Job summary
Are you an experienced psychologist interested in working with people whose early traumatic experiences have contributed to high-risk offending behaviours?
Thames Valley Integrated Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway are looking for an experienced Clinical, Counselling or Forensic Psychologist to join our team on a 12 month fixed term contract. This role is most suited to a Band 8a but we will consider applications from newly qualified psychologists.
We are jointly commissioned by the NHS and Probation Service and are responsible for providing psychological input into Probation teams including case identification and pathway management for high-risk, high harm people on probation with personality difficulties/ experiences of early life trauma. We are looking for a proactive, approachable clinician who is passionate about multi-agency working, formulating complexity, and providing direct and indirect input to a stigmatised and marginalised population.
We believe that diversity in teams helps improve trust and respect between staff and encourages typically excluded groups to engage with us. If you have any protected characteristics or are from a BAME background, then we are particularly keen to receive an application from you.
Our shifts are 7.5 hours, week days only, with core working hours generally being 9am to 5pm. However, we understand the importance of a work-life balance, so are open to discussions about compressed hours.
Main duties of the job
The Integrated OPD Pathway Service includes staff from several disciplines including administrators, assistant, clinical, counselling and forensic psychologists, occupational therapy assistants, probation officers and a probation service officer. Please refer to the organisational chart which details how the team works together.
You will be responsible for:-
- providing psychological consultations to Offender Managers/Probation Practitioners (OM/PPs), Approved Premises staff and other professionals working with the person on probation
- working closely with the Enhanced Intensive Intervention and Risk Management Service (E-IIRMS) to identify people on probation who are eligible for direct psychosocial interventions and psychological therapy
- conducting joint work sessions with people on probation and OM/PPs as pre-engagement/motivational work prior to a referral to E-IIRMS; to deliver a brief intervention; to demonstrate a technique or approach to OM/PPs; to explore an unusual presentation; or observe relational dynamics with a view to deepening an understanding of the risk issues
- developing and delivering training and reflective practice for Probation teams and Approved Premises staff, with support from our wider department reflective practice supervision space
- supervising other psychologists working within your geographical area
- for those who are interested, there may be an opportunity to maintain a small therapy caseload (with E-IIRMS)
About us
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible.
Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"
Our values are:"Caring, safe and excellent"
At Oxford Health we offer a range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing.
- Excellent opportunities for career progression
- Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
- Competitive pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
- Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
Job description
Job responsibilities
We sit within the Forensic Mental Health Psychology team, who work in inpatient and community settings. The whole department meets monthly for a business meeting, CPD groups and reflective practice. Our psychology department is proud of the diversity of therapeutic approaches utilised in our work, where support, supervision and CPD is prioritised.
Although the Integrated OPD Pathway Service covers the whole of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, this role is based within Oxfordshire. You will be responsible for providing direct and indirect psychological input into the Oxford and Bicester Probation offices and two Approved Premises in Oxford city, Clarks House and 112 Abingdon Road.
Please refer to the job description and person specification for a detailed explanation of the responsibilities of this role
Please be aware that we have a strong emphasis on co-production and service user involvement. It is common for a service user to be on the interview panel alongside an NHS and Probation Lead for the service.
The role requires Ministry of Justice enhanced vetting. Further details of this process are attached.
We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.
The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.
We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We sit within the Forensic Mental Health Psychology team, who work in inpatient and community settings. The whole department meets monthly for a business meeting, CPD groups and reflective practice. Our psychology department is proud of the diversity of therapeutic approaches utilised in our work, where support, supervision and CPD is prioritised.
Although the Integrated OPD Pathway Service covers the whole of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, this role is based within Oxfordshire. You will be responsible for providing direct and indirect psychological input into the Oxford and Bicester Probation offices and two Approved Premises in Oxford city, Clarks House and 112 Abingdon Road.
Please refer to the job description and person specification for a detailed explanation of the responsibilities of this role
Please be aware that we have a strong emphasis on co-production and service user involvement. It is common for a service user to be on the interview panel alongside an NHS and Probation Lead for the service.
The role requires Ministry of Justice enhanced vetting. Further details of this process are attached.
We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.
The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.
We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post qualification training in specialist area of clinical work, relevant to a forensic population
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to interact and to build and sustain relationships with people with mental health problems and associated difficulties.
- Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism, and to reflect on and manage own emotions and those of others, when faced by highly distressing material, problems, and circumstances (e.g. when dealing with family breakdown, sexual abuse) on a frequent basis.
- Ability to work independently, reliably, consistently and with initiative in circumstances where has discretion to work within defined team/Trust policies, service principles, professional codes of practice and other appropriate parameters and to determine how objectives agreed with manger are best achieved.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and individual and group-based treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including primary and secondary/ specialist care and inpatient/residential, outpatient and community team settings.
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, with clients of all ages across the lifespan and of wide-ranging presenting problems that reflect the full spectrum of clinical complexity and severity.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post qualification training in specialist area of clinical work, relevant to a forensic population
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to interact and to build and sustain relationships with people with mental health problems and associated difficulties.
- Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism, and to reflect on and manage own emotions and those of others, when faced by highly distressing material, problems, and circumstances (e.g. when dealing with family breakdown, sexual abuse) on a frequent basis.
- Ability to work independently, reliably, consistently and with initiative in circumstances where has discretion to work within defined team/Trust policies, service principles, professional codes of practice and other appropriate parameters and to determine how objectives agreed with manger are best achieved.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of specialist psychological assessment and individual and group-based treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including primary and secondary/ specialist care and inpatient/residential, outpatient and community team settings.
- Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, with clients of all ages across the lifespan and of wide-ranging presenting problems that reflect the full spectrum of clinical complexity and severity.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
