Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Senior Practitioner

This job is now closed

Job summary

We are looking for a Senior Practitioner to join the Outside the Box (OTB) team, part of the offender personality disorder (OPD) pathway in Devon, based at HMP Channings Wood. The OPD pathway is based in prisons and probation, with NHS and HMPPS staff working together to increase the wellbeing and reduce the risk of those screened into the pathway, whilst improving the knowledge and attitudes of wider workforce.

OTB is an intervention service supporting those who are stuck (e.g. not willing to engage, multiple releases and recalls) or displaying behaviours that mean they aren't able to access other services they would benefit them (e.g. self-harm, substance use). The service provides individual and group interventions in a range of modalities with a focus on the relational. This includes the development of a shared formulation with each person on caseload, as well as pro-social groups (e.g. gardening, bee-keeping), psycho-educational groups (e.g. healthy self-esteem), skills groups (DBT skills) and more therapeutic groups (MBT).

The role will be within a cohesive, motivated and enthusiastic team including Prison Officers, Psychologists, Assistant Psychologists and an Art Therapist. There is lots of space given to supervision, reflective practice and opportunities for training, with upcoming training for the team (including successful applicant) including schema therapy (full 7 day course), attachment-based practice in criminal justice settings (2 days) and DBT skills.

Main duties of the job

The role will include working on an individual and group basis with those on caseload to support them to achieve shared goals based on a collaborative psychological formulation.

The post holder will have the chance to develop and facilitate pro-social groups such as bee keeping, social club, mindfulness, cooking, gardening etc. as well as groups related to their own training and expertise. They will also co-facilitate psycho-educational and skills based groups such as DBT, with appropriate training.

They will hold a caseload jointly with prison staff, and for those individuals will be responsible for assessing, formulating, developing a plan for intervention and where applicable implementing this, with supervision from the Psychologist/Clinical Lead.

The post holder may be asked to provide clinical supervision to others within the team.

With the service still evolving and demands of the prison changing, you will be adaptable and there will be opportunities to be involved in service development.

You will work with community services to develop links, with the aim of creating positive transitions to community services.

You will offer consultation and advice to operational staff within OTB and to the wider prison workforce, and deliver training to staff across the prison.

If you are interested, please contact us to arrange a visit the service is a great place to be and may dispel any concerns you may have about prisons.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Date posted

13 June 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£43,742 to £50,056 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9369-23-0283

Job locations

HMP Channings Wood

Greenhill Lane, Denbury

Newton Abbot

Devon

TQ12 6DW

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on this role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details on this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Occupational Therapist, Registered Mental Health/Learning disability Nurse (LD/RMN), Social Worker or Psychology/psychological practitioner professional qualification (e.g. Clinical/Forensic Psychologist, Music Therapist, Psychotherapist)
Current relevant registration with the NMC, HCPC or relevant governing body
High standard of literacy and numeracy
Evidence of continued training and development in the theory and practice of own professional area

Desirable

Further Postgraduate training in a relevant field

Experience

Essential

Significant post qualification experience in a relevant field
Experience of working with people with personality difficulties and/or in criminal justice settings
Experience in managing a diverse workload
Experience of completing thorough assessment and risk assessment of individuals with complex needs
Working in collaboration with other agencies and professionals in planning and implementing care programmes

Desirable

Previous forensic experience
Delivering training to other professionals
Experience of providing supervision

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Clear understanding of the role of own profession within a multidisciplinary team
Good understanding of trauma, personality difficulties and complex emotional/relational needs
Sound knowledge and application of own professional models and practice (e.g. nursing, OT, psychology)
Good understanding of safeguarding adult and children
Good understanding of relational ways of working
Ability to build effective working relationships in stressful and demanding situations
High level communication skills both written and verbal
High level of IT skills
Ability to reflect and critically appraise own and others performance
Good problem solving skills
Ability to work autonomously, seeking guidance as necessary
Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritise when working under pressure
Appropriate level of physical fitness required to work within a range of forensic settings

Desirable

A good understanding of the OPD pathway and the wider criminal justice system

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Occupational Therapist, Registered Mental Health/Learning disability Nurse (LD/RMN), Social Worker or Psychology/psychological practitioner professional qualification (e.g. Clinical/Forensic Psychologist, Music Therapist, Psychotherapist)
Current relevant registration with the NMC, HCPC or relevant governing body
High standard of literacy and numeracy
Evidence of continued training and development in the theory and practice of own professional area

Desirable

Further Postgraduate training in a relevant field

Experience

Essential

Significant post qualification experience in a relevant field
Experience of working with people with personality difficulties and/or in criminal justice settings
Experience in managing a diverse workload
Experience of completing thorough assessment and risk assessment of individuals with complex needs
Working in collaboration with other agencies and professionals in planning and implementing care programmes

Desirable

Previous forensic experience
Delivering training to other professionals
Experience of providing supervision

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Clear understanding of the role of own profession within a multidisciplinary team
Good understanding of trauma, personality difficulties and complex emotional/relational needs
Sound knowledge and application of own professional models and practice (e.g. nursing, OT, psychology)
Good understanding of safeguarding adult and children
Good understanding of relational ways of working
Ability to build effective working relationships in stressful and demanding situations
High level communication skills both written and verbal
High level of IT skills
Ability to reflect and critically appraise own and others performance
Good problem solving skills
Ability to work autonomously, seeking guidance as necessary
Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritise when working under pressure
Appropriate level of physical fitness required to work within a range of forensic settings

Desirable

A good understanding of the OPD pathway and the wider criminal justice system

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.