Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to
join a developing new service aimed at improving the well-being and psychological functioning of children at Oakhill STC. The service provides weekly individual and
group therapy sessions to children aged 12 to
18 years of age with an offending history.
As part of the SECURE STAIRS model as an
Assistant psychologist you would be able to work with children with low level mental health needs,
complex trauma, and neurodivergence. You will be involved in supporting psychological
assessment, formulations, and interventions under the regular clinical
supervision of a qualified psychologist. You will also work closely with the
wider healthcare team and operational colleagues in delivering trauma informed services.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide trauma-informed, child-centred psychological support across a secure training centre. Core responsibilities include completing wellbeing checks, psychologically-informed formulations (My Stories), and managing a caseload of children through individual sessions and therapeutic groups. The role involves conducting psychological assessments using observation, self-report measures, and interviews, as well as contributing to risk assessments covering self-harm, violence, and exploitation.
The post holder will be embedded within the house units, attending weekly MDT and multi-agency meetings, maintaining accurate records, and working collaboratively with the wider healthcare and operational team. They will also support the delivery of mental health and neurodivergence training to officers, and assist in developing a psychological framework of care all under the supervision of a qualified psychologist, and in line with safeguarding procedures.
About us
Oakhill
Secure Training Centre is a custodial environment for children both females and
males between the ages of 12 years old and 18 years old. Children may present
with complex wellbeing and mental health needs, undiagnosed neurodivergent
needs and complex trauma.
This role sits within the healthcare
team, consisting of Assistant &
Trainee Psychologists, Qualified Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapist,
Occupational Therapist, Psychiatrist, Registered Mental Health Nurses and
Registered General Nurses.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Tasks and Responsibilities:
-
To complete wellbeing
checks on all children across the centre and promote a psychologically
safe environment by modelling traumainformed approaches in all interactions
with children and staff.
-
To embed the Assistant Psychologist role
within the house units, engaging daily with children in activities and their
regime.
-
To complete My Story formulations including
updating them regularly, reviewing and collating sensitive information to
inform My Stories, and engaging children to complete the My story
collaboratively.
-
To attend weekly meetings with professionals
from the wider service to ensure consistent and appropriate support is provided
for all children.
-
To support the delivery of training to
officers to support their understanding of mental health diagnosis, complex
presentation, and neurodivergence, as well as how to support childrens
wellbeing.
-
To maintain accurate and up to date records
for children, and recognise and report concerns in line with local and national
safeguarding procedures.
-
To attend weekly clinical MDT meetings with
professionals from across the healthcare team and contribute to discussions.
-
To undertake psychological
assessments of children applying psychological theory,
including observation, self-report measures and semi-structured interviews.
-
To assist in the formulation and
delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a problem, under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.
-
Manage a caseload of children and deliver
traumainformed, childcentred wellbeing sessions in line with assessed needs.
-
To assist in the coordination and
running of therapeutic groups or clinical projects.
-
To work with other staff to assess
or support children within the secure training centre
and contribute to multidisciplinary discussions or care guidelines as agreed
with the psychologist/psychological
therapist providing supervision.
-
To assist in the development of a
psychological based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all children of the service, across all settings where care takes
place.
-
Assist in gathering information relevant to
risk assessments, including selfharm, violence, vulnerability, and
exploitation.
Additional Opportunities:
-
Opportunities to attend and present at
professional conferences
-
Opportunities to complete additional research
and service audits
-
Support with further Doctorate applications
(Clinical and Forensic)
-
Opportunities to shadow assessments with the
Trainee and Qualified Psychologist
-
Engage in supervision and ongoing training to
maintain high standards of professional competence.
-
To attend and facilitate peer reflective
practice alongside other assistant psychologists.
-
To assist in the development of the service
including psychologically informed intervention packs.
General Information
The post holder may be required to
perform other relevant and appropriate duties as reasonably needed. This list of duties and
responsibilities is not exhaustive. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification.
