Job summary
Fixed-Term Contract - 12 months
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 5 Higher Assistant Psychologist to work within the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Offender Personality Disorder Pathway Service. This small but established team arises from a joint initiative between Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Foundation Trust and National Probation Service. There are two elements to the post.
The community role will be supervised to support the development of psychological case formulations, the opportunity to gain experience in using different psychological models. They will support in the delivery of teaching and training to Offender Managers and partner agency staff. The post-holder will offer consultations to Offender Managers, under the supervision and guidance of the Clinical Psychologist. They will work closely to support people on probation in the Intensive Integrative Risk Management Service as part of team
The Approved Premise is a Psychologically Informed Planned Environment.
The post-holder will be working to develop the PIPE, its residents and staff. Our PIPE offers the opportunity to participate in planning and pre arrival work with the residents. The co-delivery of brief psycho-education groups and skills-based training to residents. As well as developing the residents' engagement, motivation and implementing individualised risk management plans.
Main duties of the job
Both roles offer further opportunities to gain insight into multi-agency risk management processes (e.g. MAPPA), as well as gaining a wider perspective of services for this client group; through attendance at commissioning meetings and regional/ national events. Both roles will give opportunities to expand experience with; consultation work, conduction of audits, collection and analysis of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, clinically related administration, as well as other associated project work will further be supported.
They may request their local base to be either Peterborough, Huntingdon, or Cambridge Probation Office.
The team is looking for an enthusiastic, robust, committed individual who has a keen interest in working with complex forensic clients with identified personality difficulties. Previous experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team, with clients with personality difficulties (diagnosed or undiagnosed) and/ or complex presentations/ challenging behaviours is essential. Furthermore, previous experience of working with clients within forensic settings is desirable.
About us
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health & social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health & wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting & empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.
Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services not only via inpatient and primary care setting but also with the community. These services include Children, Adult & Older Peoples mental & physical health, Forensic & Specialist mental health, Learning Disabilities, Primary Care & Liaison psychiatry, Substance misuse, Social care, Research & Development.
To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high calibre candidates that share our vision & values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including disabled people & members of our ethnic minorities & LGBTQ+ communities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities
- To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients applying; psychological (including neuropsychological tests), self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations as well as semi-structured interviews with clients/ others involved in the clients care.
- To support the running of the PIPE, its staff and residents through groups, training and consultation.
- To provide support and advice to Offender Managers through the process of consultation, across the Peterborough and Cambridgeshire region, as directed by your Professional Manager.
- To work within risk assessments undertaken within the service in line with Trust and inter-agency policies/procedures
- To work with other staff to assess and review the needs/ care of offenders across the PIPE and Peterborough and Cambridgeshire region.
- To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings, including; team meetings, team supervisions, probation based meetings and commissioning meetings (where appropriate).
- In common with all clinical psychologists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
- To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.
- To contribute to the provision of advice, consultation and training to staff working with the client group across a range of agencies and settings, where appropriate and under the direction of your professional manager.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities
- To undertake protocol based psychological assessments of clients applying; psychological (including neuropsychological tests), self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations as well as semi-structured interviews with clients/ others involved in the clients care.
- To support the running of the PIPE, its staff and residents through groups, training and consultation.
- To provide support and advice to Offender Managers through the process of consultation, across the Peterborough and Cambridgeshire region, as directed by your Professional Manager.
- To work within risk assessments undertaken within the service in line with Trust and inter-agency policies/procedures
- To work with other staff to assess and review the needs/ care of offenders across the PIPE and Peterborough and Cambridgeshire region.
- To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings, including; team meetings, team supervisions, probation based meetings and commissioning meetings (where appropriate).
- In common with all clinical psychologists, to receive regular clinical supervision in accordance with professional practice guidelines.
- To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.
- To contribute to the provision of advice, consultation and training to staff working with the client group across a range of agencies and settings, where appropriate and under the direction of your professional manager.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of people with personality disorder difficulties and/ or complex presentations/ challenging behaviours.
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Previous experience of an assistant psychologist post or equivalent
- Experience of working with forensic clients
- Lived experience of mental health
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive and distressing and to be balanced with robust risk management.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- Competent in the use of software programmes such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Experience of developing and maintaining databases for the purposes of data-analysis e.g. use of Excel or SPSS for Windows
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with enduring mental health problems and personality disorders.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to the context of people with personality disorders.
- A clear understanding of the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to risk management within forensic services.
Desirable
- High standard of report writing.
- Experience in the use of Publisher for the purposes of leaflet or Poster design and development.
- Experience of formulation development with clients
- Experience of supporting the design of group training packages.
- Experience of participation in group facilitation with clients
- Experience of participation in training to staff/ others
- An understanding of psychology applied to forensic clients and PIPE.
- Awareness of the Schema Therapy Model/ Mode Model
- Awareness of/ experience with DBT skills-based approaches
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Good time keeper
- A willingness to be flexible
- Willingness to follow instructions but also able to question and constructively challenge.
- To continue your professional development
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel independently across the County (Peterborough, Huntingdon & Cambridge)
- Able to tolerate prolonged periods of sitting and/ or standing
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of people with personality disorder difficulties and/ or complex presentations/ challenging behaviours.
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Previous experience of an assistant psychologist post or equivalent
- Experience of working with forensic clients
- Lived experience of mental health
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive and distressing and to be balanced with robust risk management.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- Competent in the use of software programmes such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Experience of developing and maintaining databases for the purposes of data-analysis e.g. use of Excel or SPSS for Windows
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with enduring mental health problems and personality disorders.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to the context of people with personality disorders.
- A clear understanding of the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to risk management within forensic services.
Desirable
- High standard of report writing.
- Experience in the use of Publisher for the purposes of leaflet or Poster design and development.
- Experience of formulation development with clients
- Experience of supporting the design of group training packages.
- Experience of participation in group facilitation with clients
- Experience of participation in training to staff/ others
- An understanding of psychology applied to forensic clients and PIPE.
- Awareness of the Schema Therapy Model/ Mode Model
- Awareness of/ experience with DBT skills-based approaches
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Good time keeper
- A willingness to be flexible
- Willingness to follow instructions but also able to question and constructively challenge.
- To continue your professional development
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel independently across the County (Peterborough, Huntingdon & Cambridge)
- Able to tolerate prolonged periods of sitting and/ or standing
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Approved Premises/ Cambridge Probation Office
5 Weslesyan Road
Peterborough
PE1 3RW
Employer's website
https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
