Job summary
This role carries an incentive premium of £3,500 which will be paid in instalments over an 18th month period. Please note that this scheme is not open to existing employees of Oxford Health and is subject to a claw back clause. Further information will be provided.
Are you passionate about working with people whose early traumatic experiences have contributed to high-risk offending behaviours?
Do you want to be supported in your professional development within an encouraging, supportive and experienced team?
Thames Valley Integrated Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway are looking for an experienced Clinical, Counselling or Forensic Psychologist to join our team, either as a Band 8a or in a development role, as a Band 7 to Band 8a.
We are looking for a proactive, flexible and relational clinician, who is passionate about multi-agency working, formulating complexity, and providing direct and indirect input to a stigmatised and marginalised population. Co-production and collaboration is really important to us and central to our team ethos.
We believe that diversity in teams helps improve trust and respect between staff and encourages typically excluded groups to engage with us. If you have any protected characteristics or are from a BAME background, then we are particularly keen to receive an application from you.
We also welcome applications from candidates in the final stages of qualification. This post attracts an annual RSU allowance payment of £1446 per annum.
Main duties of the job
We are jointly commissioned by the NHS and Probation Service. We provide psychological input into Probation teams including case identification, and pathway management for high-risk, high harm people on probation with personality difficulties/ experiences of early life trauma.
The Integrated OPD Pathway Service covers the Thames Valley but this role is based within East Berkshire. You will be responsible for providing psychological input into the Slough and Bracknell Probation Offices and an Approved Premises in Old Windsor. You must be able to travel between sites to meet the needs of the service.
You will spend one day a week at the Slough Probation office and the Approved Premises in Old Windsor; and one day a fortnight at the Bracknell office. One day each week can be worked from home. Most of the team work a 7.5 hour day sometime between the hours of 8am and 6pm. However, we understand the importance of a work-life balance, so are open to discussions about compressed hours.
Our team consists of staff from several disciplines including administrators, assistant, clinical, counselling and forensic psychologists, an occupational therapy assistant, probation officers, a probation service officer and a team lead. (Please refer to the organisational chart).
You will be required to successfully complete an Enhanced Level 1 Vetting with HMPPS/Ministry of Justice in order to access the HMPPS systems. Enhanced Level 1 clearance is valid for 5 years.
About us
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible.
Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"
Our values are:"Caring, safe and excellent"
At Oxford Health we offer a range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing.
- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
- Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the job description and person specification for a detailed explanation of the responsibilities of this role.
You will be responsible for:-
- Providing psychological consultations to Offender Managers/Probation Practitioners (OM/PPs), Approved Premises staff and other professionals working with the person on probation
- Working closely with the Enhanced Intensive Intervention and Risk Management Service (E-IIRMS) to identify people on probation who are eligible for direct psychosocial interventions and psychological therapy
- Conducting joint work sessions with people on probation and OM/PPs as pre-engagement/motivational work prior to a referral to E-IIRMS; to deliver a brief intervention; to demonstrate a technique or approach to OM/PPs; to explore an unusual presentation; or observe relational dynamics with a view to deepening an understanding of the risk issues
- Developing and delivering training and reflective practice for Probation teams and Approved Premises staff, with support from our wider department reflective practice supervision space
- Supervising other psychologists working within your geographical area
- For those who are interested, there may be an opportunity to maintain a small caseload (with E-IIRMS)
We sit within the Forensic Mental Health Psychology team, who work in inpatient and community settings and this provides you with a really unique learning opportunity. The whole department meets monthly for a business meeting, CPD groups and reflective practice. Our psychology department is proud of the diversity of therapeutic approaches utilised in our work and the supportive and nurturing environment that we have created. Come and join us!
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the job description and person specification for a detailed explanation of the responsibilities of this role.
You will be responsible for:-
- Providing psychological consultations to Offender Managers/Probation Practitioners (OM/PPs), Approved Premises staff and other professionals working with the person on probation
- Working closely with the Enhanced Intensive Intervention and Risk Management Service (E-IIRMS) to identify people on probation who are eligible for direct psychosocial interventions and psychological therapy
- Conducting joint work sessions with people on probation and OM/PPs as pre-engagement/motivational work prior to a referral to E-IIRMS; to deliver a brief intervention; to demonstrate a technique or approach to OM/PPs; to explore an unusual presentation; or observe relational dynamics with a view to deepening an understanding of the risk issues
- Developing and delivering training and reflective practice for Probation teams and Approved Premises staff, with support from our wider department reflective practice supervision space
- Supervising other psychologists working within your geographical area
- For those who are interested, there may be an opportunity to maintain a small caseload (with E-IIRMS)
We sit within the Forensic Mental Health Psychology team, who work in inpatient and community settings and this provides you with a really unique learning opportunity. The whole department meets monthly for a business meeting, CPD groups and reflective practice. Our psychology department is proud of the diversity of therapeutic approaches utilised in our work and the supportive and nurturing environment that we have created. Come and join us!
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Satisfactory completion of a British Psychological Society accredited Doctoral Level postgraduate professional training course in applied psychology (the Doctorate in Counselling, Forensic or Clinical Psychology), or equivalent.
- Is a registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, with clients of all ages across the lifespan and of wide-ranging presenting problems that reflect the full spectrum of clinical complexity and severity
- Experience of teaching, training, and supervision.
Desirable
- Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts
- Experience of working therapeutically with a forensic population with interpersonal difficulties
- Experience within the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Skills in the formulation of areas of need from a psychological perspective and in the implementation of psychological interventions that are appropriate for use with complex presenting problems. Able to deliver established/evidenced based psychological interventions to fidelity.
- Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) including the ability to communicate empathically, sensitively, and effectively clinical and condition related information to clients, their families, carers, and professional colleagues (within and outside the NHS) that may be complicated or technical; extremely sensitive and potentially distressing to the recipient; or that is extremely contentious or challenging.
- Skills in providing consultation and advice from a psychological perspective to members of other professional and non-professional groups.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific 'difficult to treat' groups (e.g. personality disorder, challenging behaviour, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities or neurodiversity
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Satisfactory completion of a British Psychological Society accredited Doctoral Level postgraduate professional training course in applied psychology (the Doctorate in Counselling, Forensic or Clinical Psychology), or equivalent.
- Is a registered Practitioner Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, with clients of all ages across the lifespan and of wide-ranging presenting problems that reflect the full spectrum of clinical complexity and severity
- Experience of teaching, training, and supervision.
Desirable
- Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts
- Experience of working therapeutically with a forensic population with interpersonal difficulties
- Experience within the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Skills in the formulation of areas of need from a psychological perspective and in the implementation of psychological interventions that are appropriate for use with complex presenting problems. Able to deliver established/evidenced based psychological interventions to fidelity.
- Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) including the ability to communicate empathically, sensitively, and effectively clinical and condition related information to clients, their families, carers, and professional colleagues (within and outside the NHS) that may be complicated or technical; extremely sensitive and potentially distressing to the recipient; or that is extremely contentious or challenging.
- Skills in providing consultation and advice from a psychological perspective to members of other professional and non-professional groups.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapies in specific 'difficult to treat' groups (e.g. personality disorder, challenging behaviour, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities or neurodiversity
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
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).
