36037 - Practitioner Occupational Psychologist
We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity
This role is an excellent opportunity for a qualified Occupational Psychologist to influence and shape the future leadership of the MOJ and the Prison Service.
The job holder will support the Leadership, Talent & Capability team by applying Occupational Psychology knowledge, theory and practice. This will include designing and evaluating selection and assessment materials and processes for internal staff promotion accreditation, or placement onto fast-track or leadership programmes. Work must be compliant with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles and Occupational Psychology professional standards, (BPS & HCPC) and enable HMPPS and MoJ to select and develop staff in a cost effective and efficient manner.
The job holder will contribute to the development and delivery of psychological research and continuous improvement activities within the Directorate.
They will provide advice covering all 5 areas of Occupational Psychology, particularly those related to psychological assessment at work, training and development, and leadership.
Purpose
The job holder will support the Leadership, Talent & Capability team by applying Occupational Psychology knowledge, theory and practice. This will include designing and evaluating selection and assessment materials and processes for internal staff promotion accreditation, or placement onto fast-track or leadership programmes. Work must be compliant with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles and Occupational Psychology professional standards, (BPS & HCPC) and enable HMPPS and MoJ to select and develop staff in a cost effective and efficient manner.
The job holder will contribute to the development and delivery of psychological research and continuous improvement activities within the Directorate.
They will provide advice covering all 5 areas of Occupational Psychology, particularly those related to psychological assessment at work, training and development, and leadership.
Responsibilities
- Line management of Occupational Psychologist in Training. Although not expected to be their QOP supervisor, they would facilitate and support their professional development.
- Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of employee assessment and selection procedures, including psychometric tests, assessment centre exercises and structured interviews.
- Carry out complex statistical analysis and interrogation of data to quality assure assessment outcomes to ensure they are consistent, reliable, valid, free from adverse impact and legally defensible.
- Conduct job analysis via desk-based research and organising information-gathering sessions with Subject Matter Experts.
- Apply professional judgement and expertise in selecting robust, cost-effective and relevant psychological tools and techniques to meet business needs.
- Conduct problem analysis and determine all project requirements and issues to be addressed. Liaise directly with project group, keeping them informed in a timely manner.
- Provide up-to-date impartial, relevant and evidence-based advice to the business group on the psychological, behavioural and workforce planning implications of their plans/practices.
- Work with leadership and fast-stream/ development programmes and work-force planners to ensure that assessment solutions contribute to a succession planning pipeline and career pathway for employees.
- Provide theoretically-founded or evidence-based advice and guidance to the business group on how psychological interventions can support their requirements.
- Liaise closely with the business group working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to meet business needs and deliver projects to required timescales.
- Design, deliver and/ or oversee psychological interventions, research and evaluation within their area of expertise.
- Design, deliver and/ or oversee fit for purpose training packages for assessors, interviewers and role players.
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 JEGS and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.
Required Experience
Leading end-to-end projects within the consultancy cycle.
Working with clients to diagnose issues and suggest strategies for change.
Conducting job analysis and competency framework/Success Profile design.
Conducting behavioural assessments and interviews.
Designing and evaluating a wide range of assessment solutions, including interviews, assessment centre exercises, and online assessments.
Using psychometric tools and ability tests for recruitment.
Designing and delivering training materials.
Behaviours
Seeing the Big Picture
Making Effective Decisions
Working Together
Managing a Quality Service
Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace
Other Abilities
High level of verbal and written communication ability
Technical/Qualification Requirements
Registered Occupational Psychologist with HCPC
Chartered Membership with BPS (CPsychol)
Test User: Occupational, Ability (or Level A equivalent)
Test User: Occupational, Personality (or Level B equivalent)
Good understanding of recruitment legislation and Occupational Psychology Best Practice and its potential impact on assessment delivery and design
Good knowledge of statistics and competent in using SPSS
Qualifications
Qualification in Occupational Psychology (QOP) Stage 2, or previous versions of BPS Chartership
Professional memberships
Registered Practitioner Psychologist with HCPC
Chartered Membership with BPS (CPsychol)
Working Arrangements & Further Information
Some of MoJ’s 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.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Support
- A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
- Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits,retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
1- To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);
2- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing (resourcing-services@justice.gov.uk);
3- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
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.
Grading Structure Review
The Ministry of Justice is currently undergoing a review of posts which are currently graded at Band A to realign our grading structure with the majority of the wider Civil Service.
Posts advertised at Band A may be graded at either Grade 6 or Grade 7 once the review has taken place.
28/08/2020, 23:55 hours.
If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com Please quote the job reference - 36037
To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.
For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).
If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:
- You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
- You were studying abroad
- You were living overseas with parents
In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.
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.