Registered Psychologist

Ministry of Justice; York and North Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Work Life Balance

Flexible working

Training opportunities

Job summary

Ministry of Justice in the United Kingdom is seeking a senior psychologist to provide clinical consultancy and risk assessment across high-risk offender settings. The post involves heading complex case reviews, supervising staff, and delivering advanced psychology programmes within a hybrid working model.

The role requires Chartered Psychologist status, HCPC registration, and experience in supervision and expert witness activities. The post emphasizes national impact and staff development.

Qualifications

• Possess a professional background in Psychology.
• Experience in providing clinical supervision.
• Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practise.
• Chartered Psychologist and Full member of the appropriate BPS division is likely required.
• Two years post registration experience; applications from those with 18 months+ encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Conducts full case reviews on difficult cases and offers authoritative advice on next steps related 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.
• Provide consultancy to multi-functional teams on reports (risk, parole) for high-risk offenders.
• Delivers and supervises complex programmes (e.g., healthy sex programme).
• Provide professional supervision to trainee psychologists and other staff as appropriate.
• Act as professional witness in parole board hearings or court proceedings when required.
• Lead on risk assessment and risk management of complex offenders.
• Contribute to national specialist tasks and training.
• Ensure HCPC registration is maintained and CPD requirements met.

Skills

Clinical supervision

Risk assessment

Psychology services delivery

Team leadership

Communication skills

Education

Chartered Psychologist

BPS membership

Job description

HMP Full Sutton is a modern, purpose-built, high security dispersal establishment, 11 miles east of the historic City of York near to the towns of Stamford Bridge and Pocklington. The population predominantly compromises indeterminate sentence prisoners and a substantial number of longer sentenced determinate prisoners who have Category A or B status. The Psychology and Interventions team is successfully embedded across the functions of the prison, with Psychologists providing well-regarded consultancy to a number of discrete areas – the Close Supervision Centre, the Separation Centre, the Segregation Unit, and the STEP (Supporting Transition Enabling Progression) Unit, which was developed to provide long term segregated men with an opportunity to work towards progressing out of segregated conditions. We also consult to and support work with the Safety team, Inter‑Departmental Risk Management Teams, Neurodiversity boards, the IPP project, Young Adults, Pathways to Progression, Offender Personality Disorder pathways and the Long Sentence Progression Project. Alongside this Psychologists complete risk assessments for Parole and Category A reviews. We have many interesting opportunities to engage and work with high risk, complex and challenging prisoners, including those sentenced under terrorist legislation. We also deliver Building Choices (moderate and high intensity strands) and the Healthy Identity Intervention (HII). The post holder will provide clinical consultancy support to the Building Choices specialist treatment managers and have opportunities to contribute as a senior psychologist to the psychology tasks described above. The job holders covered by this job description are usually categorised as specialists in their field or those whose role requires significant additional experience, training and personal development. The job holder will largely excel in the area of risk assessment or be a specialist in a specific area such as working with those convicted of sexual offending. At this level the jobholder may have responsibility for the key specialist tasks involved in the delivery of a programme or related individual case management which would also entail overseeing the quality of delivery and supervision. They will also provide direction and support for other supervisors. The job holder will be working with complex individuals and staff and applying their experience and competence in the area of psychology to reduce the risk of harm and re‑offending by undertaking complex risk assessments, conducting research, providing consultancy and delivering training for staff and interventions (individual and group). This is an non‑operational job with line management responsibilities. This role is non‑rotational.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

• 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 & Qualifications

• 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

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

• Same as Technical Requirements

Language Requirements

• Written and Spoken English

Hybrid Working

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

Working Hours

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS' Flexible Working policy. If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years.

Benefits

• 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.
• 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.
• Promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts.
• 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.

Equality & Diversity

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. 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 is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.