Assistant Psychologist

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

We are looking for two Assistant Psychologists to join the Outside the Box (OTB) team, part of the offender personality disorder (OPD) pathway in Devon, based at HMP Channings Wood. The OPD pathway is based in prisons and probation, with NHS and HMPPS staff working together to increase the wellbeing and reduce the risk of those screened into the pathway, whilst improving the knowledge and attitudes of wider workforce.

OTB is an intervention service supporting those who are stuck (e.g. not willing to engage, multiple releases and recalls) or displaying behaviours that mean they arent able to access other services they would benefit them (e.g. self-harm, substance use). The service provides individual and group interventions in a range of modalities with a focus on the relational. This includes the development of a shared formulation with each person on caseload, as well as pro-social groups (e.g. gardening, bee-keeping), psycho-educational groups (e.g. healthy self-esteem), skills groups (DBT skills) and more therapeutic groups (MBT).

The role will be within a cohesive, motivated and enthusiastic team including prison officers, psychologists, assistant psychologists and an art therapist. There is lots of space given to supervision, reflective practice and opportunities for training, in acknowledgement of how challenging this work can be.

Upcoming training includes schema (full 7 day course), attachment-based practice in criminal justice settings (2 days) and DBT skills.

Main duties of the job

The role will include working on an individual and group basis with those on caseload to support them to achieve shared goals based on a collaborative psychological formulation.

The post holder will have the chance to develop and facilitate psycho-educational and skills based groups such as DBT skills, groups around identity and attachment based groups, with appropriate training. There is also scope to be involved in co-facilitating pro-social groups such as bee keeping, social club, mindfulness, cooking and gardening etc.

They will hold a caseload jointly with prison staff, and for those individuals will work to undertake assessment and develop a shared formulation and intervention plan/goals, with supervision from the psychologist/clinical lead. Within this, there will be the opportunity to offer support and consultation to operational staff within OTB, as well as to the wider prison workforce.

You will work with community services to develop links, with the aim of creating psychological understanding for people once they leave the prison and positive transitions to community services for service users.

There is also opportunity for involvement with a research project, supported by the central OPD research team and with the aim of this being published in the future, and to deliver training to staff across the prison.

We would be happy to arrange a visit to the service for anyone interested in learning more.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Date posted

07 June 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£28,407 to £34,581 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9369-23-0265

Job locations

HMP Channings Wood

Greenhill Lane

Newton Abbot

Devon

TQ12 6DW

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on this role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on this role.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Significant experience as an assistant psychologist in a related setting
Relevant clinical and research skills
Experience of working as part of a team
Basic knowledge of databases, research skills and methodology
Experience of group work and individual therapeutic contact
Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a health, mental health and offence context

Desirable

Experience of working with people with complex needs
Experience of working with people with personality problems, preferably in a mental health or forensic setting
Experience of the use of psychometric tests
Experience working within the Criminal Justice System e.g. prison or probation
Experience of teaching health, prison or probation professionals
Lived experience of mental health issues

Qualifications

Essential

Honours degree at 2:1 or above in psychology and the qualification renders the applicant eligible for graduate membership of the BPS or a BA or BSc (Hons) in modular studies incl. psychology & related fields.

Desirable

Further post graduate training in relevant area of professional psychology, health and social care practice, and / or research design and analysis

Knowledge and skills

Essential

To be able to communicate effectively under pressure and maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times.
To be able to provide and receive complex sensitive or contentious information in a potentially highly emotive atmosphere.
High standard of report writing.
Ability to integrate complex data; make evaluations; produce psychological formulations and contribute to decisions.
To assimilate complex information and use reflective/analytic thinking, to apply psychological perspectives in work in a criminal justice setting
Organisation and time management skills.
Ability to be flexible and cope with multiple demands. Capable of using initiative and organise work to agreed goals.
Ability to work independently and know when to ask for and use supervision, identifying when there is need for advice and using supervision at agreed intervals.
Small-scale project management skills.
Information technology skills. To have highly developed IT skills and good working knowledge of statistical packages
Ability to sit in restricted positions for prolonged periods of time.

Desirable

Ability to work independently within defined occupational procedures and use initiative.
Ability to work as a member of a team.
Ability to tolerate ambiguity, and maintain own morale and motivation in challenging service delivery contexts.
Ability to travel between bases preferably being able to drive and having access to a vehicle.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Significant experience as an assistant psychologist in a related setting
Relevant clinical and research skills
Experience of working as part of a team
Basic knowledge of databases, research skills and methodology
Experience of group work and individual therapeutic contact
Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a health, mental health and offence context

Desirable

Experience of working with people with complex needs
Experience of working with people with personality problems, preferably in a mental health or forensic setting
Experience of the use of psychometric tests
Experience working within the Criminal Justice System e.g. prison or probation
Experience of teaching health, prison or probation professionals
Lived experience of mental health issues

Qualifications

Essential

Honours degree at 2:1 or above in psychology and the qualification renders the applicant eligible for graduate membership of the BPS or a BA or BSc (Hons) in modular studies incl. psychology & related fields.

Desirable

Further post graduate training in relevant area of professional psychology, health and social care practice, and / or research design and analysis

Knowledge and skills

Essential

To be able to communicate effectively under pressure and maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times.
To be able to provide and receive complex sensitive or contentious information in a potentially highly emotive atmosphere.
High standard of report writing.
Ability to integrate complex data; make evaluations; produce psychological formulations and contribute to decisions.
To assimilate complex information and use reflective/analytic thinking, to apply psychological perspectives in work in a criminal justice setting
Organisation and time management skills.
Ability to be flexible and cope with multiple demands. Capable of using initiative and organise work to agreed goals.
Ability to work independently and know when to ask for and use supervision, identifying when there is need for advice and using supervision at agreed intervals.
Small-scale project management skills.
Information technology skills. To have highly developed IT skills and good working knowledge of statistical packages
Ability to sit in restricted positions for prolonged periods of time.

Desirable

Ability to work independently within defined occupational procedures and use initiative.
Ability to work as a member of a team.
Ability to tolerate ambiguity, and maintain own morale and motivation in challenging service delivery contexts.
Ability to travel between bases preferably being able to drive and having access to a vehicle.

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.