Ministry of Justice UK
Senior Occupational Psychologist (Ref: 20458)
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East Midlands (England), East of England, London (region), North East England, North West England, Scotland, South East England, South West England, Wales, West Midlands (England), Yorkshire and the Humber
Job Summary
Please refer to Job Description
Job Description
Purpose
Support the Principal Occupational Psychologists and Head of Occupational Psychology Centre of Expertise in providing a pro-active and advisory/consultancy service to clients that meets business needs, is compliant with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles and Occupational Psychology professional standards, and enables clients to attract the best talent in a cost effective and efficient manner.
Contribute to the development and delivery of psychological research and consultancy to MOJ People Function’s operational and tactical resourcing activities.
Provide advice covering all aspects of occupational psychology related to recruitment, selection and assessment across MOJ Group.
Responsibilities
- Line management of team members, including facilitation and supervision of their professional development. This may include being a QOP2 supervisor and/or line management of higher psychologists.
- Conduct problem analysis and determine all the client requirements and issues to be addressed.
- Liaise directly with clients, keeping them informed in a timely manner.
- Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of employee selection procedures, including psychometric tests, assessment centre exercises and structured interviews.
- Apply professional judgement and expertise in selecting robust, cost-effective and relevant psychological tools and techniques to meet client needs.
- Provide up-to-date impartial, relevant and evidence-based advice to clients on the psychological and behavioural implications of their plans/practices.
- Provide theoretically-founded or evidence-based advice and guidance to clients on how psychological interventions can support their requirements.
- Liaise closely with the wider Resourcing, Selection and Onboarding team, as well as other relevant stakeholders, working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to meet client needs and deliver projects to required timescales.
- Oversee the design and application of psychological interventions, research and evaluation within their area of expertise.
- Design and deliver comprehensive training packages to train assessors, interviewers and role players.
- Carry out complex statistical analysis and interrogation of data to quality assure assessment outcomes to ensure they are consistent, reliable, valid, free from adverse impact and legally defensible.
- Support wider MoJ People Function to provide Occupational Psychology guidance and/or research as required.
Required Experience
- Leading end-to-end projects within the consultancy cycle.
- Working with clients to diagnose issues and suggest strategies for change.
- Designing and evaluating a wide range of assessment solutions, including interviews, assessment centre exercises, and online assessments.
- Conducting job analysis and competency framework/Success Profile design.
- Conducting behavioural assessments and interviews.
- Using psychometric tools and ability tests for recruitment.
- Designing and delivering training courses.
- Using data and evidence to inform decision making.
Behaviours
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
Other Abilities
- High level of verbal and written communication ability
Technical
- Behaviours: Ambassador
- Professional Skill: Consultancy
- Professional Skill: Research & Evaluation
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These technical behaviours and skills are listed in the Government Occupational Psychology Skills & Standards at Senior Psychologist level (p14 – 23).
Technical/Qualification Requirements
- British Psychological Society Qualification in Occupational Psychology Stage 2 or have completed Part 1 and Part 2 of a professional doctorate in occupational psychology, which confers Chartered Member with the BPS (see Memberships) and Full Member of the Division of Occupational Psychology (see Memberships) and Registered Occupational Psychologist with the HCPC (see Licences).
- If you are within 6 months of successfully completing either of these qualifications, please discuss this with us.*
Test User
- Occupational, Ability (or Level A equivalent)
- Occupational, Personality (or Level B equivalent)
- Good understanding of recruitment legislation and Occupational Psychology Best Practice and its potential impact on assessment delivery and design
- Good knowledge of statistics and competent in using statistical analysis e.g. using SPSS
If you are within 6 months* of successfully completing either qualification listed at Qualifications (which directly links to memberships and licences at *), please discuss your eligibility to apply with the vacancy holder who will seek advice from the Vacancy Manager.
