23657 - Forensic or Clinical Registered Psychologist - Psychology Services - Youth Custody Services - Forensic Interventions

Ministry of Justice UK • National City, CA

13d • Hybrid

About The Position

This is a permanent, non-operational, offender-facing role with line management responsibilities. The post holder will work with prisoners, people on probation and staff, applying psychological expertise to reduce harm and reoffending. Work includes offender risk assessment, research, consultancy, staff training, and assessment and interventions for offenders. The role is non-rotational and may include designated support and supervision for trainee psychologists.

The post holder will provide professional advice and opinions to inform offender objectives, placement decisions and formal reports; plan and manage relevant areas of activity; and support colleagues and teams on psychology services and outcomes. They will lead or participate in risk assessment and risk management, deliver or oversee complex programmes, and provide specialist consultancy. The role may also involve acting as a professional witness in parole hearings and other formal settings, or as an expert witness in court proceedings for the Ministry of Justice. The post holder must maintain continuing professional development and HCPC registration.

The role is based at one of the listed locations: Feltham, Rochester, Stoke-on-Trent or Wetherby. Hybrid working may be available where business needs allow, with arrangements agreed and reviewed. The standard full-time working week is 37 hours, excluding unpaid breaks. Part-time, job-share and flexible working patterns may also be considered in line with business needs.

Requirements

• Professional background in psychology.
• Experience providing clinical supervision.
• Completed relevant training in effective treatment models and best practice.
• Qualified forensic or clinical psychologist with HCPC registration.
• Ability to fulfil spoken aspects of the role confidently in English; spoken and written English are specified for the application.

Responsibilities

• Offer professional advice on objectives for offenders and recommend suitable placement within or between establishments.
• Provide professional opinions to teams preparing reports, including lifer and parole reports.
• Develop strategies and plans for areas of operation, such as organising programme assessments or managing assessments and interviews for people with indeterminate sentences.
• Provide consultancy support to colleagues, senior management teams and other teams on psychology services and outcomes.
• Conduct relevant research, including data gathering and analysis.
• Provide supervision, training, mentoring and support to trainee forensic psychology staff, trainee psychologists and other staff.
• Provide designated professional supervision to trainees to support their development toward chartered and registered status.
• Develop staff against key competencies and gateways, and promote consistent application of policies and procedures affecting staff and prisoners.
• Lead risk assessment and resulting risk management.
• Assess offenders’ risk of harm to themselves and others and risk of reoffending; this may include Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) and self-harm assessments.
• Deliver or oversee the quality of complex programmes requiring qualified input.
• Provide specialist consultancy, including on working with people convicted of sexual offences or indeterminate-sentenced prisoners.
• Act as a negotiation adviser where appropriate and where competence has been demonstrated.
• Act as a professional witness in parole board hearings, multi-agency meetings and other formal settings; may also act as an expert witness in court proceedings for the Ministry of Justice.
• Maintain continuing professional development and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Benefits

• Annual leave
• Nine days (66 hours 36 minutes) for bank, public and privilege holidays, added to annual leave allowance
• Choice of Civil Service pension schemes
• Flexible working arrangements, subject to business needs and satisfactory probationary period
• Season ticket advance after two months’ service
• Training and development opportunities, including promotion programmes and role-specific training

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed