Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic clinical, forensic or counselling psychologist to join the inpatient team at West London Forensic Service (WLFS). The post is attached to a rehabilitation ward in the Male Medium Secure Directorate of WLFS, based on St Bernard's Hospital site in Ealing.
This is a fixed-term post for 6 months to cover maternity leave, with the possibility of extension. Candidates who are currently undertaking a forensic or other applied psychology doctoral training course and who wish to use the post as a placement for training can be considered, and would be appointed at Band 6.
The successful candidate will be responsible for the provision of a highly developed and comprehensive specialist psychology service to culturally diverse service-users with enduring mental health difficulties and offending histories.
We welcome applications from highly-motivated and resourceful individuals who value team working, and who can demonstrate strong skills and experience in working in secure settings.
West London is one of the most diverse and vibrant areas in London and our staff reflect the diverse communities we serve. Our sense of community and pride in our work stems from the difference which every member of our staff makes.
Main duties of the job
You will work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team for one of the medium secure rehabilitation wards, providing a high quality, specialist applied psychology service to culturally diverse male service users with serious mental health conditions and offending behaviour, who are detained in a medium secure hospital setting.
This will involve carrying out specialist psychological assessments, advising on risk assessment and risk management, carrying out individual therapy, and supporting psychological practice within the team through consultation, formulation and training
In addition to ward-based work, you will contribute to a well-established cross-ward group therapy programme. There will also be opportunities to gain experience from across the varied settings within West London Forensic Service.
You will have the opportunity to utilise skills in research, QI, service evaluation, and audit within the service.
About us
West London NHS Trust provides a broad range of forensic mental health care for males and females, across high, medium and low secure settings, as well as in the community and court diversion. West London Forensic Service (WLFS) has been rated as outstanding by the CQC.
Psychology plays a valued and integral role within WLFS. We are committed to providing high quality, evidence based interventions within a recovery framework. The psychological therapies department, which comprises a team of over 30 psychologists and psychological therapists, is well-established and supportive with high standards of clinical supervision and excellent opportunities for continuing professional development. We will support individuals to develop specialist psychological assessment and therapy skills and pursue specific areas of interest or service development projects where appropriate.
Free parking is available on site and annual leave starts at 27 days a year plus bank holidays.
Job description
Job responsibilities
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- To provide a comprehensive psychology service to patients who are mentally disordered offenders, who have severe and enduring mental disorders (both mental illness and personality disorder) and serious forensic histories and have a wide range of psychiatric, psychological and criminological problems and extremely complex needs
- To provide highly developed specialist psychological assessments of patients referred to psychological services, including suitability for admission, diagnosis, general and forensic risk, progress and suitability for discharge. These assessments will be based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with patients and others involved in the clients care
- To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a patients mental health problems/high risk behaviours, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the patients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy. To implement a range of evidence-based psychological interventions for individuals and groups
Job description
Job responsibilities
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- To provide a comprehensive psychology service to patients who are mentally disordered offenders, who have severe and enduring mental disorders (both mental illness and personality disorder) and serious forensic histories and have a wide range of psychiatric, psychological and criminological problems and extremely complex needs
- To provide highly developed specialist psychological assessments of patients referred to psychological services, including suitability for admission, diagnosis, general and forensic risk, progress and suitability for discharge. These assessments will be based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex data from a variety of sources including psychological and neuropsychological tests, self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with patients and others involved in the clients care
- To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a patients mental health problems/high risk behaviours, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the patients problems, and employing methods based upon evidence of efficacy. To implement a range of evidence-based psychological interventions for individuals and groups
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good honours degree in Psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of BPS
- Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council
- Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996 or those in lateral transfer); counselling psychology or forensic psychology equivalent, as accredited by the BPS.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of at least 6 months work in either a severe and enduring mental disorder or a forensic setting either in a training placement or as an Assistant Psychologist or an HCA or equivalent
Desirable
- Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts.
- Experience of administration, scoring and written interpretation of WAIS tests
- Experience of administration, scoring and written interpretation of formal personality tools and/or neuropsychological assessments
Knowledge
Essential
- Highly developed specialist knowledge, both theoretical and practical, of psychology applied to clinical practice, particularly in respect of adults with severe and enduring mental health disorders (including personality disorders)
- Post-graduate level knowledge of research design and methodology
- Knowledge of the professional code of conduct of the BPS
- Post-graduate level knowledge of research design and methodology
- Knowledge of SPSS
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good honours degree in Psychology. Eligibility for graduate membership of BPS
- Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council
- Post-graduate doctorate in clinical psychology (or its equivalent for those trained prior to 1996 or those in lateral transfer); counselling psychology or forensic psychology equivalent, as accredited by the BPS.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of at least 6 months work in either a severe and enduring mental disorder or a forensic setting either in a training placement or as an Assistant Psychologist or an HCA or equivalent
Desirable
- Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts.
- Experience of administration, scoring and written interpretation of WAIS tests
- Experience of administration, scoring and written interpretation of formal personality tools and/or neuropsychological assessments
Knowledge
Essential
- Highly developed specialist knowledge, both theoretical and practical, of psychology applied to clinical practice, particularly in respect of adults with severe and enduring mental health disorders (including personality disorders)
- Post-graduate level knowledge of research design and methodology
- Knowledge of the professional code of conduct of the BPS
- Post-graduate level knowledge of research design and methodology
- Knowledge of SPSS
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
