Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 5 Higher Assistant Psychologist to work within the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Offender Personality Disorder Pathway Service.
This small but established team arises from a joint initiative between Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Foundation Trust and National Probation Service.
There current post will be based in the community at the Approved Premises in Peterborough. The Approved Premise is a Psychologically Informed Planned Environment.
The post-holder will be working to develop the PIPE, its residents and staff. Our PIPE offers the opportunity to participate in planning and pre arrival work with the residents. The co-delivery of brief psycho-education groups and skills-based training to residents. As well as developing the residents' engagement, motivation and implementing individualised risk management plans.
Main duties of the job
The role offer further opportunities to gain insight into multi-agency risk management processes (e.g. MAPPA), as well as gaining a wider perspective of services for this client group; through attendance at commissioning meetings and regional/ national events. The role will give opportunities to expand experience with; consultation work, conduction of audits, collection and analysis of statistics, development of audit and/or research projects, clinically related administration, as well as other associated project work.
The team is looking for an enthusiastic, robust, committed individual who has a keen interest in working with complex forensic clients with identified personality difficulties. Previous experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team, with clients with personality difficulties (diagnosed or undiagnosed) and/ or complex presentations/ challenging behaviours is essential. Furthermore, previous experience of working with clients within forensic settings is desirable.
About us
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high-quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting and empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.
Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children's, adult and older people's mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development.
To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high-calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.
Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications.
Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process.
For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at www.cpft.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities
- To support the running of the PIPE, its staff and residents through groups, training and consultation.
- To assist in the development of formulations/ case summaries and support PIPE staff in the planning and working with residents. The OPD Pathway is not an intervention service, but a small number of cases may require co-delivery of psychologically-informed work, conducted under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist.
- To work within risk assessments undertaken within the service in line with Trust and inter-agency policies/procedures.
- To work with other staff to assess and review the needs/ care of offenders across the PIPE and Peterborough and Cambridgeshire region.
- To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place (note: Could include prison environments).
- To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings, including; team meetings, team supervisions, probation based meetings and commissioning meetings (where appropriate).
- To manage data collection, audits and analysis to support the develop of the service and monitor quality.
Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines. You will need to hold a full UK driving licence* and have use of a vehicle. You cannot use public transport for this role as this is not a reliable form of transport and will not allow you to meet service needs. Please confirm in your application that you meet the specified criteria.
*DVLA have a number of reciprocal arrangements with overseas countries, for further information please visit the DVLA website
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities
- To support the running of the PIPE, its staff and residents through groups, training and consultation.
- To assist in the development of formulations/ case summaries and support PIPE staff in the planning and working with residents. The OPD Pathway is not an intervention service, but a small number of cases may require co-delivery of psychologically-informed work, conducted under the supervision of a qualified professional psychologist.
- To work within risk assessments undertaken within the service in line with Trust and inter-agency policies/procedures.
- To work with other staff to assess and review the needs/ care of offenders across the PIPE and Peterborough and Cambridgeshire region.
- To assist in the development of a psychologically based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service, across all settings where care takes place (note: Could include prison environments).
- To attend and contribute to appropriate multi-disciplinary meetings, including; team meetings, team supervisions, probation based meetings and commissioning meetings (where appropriate).
- To manage data collection, audits and analysis to support the develop of the service and monitor quality.
Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines. You will need to hold a full UK driving licence* and have use of a vehicle. You cannot use public transport for this role as this is not a reliable form of transport and will not allow you to meet service needs. Please confirm in your application that you meet the specified criteria.
*DVLA have a number of reciprocal arrangements with overseas countries, for further information please visit the DVLA website
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of people with personality disorder difficulties and/ or complex presentations/ challenging behaviours.
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Previous experience of an assistant psychologist post or equivalent
- Experience of working with forensic clients
- Lived experience of mental health
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive and distressing and to be balanced with robust risk management.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- Competent in the use of software programmes such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Experience of developing and maintaining databases for the purposes of data-analysis e.g. use of Excel or SPSS for Windows
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with enduring mental health problems and personality disorders.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to the context of people with personality disorders.
- A clear understanding of the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to risk management within forensic services.
Desirable
- High standard of report writing.
- Experience in the use of Publisher for the purposes of leaflet or Poster design and development.
- Experience of formulation development with clients
- Experience of supporting the design of group training packages.
- Experience of participation in group facilitation with clients
- Experience of participation in training to staff/ others
- An understanding of psychology applied to forensic clients and PIPE.
- Awareness of the Schema Therapy Model/ Mode Model
- Awareness of/ experience with DBT skills-based approaches
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Good time keeper
- A willingness to be flexible
- Willingness to follow instructions but also able to question and constructively challenge.
- To continue your professional development
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel independently across the County (Peterborough, Huntingdon & Cambridge)
- Able to tolerate prolonged periods of sitting and/ or standing
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- An upper second class honours degree or higher in psychology
- Entitlement to graduate membership of the British Psychological Society
Desirable
- Further post graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practice and/or research design and analysis.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of people with personality disorder difficulties and/ or complex presentations/ challenging behaviours.
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Previous experience of an assistant psychologist post or equivalent
- Experience of working with forensic clients
- Lived experience of mental health
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision
- High level communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive and distressing and to be balanced with robust risk management.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
- Competent in the use of software programmes such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Experience of developing and maintaining databases for the purposes of data-analysis e.g. use of Excel or SPSS for Windows
- An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with enduring mental health problems and personality disorders.
- An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to the context of people with personality disorders.
- A clear understanding of the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to risk management within forensic services.
Desirable
- High standard of report writing.
- Experience in the use of Publisher for the purposes of leaflet or Poster design and development.
- Experience of formulation development with clients
- Experience of supporting the design of group training packages.
- Experience of participation in group facilitation with clients
- Experience of participation in training to staff/ others
- An understanding of psychology applied to forensic clients and PIPE.
- Awareness of the Schema Therapy Model/ Mode Model
- Awareness of/ experience with DBT skills-based approaches
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Good time keeper
- A willingness to be flexible
- Willingness to follow instructions but also able to question and constructively challenge.
- To continue your professional development
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel independently across the County (Peterborough, Huntingdon & Cambridge)
- Able to tolerate prolonged periods of sitting and/ or standing
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Approved Premises/ Cambridge Probation Office
5 Weslesyan Road
Peterborough
PE1 3RW
Employer's website
https://www.cpft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
