Job summary
The specific role is based in the services delivered by London Pathways Partnership (LPP) for the national Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Programme in HMP Brixton. LPP is a consortium of five NHS Trusts. All LPP services are co-delivered with criminal justice partners, and aim to reduce reoffending, improve psychological wellbeing and develop the skills and confidence of the workforce.
The service in HMP Brixton is a residential unit for high-risk men with significant personality difficulties who are approaching release, offering assessment and interventions, and desistance-focused resettlement support.
This is an innovative role, which aims to enhance the development of appropriate pathways through custody and into the community for service users. It is open to psychologists with a demonstrated interest in working with complex personality disordered offenders, ideally including experience of working in a prison setting. The post provides numerous opportunities to develop leadership, consultation and liaison and training skills and clinical expertise and experience. As well as jointly delivering a service with prison and probation colleagues, the postholder will work closely with the wider forensic psychological therapies team, LPP and will have additional opportunities to develop skills and experience.
Main duties of the job
This is an innovative role, which aims to enhance the development of appropriate pathways through custody and into the community for service users. It is open to psychologists with a demonstrated interest in working with complex personality disordered offenders, ideally including experience of working in a prison setting. The post provides numerous opportunities to develop leadership, consultation and liaison and training skills and clinical expertise and experience. As well as jointly delivering a service with prison and probation colleagues, the postholder will work closely with the wider forensic psychological therapies team, LPP and will have additional opportunities to develop skills and experience.
The post holder will contribute actively to service development, including culturally appropriate services for people of differing ethnicity and socio-economic status and workforce development through training and consultation to the team and other agencies. The role will include supervisory responsibilities for junior colleagues.
About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Kindly refer to the job description and person specification that is attached to the vacancy profile.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Kindly refer to the job description and person specification that is attached to the vacancy profile.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification / Training
Essential
- Professional qualification in one of the core professions e.g. Psychology, occupational therapy, Art therapy, drama Therapy, social work; registration with the relevant regulatory body (e.g. Health and Care Professions Council, Social Work England).
- Evidence of continuing professional development post-qualification
Desirable
- Training in psychological formulation
- Training in formal risk assessment
Experience
Essential
- Relevant experience at Band 6 or above in a forensic setting.
- Experience of working with service users with complex personality difficulties.
- Experience of addressing the needs of offenders with severe personality difficulties.
Desirable
- Experience of working in diverse inner-city areas
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway
- Skills in engagement, assessment, formulation, interventions and management with individuals with complex personality disorders and forensic histories, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
- Ability to deal with emergency situations/crises safely and effectively; frequent exposure to highly distressing/emotional situations; exposure to verbal aggression and risk of physical aggression
Person Specification
Education/ Qualification / Training
Essential
- Professional qualification in one of the core professions e.g. Psychology, occupational therapy, Art therapy, drama Therapy, social work; registration with the relevant regulatory body (e.g. Health and Care Professions Council, Social Work England).
- Evidence of continuing professional development post-qualification
Desirable
- Training in psychological formulation
- Training in formal risk assessment
Experience
Essential
- Relevant experience at Band 6 or above in a forensic setting.
- Experience of working with service users with complex personality difficulties.
- Experience of addressing the needs of offenders with severe personality difficulties.
Desirable
- Experience of working in diverse inner-city areas
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway
- Skills in engagement, assessment, formulation, interventions and management with individuals with complex personality disorders and forensic histories, frequently requiring sustained and intense concentration
- Ability to deal with emergency situations/crises safely and effectively; frequent exposure to highly distressing/emotional situations; exposure to verbal aggression and risk of physical aggression
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).
