Forensic Psychologist - Youth Custody Service

Ministry of Justice; Hempstalls; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Flexible working where possible

Training and professional development

Health and wellbeing support

Job summary

Ministry of Justice is recruiting a Senior Registered Forensic Psychologist for HMYOI Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent, overseeing psychology services for boys under 18 in custody. Role involves leading risk assessments, delivering and supervising complex programmes, and providing expert input to multi-agency teams and court proceedings.

HCPC registration and BPS Chartered status are highly desirable. National consultancy tasks and CPD are expected.

Qualifications

• Registered Practitioner Psychologist with HCPC
• Two years post-registration experience minimum
• Chartered Psychologist and full member of the BPS if required for the post
• Experience supervising trainee psychologists and staff
• Evidence-based practice with complex, high-risk offenders

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise trainee forensic psychology staff
• Provide professional supervision and mentoring across the team
• Lead risk assessment and risk management of complex offenders
• Provide consultancy to multidisciplinary teams and contribute to offender management processes
• Act as expert witness in parole board hearings and court proceedings when required
• Deliver training and national specialist tasks related to psychology services

Skills

Clinical supervision

Risk assessment

Expert witness

Multi-agency collaboration

Education

HCPC registered psychologist

Tools

Chartered Psychologist (BPS)

Job description

HMPPS Youth Custody Service (YCS) Psychology Services are currently recruiting a Senior Registered Forensic Psychologist to be based within HMYOI Werrington (Stoke-on-Trent) which accommodates boys under 18 years remanded or sentenced to custody. With approximately 400 children in custody across England and Wales, YCS Psychology Services work across the whole spectrum of complex needs of this population as part of a trauma-informed approach. Practice is integrated across all partner agencies with an enduring focus on the best interests of the child. Given all services for this specialist population are underpinned by evidence-based practice, Psychology Services are integral to delivery and includes Forensic, Clinical and Counselling psychologists plus Family Therapists. In addition to providing services into specific sites such as HMYOI Werrington, YCS Psychology Services also contribute to numerous national consultancy projects including an Interventions Model, staff training and

• 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 or PIPEs
• 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 offenders
• Develops and/or strategies such as sexual offending or indeterminate sentence assessment and intervention strategy
• Delivers and supervises (treatment management) the delivery of more complex programmes e.g. healthy sex programme
• Provides consultancy support to colleagues such as Senior Management Team (SMT) in relation to psychology services and outcomes
• Conducts relevant research including data gathering and analysis
• 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
• 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 offenders. Will be competent to undertake the full range of risk assessments including the more complex risk assessments. Gives feedback of the assessment to the individual 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/forums 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 and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
• Provide a psychological contribution to the work of areas of the wider service provision (such as a therapeutic community or regime activity)
• Provide psychological reports when requested for those convicted of a life sentence 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

Experience

• Possess a professional background in Psychology
• Experience in providing clinical supervision
• Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practise
• They are likely to also be a Chartered Psychologist and Full member of the appropriate division of the BPS if the post requires it

Technical requirements

• The job holder will be a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council and eligible to use a protected title.

Specific licence requirements This post requires the post holder to act as a co-ordinating (clinical) supervisor for trainees undertaking recognised training routes. To be eligible, the post holder should have two years post registration experience at the point of taking up post. However, applications will be welcomed from psychologists who have a minimum of 18 months post registration experience; although they will not be able to formally take up the post until they have been registered for two years.

• Possess a professional background in Psychology
• Experience in providing clinical supervision
• Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practise
• They are likely to also be a Chartered Psychologist and Full member of the appropriate division of the BPS if the post requires it.
• The post holder should have two years post registration experience at the point of taking up post although applications are encouraged from those with 18 months or more at the time of application.

Specific language requirements Written and Spoken English Evidence of Experience CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability, Leadership Communicating and Influencing Developing Self and Others Managing a Quality Service Delivering at Pace

Benefits and Conditions

• 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 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 For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.
• 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.
• 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 the HMPPS considers to be racist.

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team. For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

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

All candidates must have been registered with the HCPC as a Forensic Psychologist for at least two years before taking up post. Those who have been registered for at least 18 months are welcome to apply but if successful at interview, would not be able to take up the post until two years post registration.

In this non-operational job with line management responsibilities, this role is non-rotational. The post holder will also provide direction and support for other supervisors and will work with complex individuals and staff applying their experience in the area of psychology to reduce the risk of harm and re-offending.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are an equal opportunity employer. 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 with the job holder.