Forensic or Clinical Registered Psychologist - Psychology Services - Safety Team (Ref: 12792)

HM Prison and Probation Service; Folly Gate; On-site; GBP 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK governmental service is seeking a Registered Psychologist to enhance safety in prisons. The role involves assessments, research, and consultancy to improve safety outcomes. Ideal candidates possess a qualification in psychology and HCPC registration, with strong communication and teamwork skills. This position offers a salary of £52,316 and benefits include a pension contribution and flexible working options.

Benefits

Salary of £52,316

Pension scheme with employer contribution

Access to learning and development

Flexible working options

Inclusion and diversity-supportive culture

Annual leave and public holidays

Qualifications

• Qualified forensic or clinical psychologist with HCPC registration.
• Experience in providing clinical supervision.
• Completed relevant training in treatment and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Undertake assessments and interventions for prisoners and staff.
• Conduct research to develop evidence-based safety approaches.
• Provide consultancy and design training for staff.
• Collaborate with the National Safety Group for decision making.

Skills

Excellent communication

Teamwork

Interpersonal skills

Decision-making

Influencing skills

Education

Clinical or forensic psychologist qualification

HCPC registration

Job description

Overview

The Safety Support Approach (SSA) has been designed to provide additional safety support, particularly increasing psychologist support, to prisons with the overall goal to improve safety outcomes. SSA covers foundation, sustained and targeted levels of support, with the National Psychology Safety Team now recruiting Registered Psychologists to provide 'targeted support'. The targeted approach is an integrated operational and psychological approach, to effectively support prisons to address the risks and needs that have been identified, through data and evidence available. Identified products will require development, piloting and testing, alongside evaluation and while these have yet to be formally agreed, they are likely to cover the breadth of psychologist competencies (assessment, intervention, research, consultancy and training). The goal is to create evidence‑based safety approaches and products, which if successful in targeted prisons, can offer a preventative and proactive foundation offer for all sites.

The job holder will join a growing team of psychologists in the National Psychology Safety Team with a vision to innovate and provide direct support to identified prisons. Job holders will be expected to work in collaboration with the National Safety Group, demonstrating a fully integrated approach with joint decision making and governance and are expected to possess skills required to collaborate and influence across a range of departments, agencies, teams and prisons. The job holder will be working with prisoners and staff and applying their experience and competence in the area of psychology to reduce the risk of harm and improve safety outcomes by undertaking assessments and interventions (individual and/or group), conducting research, providing consultancy and co‑designing / delivering training for staff.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Responsibilities

• Undertake assessments and interventions (individual and/or group) for prisoners and staff to reduce risk of harm.
• Conduct research to develop evidence‑based safety approaches.
• Provide consultancy to prison teams and co‑design or deliver training for staff.
• Collaborate with the National Safety Group and other stakeholders to support integrated decision making and governance.

Qualifications

• Qualified forensic or clinical psychologist with HCPC registration, or in the process of receiving HCPC registration (confirmation of registration must be provided within 6 months of a provisional offer).
• Professional background in Psychology.
• Experience in providing clinical supervision.
• Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practice.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and decision‑making abilities.
• Strong working teamwork skills.

Nationality Requirements

• UK nationals
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries with 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 EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members who have applied for settled or pre‑settled status under the 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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

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 equal opportunities. We run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria, and offer a Redeployment Interview Scheme for civil servants at risk of redundancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. For more information please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Languages

• Spoken and written English
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Technical Skills

• Professional background in Psychology
• Experience providing clinical supervision
• Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practice
• HCPC registered or in process of registration (confirmation within 6 months)

Benefits

• Salary of £52,316
• HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £15,155 towards Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme (employer contribution of 28.97%)
• Access to learning and development
• Flexible working options to support work‑life balance
• Inclusion and diversity‑supportive culture
• Annual leave and public holidays
• Season ticket advance