Registered Psychologist - Psychology Services

Ministry of Justice; Brough; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A national public service in the UK is seeking a Senior Psychologist to provide clinical oversight at HMP Humber. The role involves assessing risks, supervising trainee psychologists, and conducting research to enhance rehabilitation programs. Candidates should hold HCPC registration and have at least two years of post-registration experience. This position offers hybrid working arrangements and opportunities for professional development in the psychology field.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Pension scheme

Qualifications

• Post holder should have at least two years post-registration experience.
• Experience in providing clinical supervision required.
• Completed relevant training in treatment models and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Conduct full case reviews and offer authoritative advice.
• Lead and supervise group sessions.
• Provide consultancy and conduct relevant research.
• Manage and supervise trainee psychologists.

Skills

Risk assessment

Leadership

Clinical supervision

Communication

Education

HCPC registered Forensic Psychologist

Chartered Psychologist (if required)

Job description

Overview

Band 8 Senior Psychologist based at HMP Humber. This post includes providing clinical oversight for Offending Behaviour Programme – Building Choices. There will also be a diverse range of opportunities available, including supporting the development of trainee psychologists, assessment, intervention, training, research and consultancy tasks. Work may be allocated in other prisons across NE&Y and the community. Hybrid working will be supported. The job holder is normally a specialist in their field or someone 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 job holder 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 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 a non-operational job with line management responsibilities and is non-rotational.

Responsibilities

• Conduct full case reviews on difficult cases and offer authoritative advice on next steps relating to sentence plan
• Specialise in delivery of psychology services in settings such as therapeutic community wings or PIPEs
• Lead and supervise and facilitate group sessions
• Offer professional opinion to multi-functional teams conducting offender reports e.g. risk reports, parole reports on high risk or vulnerable offenders
• Develop strategies such as sexual offending or indeterminate sentence assessment and intervention strategy
• Deliver and supervise (treatment management) the delivery of more complex programmes e.g. healthy sex programme
• Provide consultancy support to colleagues such as Senior Management Team (SMT) in relation to psychology services and outcomes
• Conduct 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
• Be responsible for managing and providing professional supervision to trainee forensic psychology staff
• Provide 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
• Provide 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
• 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 offenders
• Lead 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. Give feedback of the assessment to the individual and other stakeholders
• Contribute 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)
• Provide 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 maintain 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 submit within the appropriate time framework
• Be responsible for relevant accreditation audit baselines as detailed in the audit document
• Line management of trainee psychologists

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.

Working Conditions and 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. Hybrid working will not suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre‑employment checks.

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.

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. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff. The loan/secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's business unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Key Competencies & Skills

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Possess a professional background in Psychology
• Experience in providing clinical supervision
• Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practice
• They are likely to also be a Chartered Psychologist and full member of the appropriate division of the BPS if the post requires it

Licensing and Registration

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

Qualifications and Experience

• Post holder should have at least two years post-registration experience at the point of taking up the post.

Language Requirements

• Spoken and written English

Annual Leave and Holidays

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.

Eligibility and Selection

• 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 HMPPS considers to be racist.

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 Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [e-mail]);
2. To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([e-mail]);
3. To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

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'.

Contact and Application Process

Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff. The loan/secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's business unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.