196 - Maximum £45,836
Outer London Area - Minimum £37,065 - Maximum £44,879
National – Minimum £34,897 - Maximum £41,878

Overview of the job

This is non-operational prisoner facing job

Summary

The job holder will be working with prisoners and staff and applying their competence in the area of psychology to reduce the risk of harm and of re-offending by undertaking a range of work including risk assessment of prisoners, conducting research, providing consultancy and delivering training for staff and assessment and interventions for prisoners. This is non-operational and non rotational prisoner facing job

This job holder will be able to provide designated support and supervision to trainee psychologists.  

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• Offer authoritative professional advice on targets and objectives for relevant offenders and advise on the best location for those offenders (both within the establishment or relocation to another category establishment)
• Offer professional opinion to teams conducting prisoner reports e.g. lifer reports, parole reports
• Develop strategy and plans of activity for some areas of operation e.g. manages the organisation of Sex Offender Treatment Programme (SOTP) assessments or manages assessment and interviews indeterminate sentence prisoners
• Provide consultancy support to colleagues such as the establishments SMT or other teams in relation to psychology services and outcomes.
• Conduct relevant research including data gathering and analysis
• Responsible for managing and providing supervision to trainee forensic psychology staff
• Provide training, mentoring and support to trainee psychologists and other staff (e.g. interventions staff).
• Can be required to provide professional (designated) supervision of trainee’s e.g. professional Supervision to ensure that a trainee is able to develop through the key steps towards chartered and registered status.
• Ensure 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 prisoners
• Lead on risk assessment and resulting risk management of prisoners
• Participate in risk assessment of prisoners to determine their risk of harm to self, others and the risk of reoffending. May undertake Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) and self-harm assessments.
• Can be required to deliver and/or oversee the quality of programmes (treatment management). These will be of the more complex type requiring such qualified input
• Provide consultancy role on specialist area e.g. Sex Offender Treatment Programme (SOTP) strategy or Indeterminate Sentenced Prisoners (ISP) Strategy
• Act as a negotiation adviser where suitable and competence has been demonstrated
• Act as a “professional witness” in parole board hearings, 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.
• Maintain own Continued Professional Development (CPD) an registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC

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
• 14. Persuading and Influencing

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 such as Forensic. They may also be a Chartered Psychologist and Full member of the appropriate division of the British Psychological Society (BPS) if the post requires it.

Hours of Work and Allowances

37 hour working week

Closing Date: 31st October 2018 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 job ref 21514

To find out more or to apply for this vacancy, go to our website.