Job summary
We are looking for an innovative and motivated Assistant Psychologist/Research Assistant to work in the Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) Service.
The MHTR Service aims to improve the opportunities for an individual who is in the Criminal Justice System to access psychological therapies/intervention. The MHTR is a Community Treatment Order: a form of diversion within rather than away from the criminal justice system, but outside custody. The service treatment aims to offer an individual the opportunity to access and engage in individualised psychological therapies therefore improving health and social outcomes and address the underlying cause of offending behaviour.
If you would like a challenge and the opportunity to be an inclusive, creative clinician, this job may be for you.
Main duties of the job
This is a new development within Notts Healthcare and is a great opportunity to work in a developing service for service users within the criminal justice system, creating the best opportunity for supporting their engagement with services and helping to break the cycle of offending.
The MHTR service comprises of a team of psychologically informed practitioners, led by an accredited psychologist (Clinical Lead). This role will include supporting and working alongside service users in a collaborative, therapeutic partnership and participation in the development and provision therapeutic activities/psycho-educational programmes and self-management interventions under the supervision of the Clinical Lead Psychologist.
In this role, the Assistant Psychologist/Research Assistant will support the team to undertake screening. The role will also include signposting to relevant third-party organisations and so the post holder will be required to make links within the local community. The post holder will complete clinically related administration and assist with clinical research and evaluation project work under the guidance of the Clinical Lead. As part of this role the post holder will also be involved in service development and promotion of service and supporting the delivering training and awareness of the MHTR.
About us
#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.
We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.
We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.
The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.
The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment
Job description
Job responsibilities
Alongside this post, the service has 2 practitioner posts (Specialist Mental Health Practitioner and a Senior Assistant Psychologist), supported by the Clinical Lead. The team are based within the Magistrates Court (primarily) and Westminster House (team base for the Liaison and Diversion Services of which this service sits within).
Referral - Help to make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the service referral protocols, signpost/refer unsuitable service users on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary.
Active engagement To work with a small number of people with mild to moderate common mental health problems in the self-management of their recovery through delivery of formulation driven care plans, the provision of psychological therapy and the evaluation of interventions, under supervision.
Service evaluation Support data collection and analysis, for both clinical and service evaluation, as required. This will include collecting and reviewing a variety of data such as psychometric scores, interview data, historical information, literature searches. It may also involve data analysis and report writing under supervision. This role will cover a number of services across the Community Forensic Services.
Appointed applicants will have access to robust clinical and managerial supervision and career development opportunities. The service is committed to ensuring the staff in the team are well equipped to work with the complex service users accessing the service and so training is well supported and there is a range of access to robust supervision.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Alongside this post, the service has 2 practitioner posts (Specialist Mental Health Practitioner and a Senior Assistant Psychologist), supported by the Clinical Lead. The team are based within the Magistrates Court (primarily) and Westminster House (team base for the Liaison and Diversion Services of which this service sits within).
Referral - Help to make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to the service referral protocols, signpost/refer unsuitable service users on to the relevant service or back to the referral agent as necessary.
Active engagement To work with a small number of people with mild to moderate common mental health problems in the self-management of their recovery through delivery of formulation driven care plans, the provision of psychological therapy and the evaluation of interventions, under supervision.
Service evaluation Support data collection and analysis, for both clinical and service evaluation, as required. This will include collecting and reviewing a variety of data such as psychometric scores, interview data, historical information, literature searches. It may also involve data analysis and report writing under supervision. This role will cover a number of services across the Community Forensic Services.
Appointed applicants will have access to robust clinical and managerial supervision and career development opportunities. The service is committed to ensuring the staff in the team are well equipped to work with the complex service users accessing the service and so training is well supported and there is a range of access to robust supervision.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Psychology at 2:1 or above, conferring BPS Graduate Basis for Registration
- Research and evaluation skills
Desirable
- Post-graduate qualification in psychology-related field e.g. MSc in forensic psychology.
- For candidates with 2:2 degree have completed a postgraduate course or have significant clinical experience.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of using computer systems.
- Experience of working with individuals of all ages within a healthcare/social care setting.
- Experience and understanding of working in team setting, liaising with colleagues, other agencies and services.
Desirable
- Experience working with individuals who have offended.
- Knowledge and experience of working alongside criminal justice systems.
- Experience of planning and delivering a range of therapeutic interventions.
Knowledge / Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates an awareness of wide range of vulnerabilities inclusive of mental health/LD needs.
- Knowledge and understanding of psychological assessment, formulations, risk assessment and care planning within a mental health setting.
- Knowledge and understanding of planning and delivering psychologically informed interventions with working knowledge of at least one relevant psychological approach (e.g. CBT, DBT etc.).
- Demonstrates an understanding of cultural and diversity needs of individuals.
- Understanding, and experience of, the importance of maintaining boundaries in the workplace.
Desirable
- Awareness of the MHTR Service
- Awareness of the interface of the Health, Social Care and Criminal Justice Systems.
- Knowledge of working with applied psychological models (e.g. CBT, CFT, DBT, Systemic)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Psychology at 2:1 or above, conferring BPS Graduate Basis for Registration
- Research and evaluation skills
Desirable
- Post-graduate qualification in psychology-related field e.g. MSc in forensic psychology.
- For candidates with 2:2 degree have completed a postgraduate course or have significant clinical experience.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of using computer systems.
- Experience of working with individuals of all ages within a healthcare/social care setting.
- Experience and understanding of working in team setting, liaising with colleagues, other agencies and services.
Desirable
- Experience working with individuals who have offended.
- Knowledge and experience of working alongside criminal justice systems.
- Experience of planning and delivering a range of therapeutic interventions.
Knowledge / Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates an awareness of wide range of vulnerabilities inclusive of mental health/LD needs.
- Knowledge and understanding of psychological assessment, formulations, risk assessment and care planning within a mental health setting.
- Knowledge and understanding of planning and delivering psychologically informed interventions with working knowledge of at least one relevant psychological approach (e.g. CBT, DBT etc.).
- Demonstrates an understanding of cultural and diversity needs of individuals.
- Understanding, and experience of, the importance of maintaining boundaries in the workplace.
Desirable
- Awareness of the MHTR Service
- Awareness of the interface of the Health, Social Care and Criminal Justice Systems.
- Knowledge of working with applied psychological models (e.g. CBT, CFT, DBT, Systemic)
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
