Job summary
This post offers an exciting opportunity for a Clinical/Forensic/Counselling Psychologist or Psychological Therapist, to work with people on probation with complex personality difficulties who pose a high risk of harm to others. The post is part of the Community OPD Pathway in London, a join enterprise between NHS and His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) with the aims of reducing reoffending and improving psychological wellbeing.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will work across the London OPD Housing and Accommodation Support Service (OPD HASS) and the South East London Integrated Community Pathways Service (SE ICPS).
Within HASSthe post holder will provide specialist consultation, training, and reflective staff support to staff working in a supported accommodation project for people on the OPD pathway.
The SE ICPS is a team of Psychological Therapists, Clinical Practitioners, and Probation Officers that provides direct and indirect support to people on the OPD Pathway.
In the indirect component of the ICPS work, the post holder will be responsible for providing support to probation practitioners in identifying and managing people on probation who present a high risk of serious offending that is linked to personality difficulties. This will include offering individual and group consultations, joint working, training, staff support, and reflective practice.
In the direct component of the work, the post holder will work directly with people on the pathway who present with the highest level of risk and need, carrying out intake assessments, and developing and overseeing the plans for management and treatment of service users.
About us
Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.
Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:
- We're Kind
- We're Fair
- We Listen
- We Care
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will oversee the work of Clinical Practitioners working with the individuals presenting with the highest level of risk and need. The post holder may also be involved in the delivery of enhanced therapeutic interventions (e.g., Mentalisation Based Therapy) and other evidenced based interventions for people with complex trauma and personality difficulties as well as specialist work focussed on offending behaviour.
Within HASS The post holder will collaborate with staff from probation and the third sector organisation in offering assessments for people referred to the residential staff. Work directly with all residents and support staff to understand their needs and develop and implement appropriate support plans. In conjunction with the lead HASS psychological therapist, the post holder will support the professional development of HASS staff through the delivery of an ongoing training program as well as individual and group consultation. They will also support the integration of HASS provision with the wider OPD pathway and probation service including liaison with custodial services and pre-release assessment and engagement of people referred to HASS.
The post holder will utilise research skills in supporting the lead HASS psychological therapist in audit and other research and development activities. They may supervise and direct the work assistant and trainee psychologists as required. The post holder will work autonomously within professional guidelines, policies and procedures of LPPs services, and overarching objectives of LPP and the OPD Pathway.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will oversee the work of Clinical Practitioners working with the individuals presenting with the highest level of risk and need. The post holder may also be involved in the delivery of enhanced therapeutic interventions (e.g., Mentalisation Based Therapy) and other evidenced based interventions for people with complex trauma and personality difficulties as well as specialist work focussed on offending behaviour.
Within HASS The post holder will collaborate with staff from probation and the third sector organisation in offering assessments for people referred to the residential staff. Work directly with all residents and support staff to understand their needs and develop and implement appropriate support plans. In conjunction with the lead HASS psychological therapist, the post holder will support the professional development of HASS staff through the delivery of an ongoing training program as well as individual and group consultation. They will also support the integration of HASS provision with the wider OPD pathway and probation service including liaison with custodial services and pre-release assessment and engagement of people referred to HASS.
The post holder will utilise research skills in supporting the lead HASS psychological therapist in audit and other research and development activities. They may supervise and direct the work assistant and trainee psychologists as required. The post holder will work autonomously within professional guidelines, policies and procedures of LPPs services, and overarching objectives of LPP and the OPD Pathway.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
- Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession or equivalent and demonstrable practice in this field (ie professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/supervised practice/additional training) that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration. Additional training beyond entry-level qualification in a specialised area of psychological practice (through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses and/an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical psychological therapy practice, assessed by a registered body and/or an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma or higher. Registered with professional body or regulatory body as appropriate to psychological therapy discipline i.e. HCPC/UKCP/BACP/BABCP. Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the professional body.
Desirable
- Training in an evidence-based treatment for the client group. Accredited training in structured professional judgement approaches to risk assessment (including but not limited to the HCR20)
Experience
Essential
- oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care, and in-patient settings. oExperience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems 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. oExperience of working with clients from a range of cultural and ethnic groups and within a multicultural framework. oExperience working with those with a diagnosis of personality disorder and/or a history of self-harm and/or trauma. oExperience of working effectively in multidisciplinary settings. oExperience of teaching and training.