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.
Please note, in order to apply,
all applicants need to have been living in the United Kingdom (with residency in the UK, such as UK/Irish/EU
Passport, or an Indefinite Leave to Remain Visa) for the last 5 years with no more than a 28 day break
being outside of the UK and no gaps in employment during this time.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Tasks and Responsibilities:
-
To complete wellbeing
checks on all children across the centre and promote a psychologically
safe environment by modelling traumainformed approaches in all interactions
with children and staff.
-
To embed the Assistant Psychologist role
within the house units, engaging daily with children in activities and their
regime.
-
To complete My Story formulations including
updating them regularly, reviewing and collating sensitive information to
inform My Stories, and engaging children to complete the My story
collaboratively.
-
To attend weekly meetings with professionals
from the wider service to ensure consistent and appropriate support is provided
for all children.
-
To support the delivery of training to
officers to support their understanding of mental health diagnosis, complex
presentation, and neurodivergence, as well as how to support childrens
wellbeing.
-
To maintain accurate and up to date records
for children, and recognise and report concerns in line with local and national
safeguarding procedures.
-
To attend weekly clinical MDT meetings with
professionals from across the healthcare team and contribute to discussions.
-
To undertake psychological
assessments of children applying psychological theory,
including observation, self-report measures and semi-structured interviews.
-
To assist in the formulation and
delivery of care plans involving the psychological treatment and/or management of a problem, under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.
-
Manage a caseload of children and deliver
traumainformed, childcentred wellbeing sessions in line with assessed needs.
-
To assist in the coordination and
running of therapeutic groups or clinical projects.
-
To work with other staff to assess
or support children within the secure training centre
and contribute to multidisciplinary discussions or care guidelines as agreed
with the psychologist/psychological
therapist providing supervision.
-
To assist in the development of a
psychological based framework of understanding and care to the benefit of all children of the service, across all settings where care takes
place.
-
Assist in gathering information relevant to
risk assessments, including selfharm, violence, vulnerability, and
exploitation.
Additional Opportunities:
-
Opportunities to attend and present at
professional conferences
-
Opportunities to complete additional research
and service audits
-
Support with further Doctorate applications
(Clinical and Forensic)
-
Opportunities to shadow assessments with the
Trainee and Qualified Psychologist
-
Engage in supervision and ongoing training to
maintain high standards of professional competence.
-
To attend and facilitate peer reflective
practice alongside other assistant psychologists.
-
To assist in the development of the service
including psychologically informed intervention packs.
General Information
The post holder may be required to
perform other relevant and appropriate duties as reasonably needed. This list of duties and
responsibilities is not exhaustive. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification.
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.
Please note, in order to apply,
all applicants need to have been living in the United Kingdom (with residency in the UK, such as UK/Irish/EU
Passport, or an Indefinite Leave to Remain Visa) for the last 5 years with no more than a 28 day break
being outside of the UK and no gaps in employment during this time.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Undergraduate Psychology degree (BSc)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working within a mental health or secure setting with vulnerable or at risks groups (paid or voluntary considered)
- Trained or experience of delivering at least one model of therapy (for example, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural
- Therapy, Compassion Focussed Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
- A demonstrable passion for working with children
- Prior experience of Assistant Psychologist position (including voluntary position)
Desirable
- Experience of working with children in custody setting
- Experience of working with complex and challenging presentations
- Understanding and experience of SECURE STAIRS
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Undergraduate Psychology degree (BSc)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working within a mental health or secure setting with vulnerable or at risks groups (paid or voluntary considered)
- Trained or experience of delivering at least one model of therapy (for example, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural
- Therapy, Compassion Focussed Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
- A demonstrable passion for working with children
- Prior experience of Assistant Psychologist position (including voluntary position)
Desirable
- Experience of working with children in custody setting
- Experience of working with complex and challenging presentations
- Understanding and experience of SECURE STAIRS
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
