Trainee Forensic Psychologist

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

37.5 Hours Per Week

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our psychology team, situated within the Forensic Care Group at South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Our in-patient services include Newton Lodge, The Bretton Centre and Newhaven all based on the Fieldhead site in Wakefield. The current post is based at Newton Lodge; a 90 bedded Medium Secure Service for men and women who have come into contact with the criminal justice system, who also have mental health difficulties, attachment difficulties, experiences of trauma and learning disabilities.

The service offers a unique opportunity to work with complex service users across various stages of their recovery. The successful candidate will work within a busy psychology service and will be based predominantly on our Learning Disability pathway. We would therefore particularly welcome applications from candidates with an experience of working within a forensic setting, with this client group.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will receive support throughout their training, from a team of clinical, forensic and counselling psychologists. The role will include administering, scoring and interpreting a range of psychometric measures, direct and indirect assessment, formulation and intervention with service-users, as well as indirect working with staff teams and the wider MDT. You will be involved in audit, service development and clinical governance and there are opportunities to provide training to the wider staff group, developed by the psychology team on Trauma Informed care. The post holder will also be required to enroll on an appropriate doctoral level program to complete alongside their role.

The post will be supervised by a qualified Forensic Psychologist, and you will receive support with your development from a highly motivated and supportive team, who are passionate about on-going development.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Date posted

16 October 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9378-F0615

Job locations

Newton Lodge

Fieldhead Hospital

Wakefield

WF13SP

Job description

Job responsibilities

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

To support and enhance the professional psychological care of clients within the service, across all sectors of care; providing psychological assessment and psychological interventions, and risk assessment and management plans under the supervision of a HPCP registered Practitioner Psychologist, working independently according to a plan agreed with a HPCP registered Practitioner Psychologist and within the overall framework of the teams policies and procedures. To assist in clinically related administration, conduct of audits, collection of statistics, and development of audit and / or research projects, teaching, training and project work.

The postholder will work, whilst in post and under supervision, to develop their clinical and academic competency in order to qualify as a HCPC registered psychologist. Developmental competencies will include but are not limited to assessment, formulation and intervention, research, consultation and service development.

For further information please see job descirpiton attached.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.

For further information please see job descirpiton attached.

Person Specification

Training.

Desirable

Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practise and/or research design and analysis.

Physical Attributes

Essential

Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Experience

Essential

Practical experience within paid or voluntary work in a clinical or community setting, with exposure to client groups and service settings directly relevant to forensic psychology e.g. NHS university settings, the prison or probation service, voluntary sector or organisations affiliated to the NHS:
A variety of pre-training of relevance include Assistant Psychologist, Research assistant, Health Care Worker, working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities and/or psychological/behavioural/neurological problems.
Evidence that experiences which has:
Engendered realistic expectations of the nature and demands of Forensic Psychology Training.
Developed an awareness of the contexts in which Forensic Psychology services are usually delivered.
Developed familiarisation with working practices in Criminal Justice, NHS, and other statutory service settings.

Desirable

Evidence of learning from supervision of clinical practise.
Evidence of capacity to undertake research at a postgraduate level.
Experience of administering and scoring neuropsychological assessments.

Qualifications

Essential

An Honours degree in Psychology (2:1), which confers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) with the British Psychological society (BPS).
The necessary postgraduate qualification stage 1 (accredited MSc in Forensic Psychology) in order to be eligible to register on the stage 2 doctoral level forensic psychology qualification.
Numeracy, Literacy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent).

Special Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Specialist knowledge of Forensic psychology acquired through relevant prior experience, undergraduate teaching and/or clinically supervised practice, and the potential to build upon and extend such knowledge through training.
A foundation of undergraduate-level knowledge of research design and methodology.
High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
Ability to communicate complex and highly sensitive information effectively, to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
Ability to communicate information which may be perceived as contentious to patients, carers and colleagues in a manner that promotes understanding and acceptance.
An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or other disabilities.
An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to health and social service contexts.
Adapt creatively the evidence base for interventions in mental health for clients with communication difficulties/learning disabilities.
Formulate and articulate sound judgements based on analysis and interpretation of a range of complex information in clinical work, drawing both on clinical observation and on relevant theoretical models.
Provide (within agreed timescale) effective teaching and training in formal and informal settings.
Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Utilise psychometric tests competently.
Identify, provide, and promote appropriate interventions / means of support for carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviours.
Plan and organise effectively to meet required timescales.
Utilise appropriate clinical governance mechanisms within own work.
Use approved breakaway techniques.