Desirable
- oExperience of the application of psychology in different cultural and specialist contexts. oExperience of work or research undertaken in forensic / secure / locked settings oExperience of inter-agency working
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
Essential
- oSkills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration oAbility to administer, score and interpret psychometric and neuropsychological tests with appropriate training and supervision oUnderstanding psychological formulation for complex high risk service users. oWell 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 oKnowledge of legislation in relation to the client group, mental health and child protection oEvidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS, HCPC or equivalent regulatory body relevant to your profession oKnowledge of the theory and practice of psychological therapies relevant to the client group oKnowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies and two assessment methodologies oKnowledge of current mental health legislation and initiatives and of safeguarding legislation oKnowledge of the principles and practice of clinical governance, clinical audit and risk management oKnowledge of equal opportunities, confidentiality and consent issues oKnowledge of key NHS policies and procedures oKnowledge of relevant Health & Safety legislation oAbility to manage severely challenging behaviour/crisis intervention oAbility to manage unpredictable workloads and frequent demands on concentration and attention oReport writing and presentation skills oCompetent in Microsoft Office packages oAbility to manage within available, and sometimes limited, resources
Desirable
- oKnowledge of research methodology, research design and complex data analysis oSkills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups oAwareness of Criminal Justice and mental health services
Effort and Environment
Essential
- Physical Effort - Light physical effort for several short periods/ sitting in constrained position for extended periods Mental Effort - Ability to manage unpredictable workloads and frequent demands on concentration and attention Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration Working Conditions - To face regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour
Other
Essential
- oAbility to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings. oExperience of working with diversity, including but not limited to a multicultural framework. oAbility to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour. oAbility to form good working relationships with others in a multi-disciplinary setting. oInterest and ability to contribute to service development. oCommitment to Equal Opportunities oAbility to travel across London and work flexibly from different sites. oAbility to achieve and maintain enhanced security clearance.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
- Entry-level qualification in applied psychological therapy/mental health/social welfare profession or equivalent and demonstrable practice in this field (ie professional Doctorate, or combination of MSc plus PG Diploma level/supervised practice/additional training) that has been accepted for the purposes of professional registration. Additional training beyond entry-level qualification in a specialised area of psychological practice (through formal post-qualification training (PG Diploma or equivalent), OR a combination of specialist short courses and/an evidenced portfolio of supervised practice-based learning in a specialist area of clinical psychological therapy practice, assessed by a registered body and/or an experienced clinical supervisor to be of equal level to a Postgraduate Diploma or higher. Registered with professional body or regulatory body as appropriate to psychological therapy discipline i.e. HCPC/UKCP/BACP/BABCP. Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the professional body.
Desirable
- Training in an evidence-based treatment for the client group. Accredited training in structured professional judgement approaches to risk assessment (including but not limited to the HCR20)
Experience
Essential
- oExperience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care, and in-patient settings. oExperience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the whole life course presenting problems 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. oExperience of working with clients from a range of cultural and ethnic groups and within a multicultural framework. oExperience working with those with a diagnosis of personality disorder and/or a history of self-harm and/or trauma. oExperience of working effectively in multidisciplinary settings. oExperience of teaching and training.
Desirable
- oExperience of the application of psychology in different cultural and specialist contexts. oExperience of work or research undertaken in forensic / secure / locked settings oExperience of inter-agency working
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
Essential
- oSkills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration oAbility to administer, score and interpret psychometric and neuropsychological tests with appropriate training and supervision oUnderstanding psychological formulation for complex high risk service users. oWell 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 oKnowledge of legislation in relation to the client group, mental health and child protection oEvidence of continuing professional development as recommended by the BPS, HCPC or equivalent regulatory body relevant to your profession oKnowledge of the theory and practice of psychological therapies relevant to the client group oKnowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies and two assessment methodologies oKnowledge of current mental health legislation and initiatives and of safeguarding legislation oKnowledge of the principles and practice of clinical governance, clinical audit and risk management oKnowledge of equal opportunities, confidentiality and consent issues oKnowledge of key NHS policies and procedures oKnowledge of relevant Health & Safety legislation oAbility to manage severely challenging behaviour/crisis intervention oAbility to manage unpredictable workloads and frequent demands on concentration and attention oReport writing and presentation skills oCompetent in Microsoft Office packages oAbility to manage within available, and sometimes limited, resources
Desirable
- oKnowledge of research methodology, research design and complex data analysis oSkills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups oAwareness of Criminal Justice and mental health services
Effort and Environment
Essential
- Physical Effort - Light physical effort for several short periods/ sitting in constrained position for extended periods Mental Effort - Ability to manage unpredictable workloads and frequent demands on concentration and attention Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment, intervention and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration Working Conditions - To face regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour
Other
Essential
- oAbility to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings. oExperience of working with diversity, including but not limited to a multicultural framework. oAbility to identify and employ mechanisms of clinical governance as appropriate, to support and maintain clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour. oAbility to form good working relationships with others in a multi-disciplinary setting. oInterest and ability to contribute to service development. oCommitment to Equal Opportunities oAbility to travel across London and work flexibly from different sites. oAbility to achieve and maintain enhanced security clearance.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
