Job summary
A number of vacancies for Assistant Psychologists have arisen across the Secure Care and Offender Health directorate. Some of the services which currently have vacancies are:
Tamarind Centre; a medium secure unit for men (1.0 WTE)
Hillis Lodge; a low secure unit for men
Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR); part of the Criminal Justice Recovery Service
HMP Birmingham
Forensic Intensive Recovery Support Team (FIRST)
PROSPER Intensive Intervention and Risk Management Service (IIRMS)
Our values centre on providing compassionate, high-quality and person-centred care and we are looking for like-minded individuals to apply.
The role would suit committed, hard-working and compassionate individuals with an interest in working with people who present with complex needs within the criminal justice system. The directorate has a diverse portfolio of services and has an excellent national reputation, with accreditations from QNIC, NHS England, QNFMHS and the National Autistic Society.
As an assistant psychologist in our services, there is access to regular, highly specialist supervision and CPD as part of a wider psychology team of over 70 staff. We offer continued support and progression within this network, and we work hard to ensure our roles are inclusive and enriching for the post-holders. We are also committed to supporting the wellbeing of our staff team to provide a positive and fulfilling experience of work.
Main duties of the job
MHTR role is based at the Ardenleigh Hospital site in Erdington. Within this post there are opportunities to contribute to assessments, formulations, and interventions with adults with mental health needs who have been found guilty of an offence, as an alternative to a custodial sentence. There may be expectations to travel within this role.
FIRST is based on the same site as Reaside Clinic in Rubery. The role would involve opportunities to contribute to assessments, formulations and individual / group interventions with men and women under the care of FIRST. This includes supporting service users who are transitioning from secure hospitals into the community, as well as those already living in the community.
PROSPER is a community-based intensive intervention and risk management service (IIRMS) on the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway, working in partnership with Probation to support high risk individuals in the transition from prison to, and stabilisation in, community.
HMP Birmingham - the role involves completing assessments, formulations and brief interventions with service users whom are under the care of either Primary Mental Health Care or the 24 Hour Healthcare inpatient wing. Post-holders are required to have at least one year of experience as an Assistant Psychologist and/or work experience within a prison setting due to the high level of autonomy within the role and the complexity of the environment.
About us
Welcome to Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Our 4000 clinical and support staff help us to improve mental health wellbeing and meet the needs of the 70,000 people we serve each year. We provide a range of mental healthcare services across Birmingham and Solihull, as well as specialised services nationally. We also offer medical, nursing and psychology training and are proud of our international reputation for both research and innovation.
Our population is culturally diverse, characterised in places by high levels of deprivation which create an increasing demand for our services and a necessity for us to make sure everyone can access the help they need. We are a team of compassionate, inclusive and committed people working together to provide excellent care to support our community. If you are looking for a place to belong, where you can make a real difference to peoples lives, join our team where our warm welcome is waiting for you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information about the main responsibilities please view the attached job description and person specification.
We highly recommend you submit your application as soon as possible, this post may close earlier than the indicated closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received.
Please click on the link for a little insight into our services and our people
https://vimeo.com/benthompsonfilms/psychologyrecruitment?share=copy
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information about the main responsibilities please view the attached job description and person specification.
We highly recommend you submit your application as soon as possible, this post may close earlier than the indicated closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received.
Please click on the link for a little insight into our services and our people
https://vimeo.com/benthompsonfilms/psychologyrecruitment?share=copy
Person Specification
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 work with people with mental health problems or disabilities, or other relevant problems or disabilities (e.g. learning disabilities, organic impairment).
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with serious mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia)
Skills
Essential
- High level interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to work and effectively communicate complex or sensitive information in highly emotive and emotionally charged settings involving conflict and significant personal distress.
- An awareness and understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and disabilities and of contemporary issues in the field
- An awareness and understanding of the differential needs of people from black and minority ethnic communities and from other minority groups and of the service issues arising within a multi-cultural urban area.
- Awareness of boundary issues between professionals and between clients and psychologists.
Personal
Essential
- Ability to interact and to build and sustain relationships with people with mental health problems and associated disabilities
- Adaptable and able to work flexibly when required (e.g. in the light of changing service priorities) such as some evenings and/or weekends
- Capacity for tolerating frustration, change and high levels of demand with an ability to work effectively under pressure.
Desirable
- An interest in working with people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
Other
Essential
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
Person Specification
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 work with people with mental health problems or disabilities, or other relevant problems or disabilities (e.g. learning disabilities, organic impairment).
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with serious mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia)
Skills
Essential
- High level interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to work and effectively communicate complex or sensitive information in highly emotive and emotionally charged settings involving conflict and significant personal distress.
- An awareness and understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and disabilities and of contemporary issues in the field
- An awareness and understanding of the differential needs of people from black and minority ethnic communities and from other minority groups and of the service issues arising within a multi-cultural urban area.
- Awareness of boundary issues between professionals and between clients and psychologists.
Personal
Essential
- Ability to interact and to build and sustain relationships with people with mental health problems and associated disabilities
- Adaptable and able to work flexibly when required (e.g. in the light of changing service priorities) such as some evenings and/or weekends
- Capacity for tolerating frustration, change and high levels of demand with an ability to work effectively under pressure.
Desirable
- An interest in working with people with mental health problems or other disabilities.
Other
Essential
- Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and 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).
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).
