This post is available at Band 7 or Band 8a level dependent on experience.

We are looking for a Forensic, Counselling or Clinical psychologist with an interest in personality disorders to take a key position in the Psychology in Probation Offender Personality Disorder (PIP OPD) service.

The Psychology in Probation Offender Personality Disorder (PiP OPD) service is a partnership between adult mental health and probation services. It consists of a small team of psychologists, an occupational therapist and probation staff providing support, training, consultation and advice to probation practitioners who work with offenders with personality difficulties or diagnosed personality disorder. The post holder will also work alongside NHS colleagues, specialist Offender Managers (OM), and other probation staff to provide psychologically informed interventions to service users on the OPD pathway.

Please be advised that this role is on a Fixed Term Contract in order to cover current Maternity leave until August 2023.

Main duties of the job

The role focuses on working as a team on the development and maintenance of a psychologically informed workforce across the probation service. It involves formulation sharing, reflective group facilitation, joint case management and some teaching and presentation work. The post also involves direct input into the person on probation's care through tailored assessment and intervention (when there is scope and need for direct intervention).

Other duties include regular and systematic undertaking of clinically relevant research and audits, which are essential for the continuation of the project, and communicating these outcomes to senior management and commissioners on a quarterly basis. The role includes the supervision and management of assistant psychologists.

Travelling across Essex as needed is a necessary part of the role, with occasional journeys to other regions in the country for training events and conferences. However, much of our work is carried out remotely.

Although the post is advertised as an 8a, we are in a position to appoint at band 7 with a plan for preceptorship. Thus, we welcome applications from newly qualified Clinical/Counselling/Forensic psychologists with relevant experience.

Please see full 'Job Description' and 'Person Specification' attachments for full details of the role.

About us

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must have completed doctoral level training (or its equivalent) in Forensic, Clinical or Counselling Psychology and/ or have additional training to include models of forensic/clinical psychopathology, clinical/forensic psychometrics and neuropsychology, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology as accredited by the HCPC. Psychologists with experience of working in a forensic setting, personality disorders, and psychosis are strongly encouraged to apply. Eligibility for BPS Chartered Status is desirable and registration with the Health Care Professions Council is essential.

Flexibility & Career Development

The Trust is a family friendly employer. We would be happy to explore options of part-time employment, or sessions being undertaken in a way that would meet the needs of both the Clinician and the Trust. We are in a fortunate position of being able to offer exciting posts linked to CPD with clear career paths which have allowed several clinicians to stay with us through to Consultant level.

We welcome you to join us in shaping these services, as we believe that by investing in the development of our staff member's careers, we are able to strengthen our services so as to provide the best quality care for our service users.

Essex Partnership University Trust offers flexible hours.

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.

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

364-A-4520-E