Descriptions & Requirements

Job Description

This post is for a Senior Forensic Psychologist with Youth Custody Services and the post holder will be registered as a forensic psychologist with the HCPC.

Psychology Services for HMPPS Youth Custody Service (YCS) are currently recruiting Senior Registered Psychologists based in HMYOI Wetherby near York. With approximately 400 children in custody, YCS Psychology Services work across the whole spectrum of complex needs of this population as part of a trauma-informed approach. Practice is integrated across all partner agencies with an enduring focus on the best interests of the child. Given all services for this specialist population are underpinned by evidence-based practice, Psychology Services are integral to YCS.

Fundamental to Senior Leadership Teams, YCS Senior Psychologists are also involved in various areas of work provided across YCS for England and Wales including interventions, safety, children’s support services, and staff well-being and support. At least two years post qualification, YCS Senior Psychologists also line manage and supervise the practice of other staff in the team including trainee psychologists. Further, as part of the wider HMPPS Psychology Services Group, successful applicants will also benefit from numerous opportunities for CPD and career progression through working across the wider custodial estate. Whilst experience of working with children involved in the youth justice system is desirable as full training and support will be provided, motivation and resilience to work with this complex yet rewarding population is essential.

All suitably qualified interested parties are therefore encouraged to apply but to discuss this post further please contact ycs.psychology@justice.gov.uk and someone will get back to you.

Overview of the Job

This is a non-operational offender-facing job.

Summary

The job holders covered by this job description are usually categorised as specialists in their field or those whose role requires significant additional experience, training, and personal development.

The job holder will largely excel in the area of risk assessment or be a specialist in a specific area such as working with those convicted of sexual offending. At this level, the jobholder may have responsibility for the key specialist tasks involved in the delivery of a programme or related individual case management, which would also entail overseeing the quality of delivery and supervision. They will also provide direction and support for other supervisors.

The job holder will be working with complex individuals and staff and applying their experience and competence in the area of psychology to reduce the risk of harm and re-offending by undertaking complex risk assessments, conducting research, providing consultancy, and delivering training for staff and interventions (individual and group).

This is a non-operational job with line management responsibilities. This role is non-rotational.

Responsibilities, Activities, and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities, and duties:

• Conducts full case reviews on difficult cases and offers authoritative advice on next steps relating to sentence plans.
• Specialises in the delivery of psychology services in settings such as therapeutic community wings or PIPEs.
• Leads and supervises and facilitates group sessions.
• Offers professional opinion to multi-functional teams conducting offender reports e.g., risk reports, parole reports on high-risk or vulnerable offenders.
• Develops and/or strategies such as sexual offending or indeterminate sentence assessment and intervention strategy.
• Delivers and supervises (treatment management) the delivery of more complex programmes e.g., healthy sex programme.
• Provides consultancy support to colleagues such as Senior Management Team (SMT) in relation to psychology services and outcomes.
• Conducts relevant research including data gathering and analysis.
• Acts 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.
• Responsible for managing and providing professional supervision to trainee forensic psychology staff.
• Provides supervision, training, mentoring, and support to trainee psychologists and where relevant, other staff such as interventions staff.
• Assists in national specialist tasks such as training on courses related to their specialist discipline.
• Provides professional supervision to support a trainee in developing through the key steps towards chartered and registered status. This may be as a coordinating or designated supervisor.
• Ensures 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 offenders.
• Leads on risk assessment and resulting risk management of complex, vulnerable, or high-risk offenders. Will be competent to undertake the full range of risk assessments including the more complex risk assessments. Gives feedback of the assessment to the individual and other stakeholders.
• Contributes to other offender management processes (usually with more complex cases in work such as Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) assessments and self-harm or personality disorder assessments).
• Provides consultancy role to the wider team on their specialist activity. Visits a range of sites/forums to advise on complex cases.
• Acts as a negotiation adviser where suitable and competence has been demonstrated.
• Manages own Continued Professional Development (CPD) requirements and maintains professional standards.
• Ensures they maintain their professional Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration.
• Provides a psychological contribution to the work of areas of the wider service provision (such as a therapeutic community or regime activity).
• Provides psychological reports when requested for those convicted of a life sentence and to submit within the appropriate time framework.
• Responsible for relevant accreditation audit baselines as detailed in the audit document.
• Line management of trainee psychologists.