For the QOPS2 ‘within 6 months’ is broadly defined as being within 6 months of your final submission date on the QOPS2 OR you have passed your final submission and are waiting for your viva to take place. Please note, once in role the Ministry of Justice will not cover the costs incurred for you to complete the QOPS2. For a professional doctorate ‘within 6 months’ is broadly defined as: having submitted your final thesis and are waiting for your viva to take place. Please note, once in role, the Ministry of Justice will not cover the costs incurred for you to complete the professional doctorate.
Application process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to first confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria for the role including Qualifications.
Statement of Suitability
You will then be asked to complete a Statement of Suitability. Your Statement of Suitability (no more than 1250 words) should explain how your Required Experience evidences your suitability for the role. The layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. You may choose to address the criteria separately; however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several key criteria. You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used.
A CV covering job history and qualifications is requested to provide context to your responses throughout the selection process. The CV will not contribute to your score in the Statement of Suitability. Please include all relevant evidence of the Key Skills and Experience within your Statement of Suitability.
Interview Stage
Candidates who are successful at sift will then be invited to an interview. The interview will be conducted via MS Teams.
The Interview Will Have 2 Parts:
- You will first be asked to do a 10-minute pre-prepared presentation. The presentation can be with or without the use of slides. Further details regarding the topic for the presentation will be included in the invitation to interview. Your presentation will be assessed against the Professional Skill: Consultancy and Professional Skill: Research & Evaluation
- Interview questions assessing the Behaviours outlined in the job advert and the Technical Behaviour: Ambassador.
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Expected Sift date: w/c 24th August
Expected Interview date: w/c 7th September
Person specification
Please Refer To Job Description
Licences
- Registered Occupational Psychologist with the HCPC (see Licences).
If you are within 6 months* of successfully completing either qualification listed at Qualifications (which directly links to memberships and licences at *), please discuss your eligibility to apply with the vacancy holder who will seek advice from the Vacancy Manager.
Qualifications
- British Psychological Society Qualification in Occupational Psychology Stage 2 or have completed Part 1 and Part 2 of a professional doctorate in occupational psychology, which confers Chartered Member with the BPS (see Memberships) and Full Member of the Division of Occupational Psychology (see Memberships) and Registered Occupational Psychologist with the HCPC (see Licences).
- If you are within 6 months of successfully completing either of these qualifications, please discuss this with us.*
Test User
- Occupational, Ability (or Level A equivalent)
- Occupational, Personality (or Level B equivalent)
Good understanding of recruitment legislation and Occupational Psychology Best Practice and its potential impact on assessment delivery and design
Good knowledge of statistics and competent in using statistical analysis e.g. using SPSS
If you are within 6 months* of successfully completing either qualification listed at Qualifications (which directly links to memberships and licences at *), please discuss your eligibility to apply with the vacancy holder who will seek advice from the Vacancy Manager.
For the QOPS2 ‘within 6 months’ is broadly defined as being within 6 months of your final submission date on the QOPS2 OR you have passed your final submission and are waiting for your viva to take place. Please note, once in role the Ministry of Justice will not cover the costs incurred for you to complete the QOPS2. For a professional doctorate ‘within 6 months’ is broadly defined as: having submitted your final thesis and are waiting for your viva to take place. Please note, once in role, the Ministry of Justice will not cover the costs incurred for you to complete the professional doctorate.
Memberships
- British Psychological Society Qualification in Occupational Psychology Stage 2 or have completed Part 1 and Part 2 of a professional doctorate in occupational psychology, which confers Chartered Member with the BPS (see Memberships) and Full Member of the Division of Occupational Psychology (see Memberships).
If you are within 6 months* of successfully completing either qualification listed at Qualifications (which directly links to memberships and licences at *), please discuss your eligibility to apply with the vacancy holder who will seek advice from the Vacancy Manager.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Technical behaviour: Ambassador
Salary
Alongside your salary of £42,914, Ministry of Justice contributes £12,432 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
Benefits
- Access to learning and development
- A working environment that
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