Senior Clinical/Forensic/Counselling Psychologist

Job responsibilities

DIRECT:

1. To identify and screen caseloads managed by the National Probation Service (London Division) using the recognised OPD screening tool.
   • To provide specialist psychological assessments of outpatients and patient/offenders referred to the forensic or pathways services, based on the appropriate analysis, interpretation and integration of complex qualitative and quantitative data from a variety of sources. Methods used will include selecting, administering, scoring and interpreting appropriate standardised psychometric assessments; using self-report measures, rating scales, direct and indirect structured observations and semi-structured interviews with patients/offenders and/or others involved in their care as appropriate, and collating and interpreting historical and developmental data.
   • Drawing on a broad theoretical knowledge of psychology, and on an appropriate conceptual formulation of the clients problems, including taking into account theoretical and therapeutic models, historical, developmental and cultural processes and systems which have shaped the individual, family or group, to consider and evaluate different treatment options, and formulate and implement plans for the specialist psychological treatment and/or management of clients mental health and related problems, employing methods based on evidence of proven efficacy, adapted where necessary to meet the needs of the individual. To review, adjust and refine psychological formulations as practice and experience demand.
   • Implement a range of specialist psychological interventions for individual clients and groups, and where appropriate for carers within and across teams within the forensic PD service, co-working with psychologist and non-psychologist colleagues as appropriate.
   • In the course of carrying out assessments, providing treatments, and communicating findings, responsible for providing and receiving highly complex, sensitive, distressing and emotional information in relation to mental health and forensic issues, such as traumatic life history information, or details of serious violent and sexual offending, or providing risk assessments, clinical formulations or other information where there may be barriers to acceptance or understanding.
   • To work in partnership with staff employed by the NPS to deliver joint case work across CORE-OM and IIRMS services within the service. To determine client suitability for IIRMS via joint case work either face to face in the community or whilst the client is still in prison.
   • To work in partnership with IIRMS clinical practitioners to support the management of complex high-morbidity male and female clients and support enhanced IIRMS treatment delivery.
   • To provide psychological input to NPS Approved Premises (AP) including staff support, and case discussions, monthly community meetings and joint casework. To support the AP in achieving or maintain their Enabling Environment (EE) status.
   • Responsible for communicating across language and cultural barriers with clients or carers, using interpreters when necessary.
   • Responsible for communicating complex clinical information, such as psychological assessment, formulation, progress/outcome of treatment, or risk assessment, in a skilled and sensitive manner to a variety of recipients including patients, carers, other professionals, formal panels, statutory and voluntary organisations, in a format appropriate to the recipient, verbally, in writing, or electronically.
   • At the post holders discretion, to provide, at the request of an appropriate agency, a report to court on any client in the post holders current or past case load
   • To incorporate risk assessment and management into all aspects of clinical work; to comply with security policies and procedures; to notify management of breaches in security and to make suggestions for improving security; to undertake breakaway training

INDIRECT

• To take a lead in implementing the OPD pathway across NPS Local Delivery Units (LDUs) in partnership with NPS staff including senior management. To monitor referrals to treatment interventions and third sector organisations and report back monthly to the quadrant lead.
• To monitor attendance and adherence to local CORE PD training and report quarterly to the LPP training Lead
• To clinically supervise the work of band 7 staff, both psychologists and non-psychologists, assistant psychologists, and as appropriate, to contribute to the supervision of individual cases for trainee clinical psychologists.
• To provide both individual and group consultation to probation officers and other members of multidisciplinary team contributing directly to the formulation of clients risk management plans, including advice on psychological aspects of risk assessment, personality difficulties and risk management, across outpatient and community settings
• To provide specialised Offender Personality Disorder training to all NPS staff, AP staff and allied agencies (e.g. police), including the National Core PD Pathway modules; KUF Basic Awareness Training and Womens KUF training.
• To clinically supervise the work of assistant psychologists, and as appropriate, to contribute to the supervision of individual cases for trainee psychologists
• Draw on a broad theoretical knowledge of psychology and specialist clinical or counselling psychology skills to develop and support the psychological skills of assistant psychologists, and other non-psychology staff through developing and delivering teaching, training and supervision
• Provide a psychological perspective and a specialist psychologically-based framework for understanding clinical care, service/team dynamics, or service/team organisational systems in various teams and groups of which the psychologist is a member, to benefit the patients served by the service/team
• Develop and maintain knowledge of local resources and relationships with relevant statutory, voluntary and community groups and organisations
• To advise supervisor and psychology manager of areas of need within own area
• Develop and maintain the highest professional standards of practice by continuing to gain additional post-qualification experience and skills; by participating in regular clinical and professional supervision and appraisal; by active participation in internal and external CPD activities; and by updating knowledge of current developments in psychology and related disciplines relevant to the practice of forensic psychology, through a personal development plan agreed with psychology management. To exercise professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the Health Professionals Council and Trust policies and procedures
• Develop skills in the area of professional post-graduate teaching, training and supervision
• Develop and maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to forensic and general mental health services and the criminal justice system
• Develop, maintain and use knowledge and understanding of the work and approaches of other key disciplines, professions and agencies involved in the care and management network, including knowledge of medication and physical health issues, education, vocational training, employment, and social care systems.
• Maintain the highest standards of clinical record-keeping including electronic data-entry and recording, report writing, and dissemination of relevant information appropriately to other professionals. To monitor, record and report on clinical and other activities as required. To protect confidentiality in compliance with professional and Trust policies and procedures
• Has personal duty of care for the use and protection of restricted psychology equipment and test materials

