91567 - Counselling Psychologist- Psychology Services- Youth Custody Directorate
October 18, 2024
Youth Custody Service Registered Counselling Psychologists
To build upon the existing Counselling Psychology Service for children in custody, Psychology Services for HMPPS Youth Custody Service (YCS) are currently recruiting HCPC Registered Counselling Psychologists to be based in HMYOI Werrington (Stoke-on-Trent) and HMYOI Wetherby (Yorkshire). YCS is a geographically dispersed directorate which accommodates all boys and girls under 18 years in custody across England and Wales in a variety of different settings. YCS Psychology Services provide a spectrum of services across all sites and has staff based in all YOIs. Successful applicants will be part of an established team committed to working with children in custody which includes Counselling, Forensic, Clinical, Occupational and Educational Psychologists plus Family Therapists. Successful applicants will have no line management responsibilities and will work alongside the current Senior Counselling Psychologist and our team of Counselling Psychologists in Training placements. YCS collaborates with NHS England in the delivery of the SECURE STAIRS framework for integrated care and the post-holder will be part of a vibrant multi-agency team driving forward a trauma-informed approach for working with often the most complex children in our society. Whilst motivation and the required resilience to work with children is essential, experience of working with children is only desirable as full training and support will be provided plus ongoing opportunities for CPD. Successful applicants will also be part of the wider HMPPS Psychology Services Group (PSG) which creates a range of opportunities across other populations and functions. All HCPC Registered Counselling Psychologists are therefore encouraged to apply or for an informal discussion please contact YCS Psychology Services who will put you in touch with one of the team – we look forward to hearing from you [email protected]
Overview of the job
This is a non-operational offender facing job.
Summary
The job holder will be working with prisoners, people on probation and staff and applying their competence in psychology to reduce the risk of harm and of re- offending by undertaking a range of work including risk assessment of prisoners, conducting research, providing consultancy and delivering training for staff and assessment and interventions for offenders. This is non-operational and non rotational offender facing job.
This job holder will be able to provide designated support and supervision to trainee psychologists.
Responsibilities, Activities and Duties
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Offer authoritative professional advice on targets and objectives for relevant offenders and advise on the best location for those offenders (both within the establishment or relocation to another category establishment)
- Offer professional opinion to teams conducting reports e.g. lifer reports, parole reports
- Develop strategy and plans of activity for some areas of operation e.g. manages the organisation of relevant programme assessments or manages assessment and interviews those with an indeterminate sentence
- Provide consultancy support to colleagues such as the SMT or other teams in relation to psychology services and outcomes.
- Conduct relevant research including data gathering and analysis
- Responsible for providing supervision to trainee forensic psychology staff
- Provide training, mentoring and support to trainee psychologists and other staff (e.g. interventions staff).
- Can be required to provide professional (designated) supervision of trainee’s e.g. professional Supervision to ensure that a trainee is able to develop through the key steps towards chartered and registered status.
- Ensure staff are developed in accordance with key competencies and gateways and ensuring consistency across the team in the application of policies and procedures affecting staff and prisoners
- Lead on risk assessment and resulting risk management
- Participate in risk assessment of offenders to determine their risk of harm to self, others and the risk of reoffending. May undertake Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) and self-harm assessments.
- Can be required to deliver and/or oversee the quality of programmes (treatment management). These will be of the more complex type requiring such qualified input
- Provide consultancy role on specialist area e.g. Working with those convicted of Sexual Offending Strategy or Indeterminate Sentenced Prisoners (ISP) Strategy
- Act as a negotiation adviser where suitable and competence has been demonstrated
- Act as a “professional witness” in parole board hearings, multi-agency meetings, and other formal settings where psychology input is required. May also act as expert witness in respect of court proceedings for Ministry of Justice.
- Maintain own Continued Professional Development (CPD) and registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.
An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.
Behaviours
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Developing Self and Others
Experience
- Possess a professional background in Psychology
- Experience in providing clinical supervision
- Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practise
Technical requirements
- Qualified and registered clinician with the HCPC
Qualifications
Qualified forensic or clinical psychologists with the HCPC or in the process of receiving HCPC registration. Where HCPC registration is not yet in place, confirmation of registration must be provided within 6 months of provisional offer
Licences
Qualified and registered clinician with the HCPC
Professional memberships
Qualified and registered clinician with the HCPC
Languages
Spoken and written English
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.
If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.
The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.
Benefits
Annual Leave
-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.
Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays
-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment
Pension
-The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Work Life Balance
HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ
Season Ticket Advance
-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work
Childcare Vouchers
For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers
Training
HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes
-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts
-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles
Eligibility
-All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post
-All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS
-All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
- To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]);
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([email protected]);
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please see our Disability Confident Scheme Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
Interview dates To be confirmed Closing Date:04/11/2024, 23:55 hours.
Contact informationIf you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected].
Please quote the job reference - 91567.
Please note the successful applicant will need to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Security Check for this post. Success ProfilesSuccess Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.
if you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL ([email protected]) in the first instanceWe have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.
Application form stage assessments
Experience CV Statement of Suitability - 250 word limit Technical Skills Possess a professional background in Psychology - 250 word limit Experience in providing clinical supervision - 250 word limit Completed relevant training in effective models of treatment and best practise - 250 word limit Qualified forensic or clinical psychologists with the HCPC or in the process of receiving HCPC registration. Where HCPC registration is not yet in place, confirmation of registration must be provided within 6 months of provisional offer - 250 word limitUse of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Interview stage assessments
There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy. Behaviours Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Working Together Developing Self and Others Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance.A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
· UK nationals
· nationals of the Republic of Ireland
· nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
· individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
· Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
