Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to work within a newly commissioned pan-London Men's Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) service to reduce custodial sentences and improve the wellbeing of men in the criminal justice system with mental health needs. Mental Health Treatment Requirements (MHTRs) were introduced by the Criminal Justice Act in 2003, recognising that for many individuals who offend, mental health and substance misuse issues underpin their offending behaviour. Treatment requirements offer courts an alternative to short custodial sentences and aim to prevent reoffending by addressing underlying vulnerabilities and improving quality of life. This service aims to increase the use of primary care treatment requirements as part of a community sentence, offering psychologically informed interventions and advice. The MHTR Service will also provide the courts with information and confidence to sentence to robust and effective treatment requirements.
North London Forensic Collaborative is the largest forensic Provider Collaborative in England and is a partnership between forensic services within five NHS Trusts including: North London NHS Foundation Trust - Lead Provider; Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust; East London NHS Foundation Trust; North East London NHS Foundation Trust and West London NHS Trust.
Main duties of the job
This band 7 post will be hosted by North East London NHS Foundation Trust as part of a team that will work across the whole of North East London. Some of the posts in the team are hosted by NELFT and some ELFT.
North London Forensic Collaborative are looking for three 1.0 WTE band 7 Psychologists or Psychological Therapists. NELFT is recruiting to one of these posts which will be responsible for assessing for suitability and making recommendations for MHTRs across North East London; and for delivering short-term psychological interventions for those that are sentenced to an MHTR. There are two equivalent posts being recruited to via CNWL and we expect the services to work closely together to ensure that there is consistency in the MHTR service being offered across London.
The successful candidates will hold a clinical caseload and be responsible for supervision of the senior Assistant Psychologist team. We hope to recruit a staff team reflective of the population we serve and welcome applications from those with protected characteristics, including minoritised ethnic groups. Candidates will be considered for all NLFC posts at interview. All trusts support flexible working and applications for secondments to this substantive role will be considered.
We welcome applicants who are newly qualified or are approaching qualification who are enthusiastic and dedicated to working in this field, with or without prior experience in secure or forensic services.
About us
Our Values 2025 - 2030
Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.
They are:
- We are kind.
- We are respectful.
- We work together with our communities.
These three values help us tostrive to provide the best care by the best people.
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period.
Starting with Us
NELFT places great importance on new starters being properly welcomed into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks, including mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process, new starters will also have the opportunity to meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend several drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing, and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
High Cost Area Supplement - Inner London
This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 20% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £5,415 to a maximum of £8,465 p.a. pro rata for part time).
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Assessment of men prior to sentencing to consider suitability for an MHTR
- Providing short-term psychological interventions for those that are sentenced to an MHTR
- Liaison with stakeholders including probation colleagues and court staff
- Supervision of prequalified staff including trainees and assistant psychologists
- Involvement in service research, audits and development
- The postholder will supervise pre-qualified psychological therapists including assistant psychologists
Please see attached document for full Job Description and Person Specification.
Anticipated interview date: Tuesday 18th November.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Assessment of men prior to sentencing to consider suitability for an MHTR
- Providing short-term psychological interventions for those that are sentenced to an MHTR
- Liaison with stakeholders including probation colleagues and court staff
- Supervision of prequalified staff including trainees and assistant psychologists
- Involvement in service research, audits and development
- The postholder will supervise pre-qualified psychological therapists including assistant psychologists
Please see attached document for full Job Description and Person Specification.
Anticipated interview date: Tuesday 18th November.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- HCPC Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist or registered as psychological therapist
- Registered with prof body
Desirable
- CPD: training in working with people with trauma presentations, research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology
- Training in more than one psychological therapy.
Experience
Essential
- Assessment including risk assessment
- Working with range of client groups across the lifespan, with a range of complexity and challenge
- Interventions with complex groups
- Experience of delivering brief, primary care, CBT interventions or equivalent
- MDT working
- Teaching and training
Desirable
- own lived/living experience
- knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.
- legislation in relation to the client group and mental health
- application of psychology in different cultural and specialist contexts.
- forensic experience
- co production
- supervision experience
- multicultural contexts
Knowledge
Essential
- Research experience
- Knowledge of forensic assessment
- understanding of the current context of service provision within the NHS.
- Knowedge of intervention with this client group
Skills
Essential
- Communication including training others
- Working with challenging groups
- Willingness to work flexibly to meet demands of contracts, commissioners and other stake-holders to provide high-quality and effective care
- Anti racist and anti discriminatory
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- HCPC Registered as a Practitioner Psychologist or registered as psychological therapist
- Registered with prof body
Desirable
- CPD: training in working with people with trauma presentations, research methodology, staff training and/or other fields of applied psychology
- Training in more than one psychological therapy.
Experience
Essential
- Assessment including risk assessment
- Working with range of client groups across the lifespan, with a range of complexity and challenge
- Interventions with complex groups
- Experience of delivering brief, primary care, CBT interventions or equivalent
- MDT working
- Teaching and training
Desirable
- own lived/living experience
- knowledge of the theory and practice of at least two specialised psychological therapies.
- legislation in relation to the client group and mental health
- application of psychology in different cultural and specialist contexts.
- forensic experience
- co production
- supervision experience
- multicultural contexts
Knowledge
Essential
- Research experience
- Knowledge of forensic assessment
- understanding of the current context of service provision within the NHS.
- Knowedge of intervention with this client group
Skills
Essential
- Communication including training others
- Working with challenging groups
- Willingness to work flexibly to meet demands of contracts, commissioners and other stake-holders to provide high-quality and effective care
- Anti racist and anti discriminatory
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).