Qualifications

Essential

• Post-graduate doctoral level training in applied psychology [or its equivalent for those trained before 1996 or outside the UK*] as approved by the HCPC, including specifically models of psychopathology, clinical psychometrics, two or more distinct psychological therapies and lifespan developmental psychology.
• Professionally registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Desirable

• Pre-qualification training and qualifications in research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in patient settings.
• Demonstrate specialist experience gained post-qualification of working as an applied psychologist with evidence of having received a substantial amount of clinical supervision (normally in the region of approximately 50 hours).
• Doctoral level knowledge of research methodology, research design and complex, multivariate data analysis as practiced within the clinical fields of psychology.
• Experience 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.
• Experience of teaching, training and/or supervision.
• Experience of the application of applied psychology in different cultural contexts and experience of working within a multicultural framework.
• Experience of representing psychology within the context of multi-disciplinary care.
• Experience or demonstrable knowledge of working with the particular client group served by the team/service.
• Knowledge of guidance and legislation in relation to the client group and mental health.
• Knowledge of the theory and practice of specialist psychological therapies in specific difficult to treat groups (e.g. personality disorder, dual diagnoses, people with additional disabilities etc).
• High level knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.
• High level of knowledge and skills in neuropsychology and evidence of further practice and/or training since qualification.
• Formal training in supervision of other psychologists.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as required by the HCPC.

Skills

Essential

• Well-developed skills in the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, highly technical, and clinically sensitive information to clients, their families, carers and other professional colleagues both within and outside the NHS.
• Skills in providing consultation to other professional and non-professional groups.
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment formulation and management frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration.
• Ability to work within a large geographical area effectively, managing travel arrangements and using creative working solutions.
• Ability to plan and manage a complex work load with competing demands.
• Skills in clinical supervision of others.
• Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings.
• Ability to use electronic clinical record systems.
• Experience of software e.g. SPSS, EXCEL and ACCESS
• Ability to maintain sustained concentration over considerable time and to be able to manage a high number of competing work demands.
• Ability to meet competing deadlines.
• Ability to deal with distressing or emotional circumstances and take care of own wellbeing on a very regular and frequent basis.
• Ability to identify, provide and promote appropriate means of support to carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and severely challenging behaviours on a regular basis.
• Ability to identify, and employ, as appropriate clinical governance mechanisms for the support and maintenance of clinical practice in the face of regular exposure to highly emotive material and challenging behaviour

Approach and Values

Essential

• Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Care Group and those of the Trust
• Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
• Commitment to empowering service users, their relatives and carers at all levels.
• Commitment to multidisciplinary team working.
• The belief that people with mental and physical illness have the capacity for personal growth and learning, and the same goals as any other person. The belief that service users have the intrinsic right to be involved in all aspects of their care, including the development and evaluation of the service.
• Ability to travel across sites.
• Supports the values and beliefs of Biopsychosocial models of work
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required

Other

Essential

• Achievement and sustainment of probation security vetting 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).