Job summary
London Pathways Partnership (LPP) is a consortium of five NHS Trusts delivering services in London and across three prisons as part of the National Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway programme. An exciting opportunity has arisen for a specialist clinical/counselling or forensic psychologist with an interest in personality disorder and/or complex care to take a lead role in the continuing development of the service.
The Forensic psychology department has close links with regional Clinical Psychology training courses and other academic institutions. There are many teaching and training opportunities, and excellent CPD opportunities, and a wide range of specialist supervision.
We actively encourage applicants from backgrounds representative of the diverse communities we serve.
Please note that there may be opportunities for an additional 0.4 WTE employment in Brixton and/or other OPD prison/community services.
Main duties of the job
The role is based in HMP Brixton on the London Pathways Unit (LPU), which is a treatment and progression service for 'high risk high harm' men with personality difficulties who are approaching release. The LPU role involves assessment, formulation, psychological and psycho-social interventions, the development of an 'enabling' and psychologically and trauma-informed environment, staff training and supervision.
This is an innovative role which aims to enhance the development of appropriate pathways through custody and into the community for service users. It is open to clinical/counselling and forensic psychologists with a demonstrated interest in working with complex personality disorder, ideally including experience of working in a prison setting. The post provides numerous opportunities to develop leadership, consultation and liaison and training skills and clinical expertise and experience. As well as jointly delivering a service with prison and probation colleagues, the postholder will work closely with the wider forensic psychological therapies team, and will have additional opportunities to develop skills and experience.
About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please kindly refer to the job description and person specification attached to this vacancy.
This job description is intended as a guide to the main duties of the post and is not intended to be a prescriptive document. Duties and base of work may change to meet the needs of the service or because of the introduction of new technology. This job description may be reviewed from time to time and changed, after consultation with the postholder..
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please kindly refer to the job description and person specification attached to this vacancy.
This job description is intended as a guide to the main duties of the post and is not intended to be a prescriptive document. Duties and base of work may change to meet the needs of the service or because of the introduction of new technology. This job description may be reviewed from time to time and changed, after consultation with the postholder..
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- Doctoral level training in clinical/forensic psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developments as accredited by the BPS.
- Post-qualification training or demonstrable experience in a distinct psychological therapy or relevant service group (e.g. forensic mental health or personality disorder).
Desirable
- Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.
- Completion of further post-doctoral post-qualification specialist training including training in supervision of trainee clinical psychologists.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across a range of care settings, including outpatient, and inpatient settings.
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
- Completion of two years post-doctoral post-qualification supervised clinical experience with the client group of the post (personality disorder and/or forensic services) or a related client group.nity and inpatient.
- Experience of working with families, carers and / or significant others.
Desirable
- Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
- Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts
- Experience of working in a prison setting
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management, including the use of theoretical models to analyse information and develop formulations upon which to base choice of treatment.
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
- Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.
Desirable
- High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health
Other
Essential
- Ability to recognise, contain and work with organisational and personal stress
- Ability to work creatively, co-operatively, reliably and consistently both as an independent practitioner and in multi-disciplinary and team settings
- Respectful approach to patients, carers, colleagues, and others
- Willingness to negotiate and ability to handle confrontation effectively
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification/ Training
Essential
- Doctoral level training in clinical/forensic psychology, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developments as accredited by the BPS.
- Post-qualification training or demonstrable experience in a distinct psychological therapy or relevant service group (e.g. forensic mental health or personality disorder).
Desirable
- Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.
- Completion of further post-doctoral post-qualification specialist training including training in supervision of trainee clinical psychologists.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across a range of care settings, including outpatient, and inpatient settings.
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity including maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse.
- Completion of two years post-doctoral post-qualification supervised clinical experience with the client group of the post (personality disorder and/or forensic services) or a related client group.nity and inpatient.
- Experience of working with families, carers and / or significant others.
Desirable
- Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
- Experience of the application of clinical psychology in different cultural contexts
- Experience of working in a prison setting
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management, including the use of theoretical models to analyse information and develop formulations upon which to base choice of treatment.
- Well developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
- Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
- Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.
Desirable
- High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.
- Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health
Other
Essential
- Ability to recognise, contain and work with organisational and personal stress
- Ability to work creatively, co-operatively, reliably and consistently both as an independent practitioner and in multi-disciplinary and team settings
- Respectful approach to patients, carers, colleagues, and others
- Willingness to negotiate and ability to handle confrontation effectively
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).
