23655 - Forensic or Clinical Registered Psychologist - Psychology Services - Youth Custody Services

Ministry of Justice; Wetherby; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Justice seeks a Forensic or Clinical Registered Psychologist to support Psychology Services in Youth Custody. The role focuses on risk assessment, research, consultancy, and staff training within a non-operational offender-facing environment.

The post involves supervision of trainee psychologists, development of services, and collaboration with prison and probation teams to reduce re-offending risks and enhance interventions. Strong CPD and HCPC registration are required.

Qualifications

• HCPC registration as a clinician.
• Experience supervising clinical staff or trainees.
• Completed training in effective models of treatment and best practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide risk assessment for prisoners and offenders and contribute to risk management strategies.
• Offer consultancy and training to staff and teams within Psychology Services.
• Supervise trainee psychologists and support staff; contribute to program development and evaluation.

Skills

HCPC registered

Clinical supervision experience

Professional psychology background

Job description

23655 - Forensic or Clinical Registered Psychologist - Psychology Services - Youth Custody Services

This is a non-operational offender facing job.

Summary

The job holder will be working with prisoners, people on probation and staff and applying their competence in 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 offenders. This job holder will be able to provide designated support and supervision to trainee psychologists.

This is non-operational offender facing job with line management responsibilities. This role is non-rotational.

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 reports e.g. lifer reports, parole reports
• Develop strategy and plans of activity for some areas of operation e.g. manages the organisation of relevant programme assessments or manages assessment and interviews those with an indeterminate sentence
• Provide consultancy support to colleagues such as the SMT or other teams in relation to psychology services and outcomes
• Conduct relevant research including data gathering and analysis
• Responsible for 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
• Participate in risk assessment of offenders 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. Working with those convicted of Sexual Offending 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) and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

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. An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.

Civil Service Success Profile Criteria

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others

Experience

• Possess a professional background in Psychology
• Experience in providing clinical supervision
• Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practise

Technical requirements

• Qualified and registered clinician with the HCPC