Desirable

Experience using computers for databases or data analysis.
Knowledge of basic statistical procedures employed within the field of psychology (especially using SPSS for Windows).
Skills in using multimedia materials in presentations.
High standard of report writing.

Personal Attributes

Essential

An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
An ability to interact effectively with people with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours.
Able to engage with vulnerable people and work effectively in highly distressing and challenging circumstances.
Respects and has awareness of the advantages of joint working with other experienced professionals in a multidisciplinary setting.
Able to work flexibly and co-operatively as part of a team.
Able to use own initiative and make decisions independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
Committed to continual quality and service improvement.
Self-aware and committed to professional and personal development. Able to accept and respond positively to feedback from clinical, management and academic supervision.
The post holder is subject to satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Desirable

An interest in working with people with mental health problems who have come into contact with the criminal justice system.
A desire to explore a career in professional psychology.

Person Specification

Training.

Desirable

Further post-graduate training in relevant areas of professional psychology, mental health practise and/or research design and analysis.

Physical Attributes

Essential

Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Experience

Essential

Practical experience within paid or voluntary work in a clinical or community setting, with exposure to client groups and service settings directly relevant to forensic psychology e.g. NHS university settings, the prison or probation service, voluntary sector or organisations affiliated to the NHS:
A variety of pre-training of relevance include Assistant Psychologist, Research assistant, Health Care Worker, working with people with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities and/or psychological/behavioural/neurological problems.
Evidence that experiences which has:
Engendered realistic expectations of the nature and demands of Forensic Psychology Training.
Developed an awareness of the contexts in which Forensic Psychology services are usually delivered.
Developed familiarisation with working practices in Criminal Justice, NHS, and other statutory service settings.

Desirable

Evidence of learning from supervision of clinical practise.
Evidence of capacity to undertake research at a postgraduate level.
Experience of administering and scoring neuropsychological assessments.

Qualifications

Essential

An Honours degree in Psychology (2:1), which confers eligibility for the Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) with the British Psychological society (BPS).
The necessary postgraduate qualification stage 1 (accredited MSc in Forensic Psychology) in order to be eligible to register on the stage 2 doctoral level forensic psychology qualification.
Numeracy, Literacy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent).

Special Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Specialist knowledge of Forensic psychology acquired through relevant prior experience, undergraduate teaching and/or clinically supervised practice, and the potential to build upon and extend such knowledge through training.
A foundation of undergraduate-level knowledge of research design and methodology.
High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate and work in settings in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive.
Ability to communicate complex and highly sensitive information effectively, to patients, carers and colleagues in a way that addresses psychological resistance.
Ability to communicate information which may be perceived as contentious to patients, carers and colleagues in a manner that promotes understanding and acceptance.
An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or other disabilities.
An ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to health and social service contexts.
Adapt creatively the evidence base for interventions in mental health for clients with communication difficulties/learning disabilities.
Formulate and articulate sound judgements based on analysis and interpretation of a range of complex information in clinical work, drawing both on clinical observation and on relevant theoretical models.
Provide (within agreed timescale) effective teaching and training in formal and informal settings.
Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Utilise psychometric tests competently.
Identify, provide, and promote appropriate interventions / means of support for carers and staff exposed to highly distressing situations and challenging behaviours.
Plan and organise effectively to meet required timescales.
Utilise appropriate clinical governance mechanisms within own work.
Use approved breakaway techniques.

Desirable

Experience using computers for databases or data analysis.
Knowledge of basic statistical procedures employed within the field of psychology (especially using SPSS for Windows).
Skills in using multimedia materials in presentations.
High standard of report writing.

Personal Attributes

Essential

An ability to interact effectively with staff from all disciplines.
An ability to interact effectively with people with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours.
Able to engage with vulnerable people and work effectively in highly distressing and challenging circumstances.
Respects and has awareness of the advantages of joint working with other experienced professionals in a multidisciplinary setting.
Able to work flexibly and co-operatively as part of a team.
Able to use own initiative and make decisions independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals.
Ability to accept and use supervision appropriately and effectively.
Committed to continual quality and service improvement.
Self-aware and committed to professional and personal development. Able to accept and respond positively to feedback from clinical, management and academic supervision.
The post holder is subject to satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Desirable

An interest in working with people with mental health problems who have come into contact with the criminal justice system.
A desire to explore a career in professional psychology.

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.