Job summary
This is post is available at Band 7 or Band 8a level dependent on experience. If appointed at Band 7 (newly qualified), this will be a developmental post and the post-holder will work through a preceptorship towards Band 8a level.
An exciting career opportunity has arisen for a psychologist with an interest in forensic psychological services to join our multi-disciplinary team at the Robin Pinto Unit, Luton (Bedfordshire). The Robin Pinto Unit is an 18 bed male Low Secure Unit for adults with severe and enduring mental health problems.
Role Overview:
To provide a qualified psychology service (registered psychologist) to people on the forensic wards as part of the psychology service and Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT); incorporating specialist assessment and intervention. To offer advice and consultation on client's psychological care to non-psychologist colleagues and to non- professional carers, to work autonomously within professional guidelines and the overall framework of the team's and Trust's policies and procedures. To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research within the areas covered by psychology service.
Main duties of the job
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES CLINICAL
- To provide specialist psychological assessments of inpatients on the forensic wards 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 clients and others involved in the client's The post- holder will also be responsible for the safe use of any equipment used during assessments (e.g. test batteries).
- To formulate and implement plans for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of a client's mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the client's problems and employing evidence based
- To be responsible for implementing a range of highly specialised psychological interventions for people on the forensic unit; families and groups, within and across teams, adjusting and refining psychological formulations drawing upon different explanatory models and maintaining a number of provisional hypotheses.
- To evaluate and make decisions about treatment options taking into account both theoretical and therapeutic models and highly complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.
Please see full 'Job Description' and 'Person Specification' attachments for full details of the role.
About us
The post holder would join the multidisciplinary team at Robin Pinto Unit in providing psychological assessments and psychological interventions at the unit. The post holder would also be part of the wider Forensic Psychological Services team which includes: Brockfield House, a 98 bed Medium Secure Unit in Wickford, Essex; Edward House, a 20 bed Low Secure unit in Chelmsford for males; and Wood Lea Clinic, a 10 bed Low Secure Unit in Bedford for males with learning disabilities. Video conferencing facilities between sites are also used to assist departmental communication.
The post offers significant opportunities for training and development and the post holder would be supported to gain specialist skills in specialist forensic assessments required for the role, as well as to develop appropriate therapeutic skills. We offer a CPD package of up to £6,000 to be used in the first three years of employment following successful completion of the probationary period and linked to the appraisal process as agreed with your line manager.
BENEFITS AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
- Up to £6,000 CPD package (see above)
- Up to £8,000 relocation support for those that meet the criteria
- Excellent Training and CPD opportunities for career development
- Season Ticket Loans
- NHS discounts for staff
- Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
- The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see full 'Job Description' and 'Person Specification' attachments for full details of the role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see full 'Job Description' and 'Person Specification' attachments for full details of the role.
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- Doctoral training in Clinical/Counselling/Forensic psychology (or equivalent)
- HCPC Registered as practitioner psychologist
- Postgraduate training including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by HCPC.
- Postgraduate level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the applied fields of psychology.
Desirable
- Knowledge of models of forensic psychology, including theories and models of offending, risk assessment (including Structured Professional Judgement approaches), and knowledge of theories of offence related therapy.
Skills and Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups with presenting mental health difficulties 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.
- Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management.
- 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.
- Well developed, confident IT skills.
- Good oral communication skills based on fluency in the English language
Desirable
- Experience of providing teaching and training to mental health staff around topics pertinent to working with offenders.
- Experience of providing clinical supervision to staff carrying out group and individual work with forensic mental health patients.
- Experience in the administration and interpretation of Structured Professional Judgement risk assessments (including the HCR-20, RSVP and SARA), as well as experience in formal assessments of personality (including PCL-R and IPDE).
- Experience in the administration, interpretation and appropriate application of neuropsychological tests.
- Skills in providing consultation to professional and non-professional groups
- Experience of working successfully as a ward psychologist as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and providing psychological formulations to team members from different disciplines (psychiatrists, nursing staff, social workers, occupational therapists) in an understandable way.
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- Doctoral training in Clinical/Counselling/Forensic psychology (or equivalent)
- HCPC Registered as practitioner psychologist
- Postgraduate training including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by HCPC.
- Postgraduate level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the applied fields of psychology.
Desirable
- Knowledge of models of forensic psychology, including theories and models of offending, risk assessment (including Structured Professional Judgement approaches), and knowledge of theories of offence related therapy.
Skills and Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups with presenting mental health difficulties 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.
- Experience of the application of psychology in different cultural contexts.
- Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management.
- 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.
- Well developed, confident IT skills.
- Good oral communication skills based on fluency in the English language
Desirable
- Experience of providing teaching and training to mental health staff around topics pertinent to working with offenders.
- Experience of providing clinical supervision to staff carrying out group and individual work with forensic mental health patients.
- Experience in the administration and interpretation of Structured Professional Judgement risk assessments (including the HCR-20, RSVP and SARA), as well as experience in formal assessments of personality (including PCL-R and IPDE).
- Experience in the administration, interpretation and appropriate application of neuropsychological tests.
- Skills in providing consultation to professional and non-professional groups
- Experience of working successfully as a ward psychologist as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and providing psychological formulations to team members from different disciplines (psychiatrists, nursing staff, social workers, occupational therapists) in an understandable way.
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).
